the ocd series: part 8 - things that make me better, things that make me worse

Inspired by author and depression and anxiety survivor Matt Haig, I'm sharing a list of things that can spike or worsen my OCD, rumination, anxiety and stress. And a list of things that have supported my recovery from 19 years of OCD, that make me feel happy in my soul and which help to quiet my mind.

Things that make me worse
Poor sleep
Staying up too late
Doing too much
Not resting enough
Caffeine
Not eating enough protein (meats, fish, eggs)
Crowded, busy cities (if I’m there too long)

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Pollution
Not enough time in Nature
Tight muscles
Not doing yoga
Unempathic people
Too much time on my own
Not eating enough nourishing fats
Not taking my supplements
Stress
Not feeling safe, emotionally
The news
Going too long without a meal or snack (more than 4 or 5 hours)
Social media (sometimes, not always)
Endless grey, cold weather
Not feeling cared about
Not being compassionate with myself
​Rushing

Things that make me better
Eating free-range meats and eggs
A home-cooked roast with lashing of olive oil and herbs
Lots of saturated fat and omega 3
Yoga
Deep breathing, long exhales
Time on my own
Time in Nature
Planting vegetables and herbs, tending them
Avoiding caffeinated drinks for like, 357 days of the year
Quiet
Not overloading my schedule
Massages
Kind people
Hugs
Asking myself what I’m really feeling under the noise in my head, and allowing myself to feel it
Long, hot baths
Surfing!
Taking my practitioner-grade (professional quality) supplements
Nervine
Connecting with other OCD and mental health survivors
Supporting people with their mental health in my work as a nutritionist
Following the research on nutrition for mental health
Writing
Reading
ERP therapy
Therapy, with the right therapist
Live music
Listening to Lady Gaga, Queen, Atmosphere
Pete Walker’s book Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving
Staying away from toxic people, for good
Eighties movies! The Karate Kid, The Goonies, and more
​Caitlin Moran books
Italy
Italian food done right
Being around animals
Blasting tunes and singing in my car
Dogs
My dog