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HEALTHY COPING MEGATHREAD
Just gonna leave some calming and helpful things here to calm and entertain during this crisis and afterwards.
Just gonna leave some calming and helpful things here to calm and entertain during this crisis and afterwards.
Colouring is great! The lovely @heyjenbartel has made a colouring book with some free pages you can download and print out yourself. https://twitter.com/heyjenbartel/status/1239641200258428929
If you don't have colouring supplies and a printer, or if you can't colour for disability reasons, there are tons of colouring book apps for the iPhone (and probably Android) where you just tap to fill stuff in.
While we're talking about apps, there's one called Fluid Simulation where you just swirl pretty colours around. It's very relaxing. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/fluid-simulation/id1443124993
There are more free colouring pages here. You can colour these online or print them out. https://coloringtop.com/holidays-coloring-pages/pattern-animal-coloring-pages
If you play an instrument, even if you're not good at it, this is a great time to practice or just dick around with it.
SING. One of the things that's really helpful for me when I'm down or anxious is singing along with music, and I often forget that it's even an option. It's a really great way to get my feelings out.
Video games!
A lot of games on Steam and elsewhere are majorly on sale right now. I recommend something like Animal Crossing or Stardew Valley to relax, but sometimes I find that I need a game with more narrative and direction to distract me.
A lot of games on Steam and elsewhere are majorly on sale right now. I recommend something like Animal Crossing or Stardew Valley to relax, but sometimes I find that I need a game with more narrative and direction to distract me.
SOME GAME RECS
For relaxation: Stardew Valley, My Time At Portia, Animal Crossing, Verdant Skies (that one has great queer and race representation too!), Coffee Talk, World's Dawn, most VNs (Arcade Spirits is great)
For relaxation: Stardew Valley, My Time At Portia, Animal Crossing, Verdant Skies (that one has great queer and race representation too!), Coffee Talk, World's Dawn, most VNs (Arcade Spirits is great)
For direction and distraction: Breath of the Wild, Divinity: Original Sin 2, Skyrim, Shadowrun Returns (if gunshots are a trigger for you, turn down the SFX in the options before starting), any Pokemon game, Fire Emblem: Three Houses
MMOs: Final Fantasy XIV, Elder Scrolls Online
Note: FFXIV requires monthly payments, but you only have to buy ESO once unless you want the premium thingy. Neither game is remotely pay to win.
Note: FFXIV requires monthly payments, but you only have to buy ESO once unless you want the premium thingy. Neither game is remotely pay to win.
Personally, I find ESO more user friendly, but it varies from person to person. I had to change a bunch of settings to make FFXIV playable for me, but if you want to start and need help with that, DM me.
Or just @ me. Whichever.
I FORGOT NIER: AUTOMATA
It's definitely in the distraction section, not the relaxation section.
It's definitely in the distraction section, not the relaxation section.
Ok, moving on from games...
READING. If you can concentrate on it, that is, and if you can't, there's nothing to be ashamed of. Audiobooks can also be really helpful.
READING. If you can concentrate on it, that is, and if you can't, there's nothing to be ashamed of. Audiobooks can also be really helpful.
Beat me to it, I love these! https://twitter.com/inthefantods/status/1246842042401112064
You can sometimes find them in different keys to suit your voice too.
