In today's complex world, we often have to face a lot of different events and responsibilities that can stir up complicated feelings. Sometimes life becomes overwhelmingly stressful. I’m a practicing psychologist, and I want to share with you some strategies to cope with daily pressures that proved to be useful:

● Make space for self-care.

We all manage stress in different ways. Some self-care basics are getting enough sleep, prioritizing healthy food and getting exercise. Consider what specifically works for you - perhaps, it’s walking in a park on a sunny day, going to a cinema, dancing to your favorite music, meditating or having a warm bath. Make a list of all the activities that help you relax and recharge, and try to do at least one each day.

● Set boundaries.

It's important to recognize situations or people that trigger stress, so you can prepare for them or avoid them when needed. If some situations are hard to escape, set clear boundaries. For instance, at a family gathering, ask relatives not to bring up certain tense topics, or plan an exit strategy if conversations get a bad turn - excuse yourself politely and leave the room until it calms down. Another example: if a friend or a family member always calls you at night when you don’t want to talk, ask them to stop doing it or create a clear time limit on how long you can be on the call.

● Practice being present.

Being present in everyday life helps us enjoy the moment more, be aware of our thoughts and feelings without being caught up in them, and reduces stress and anxiety. Try being fully engaged in whatever you’re doing. The best way to do it is by using all of your 5 senses. Pay attention to the warmth of a hot drink, the aroma and taste of food, the texture of a blanket. Listen closely to your friends and family when you’re with them. As you walk outside, feel the wind or sun on your face and the ground under your feet. Focus on your surroundings, houses, trees and plants, and notice every sound: cars passing, people laughing, birds singing, songs from local cafes.

Focusing on these small details can help us instantly ground ourselves and feel more calm even amongst chaos. You can even create a “calm dawn kit” that will include objects to help you ground yourself at any time: for example, a squeeze ball, a scented cream or a candle, your favorite candies, a recording of nature sounds, a calming picture.

● Take a moment for gratitude.

Studies have shown that being grateful and thinking of positive things helps us cope with stress and improves emotional well-being. Here’s a simple practice that you can try:

- In the morning, after waking up, think of three things you are grateful for at this moment in your life. These can be simple but meaningful things. For example, the warmth and comfort of your home, the support of your loved ones, or the nice weather outside. Allow yourself to immerse in the state of gratitude and enjoy it.

- In the evening, before you go to bed, think about the past day. Remember three positive events that happened during the day - whether they were big events or small joys. For example, you had a great chat with a friend, tried a new dish in a cafe, watched a good movie, completed a task or just got through the day. Also allow yourself to feel gratitude for these moments.

For a better effect, write these things down as you think about them. It’s okay if you have a hard time feeling gratitude right away. Keep doing the practice on a regular basis and over time you may notice it feeling more natural.

● Reach out for support.

There’s something very healing in human connections and in knowing that we’re not alone in our struggles. Don't hesitate to reach out to close friends or family members you trust. Share your concerns and feelings with them. If there’s no one you can talk to, call a mental health helpline in your country. A person on the other line will listen empathetically and help you deal with these difficult emotions. It also can be helpful to search for local support groups where you can share your stories and talk about what’s bothering you in a safe environment. And if you feel like the stress is becoming too overwhelming, consider reaching out to a counselor or a therapist that will help you find the root of your problem and figure out ways to overcome it.

I hope these tips give you some ideas to make each day feel more manageable and less overwhelming. The key is to gently experiment with self-care strategies until you find what works for your needs. Feel free to share any other coping strategies that you find useful.

I enjoy the feeling of being drunk, but I despise sobriety. I feel lost and don't know what to do except consider ending my life.

I decided to call in sick to work today so I could drink alcohol all day long. I consumed alcohol from early morning until late at night. When I woke up on the floor, my back was in excruciating pain. Despite this, I went to the store and purchased more alcohol.

I realize that continuing down this path will lead to my demise. It will negatively impact my job, personal life, and chances of finding love. I'm at a loss for what to do or how to change. The thought of living sober seems daunting, but I know it's necessary for my well-being. Please help.

Hey, everyone.

The last four months I've been experiencing some weird symptoms of spacing out and forgetting things and people. Not in the extreme kind of way. I do remember big details, like who this person is, their name and how we met ect. Although details of what we did or talked about the day before can get a little hazy, and I often need reminders of what happened. When I get those reminders, my brain catches on and it comes back to me. But it often comes in pieces and in different shades.

This state of forgetfullness is not constant. It comes in "episodes" from some hours to days to stretch.

I usually explain it as some kind of "dreamworld" with shaded sunglasses glasses I get into. When I "wake up" from it (aka. take off the glasses) I still technically know where I am, but see everything in a much brighter shade. When I try to remember the time before, it is like trying to remember a drunk night. Again, I remember the big things, but it doesn't really feel like I was present or there. Me and my boyfriend call it KFC (originated from AFK "away from keyboard", but I was not familiar with that term and kept accidentally calling it KFC, so we just stuck with it :P).

This also affects my loved ones, since I don't remember bonding experiences fully, and i with KFC sometimes also forget their needs. Because of this, i really want to find a solution.

So how does OCD come into this?

I as a person am very creative and have many "childish" traits. I usually get urges to do funny stuff , like wanting to climb on a railing, pet the cat or get a leaf from a tree I'm passing. Sadly no matter the circumstances, these urges still remain. Even when I'm having a scuffle with a friend or am comforting someone, I can not get rid of the thoughts that I really want to pet that cat. These urges have never been harmful and therefore I have never even considered them as any disorder. Other symptoms that could align with ocd, is that I very often have random thought processes that don't make sense. I can just go with my day and suddenly think of how cans are made, or what nothingness looks like and have a huge urge to discuss my thoughts. The thoughts are not voluntary and Its difficult for me to shut them out and concentrate/listen on something/someone else while having them.

On the other hand I do not have the "normal" OCD symptoms. I don't have urges to repeat patterns, slap butts in public, nor am I germophobic. I do have strong sense of organizing and knowing where to put things, but on the other hand I don't mind my room being messy at times either. When my brain is foggy or I am stressed I can get I to obsessive cleaning.

Thank you for reading this long post. I don't expect any scientific diagnoses from you guys, we are all just people after all. But I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences on the matter. If you have any questions, hit me up 😊

I experience strange feelings....One week I am sad and I lie down, I can't do anything...Another week I am up and cheerful....What it depends on, I don't know. When I am depressed, I feel that emotions leave me and I can't feel anything...and I would like to have some emotions. Life becomes empty and I don't see any meaning in it. I'm not afraid of death for a long time, moreover, I don't treat it badly. In a terrible depression I lie and struggle with my thoughts...I drink alcohol to drown the longing....usually life wins...but I get tired of the struggle. Emotions come up and I come alive. When I'm on the upswing, I want to socialize, I'm fun. But sometimes too much, I behave strangely. I start acting like a real actor, I get into the role and it's weird for others because I say ridiculous things...And I'm embarrassed. Then I run away from people and I'm alone again. ...It's unbearable. I'm split because one half of me is still sensible and the other half is completely mischievous. ...It's so hard to exist...I've already tried to quit living, but I immediately call myself an ambulance, it's my other half that wants to live.