When you are feeling so low that all you want to do is stay in bed. But you can’t. What can you do to help lift yourself away from the claws of depression?
If you have no choice, and have to present yourself to the world, then your anxieties will be going berserk. So take a few minutes, sit down if you can, and take a deep breath in through your mouth, count to eight, then exhale through your nose (also to the count of eight.) Then find five things to look at, three of similar colour and then notice a few smells. You should feel a tad calmer, and if you don’t then notice more objects and repeat the breathing exercise, but this time – tap each thigh as you exhale.

What you do next is – either aloud or in your head – give yourself a useful a positive, running commentary.
Example: “Right I’ve got my lunch by the door, and next I’m gonna go upstairs, go to the loo once more, then I’m good to go.”

And as you travel, you will see rooftops, landscapes, people, trees… Look all around you at what you can see – a number of psychologists have explained that looking from side to side can help to reset our minds. And we all know about the benefits of being in the great outdoors.

If you are struggling, then perhaps use this tool, endorsed by Grassroots Suicide Prevention, to jot down some ideas which may help you during a time of difficulty or crisis:

(GRASSROOTS SUICIDE PREVENTION #stayalive)
I will talk to:
I will seek help from:
I will calm / comfort myself by:
I will go somewhere I am safe:
My ideas for keeping safe: