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Scott Gould's avatar

Al, thank you for writing this. This is really good, both for your openness, and your recommendations.

There’s a few things there that I haven’t considered actually, so I’ll check them out

Like you, I do the usual: exercise, nature, good routine, read, etc. But what I like was the 80s music one, and the massage one - both of which strike me as very grounding activities, linked with an ownership of what you like

It’s that ownership of what you like that really strikes me from this post, so I’ll look into that more in my own life.

Thank you!

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Ian Smith's avatar

Alastair - this is fantastic and one of the best things I have read on managing mental health - and you'll know from our brief interactions to date that I've read a few (and written some)!

I would echo all of the things you detail. In your massage category, in normal times (when not shielding my wife) I have a Shiatsu session every other week which is wonderful - I literal disappear into another world for an hour and feel like I am floating afterwards.

I also completely agree with your comments on counselling. It was actually my kids who got me to go first about 15 years ago and I have been going when needed since. The biggest barrier Dr Dave broke through first for me - which took a while - was when he kept saying - "you keep telling me what you are going to do about it, but I actually want to know how you feel about it."

Have a great Christmas.

Ian

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