Mental solutions to life’s roadblocks

[bluejays]

Mods feel free to take this topic down if it’s bordering on edgy.

Anyway, as I’m getting to the mid life era of my life I realize there are things coming to terms accepting and how to do so. Things such as chasing money or comfort, health of parents, health of pets, social circle getting smaller as you get older, successes and failures, etc. and it comes to a headway at some point.

Anyway, I recently tried microdosing on mushrooms (these stores are now starting to pop up) and I read about the benefits and found it provided a good chance for introspection. I’ve never been a substance user of any type so this was a bit out the norm to try anything but I’ll ask CP what are their modes of decompressing and understanding life’s challenges and insecurities? What lightbulb moments did you find useful (deep or simple)? I find this stuff interesting.

[ah123]

I have been in the midlife phase of my life for a while and found some stuff that works for me:

- meditation - i had a membership to the Calm app for a while and the meditation technique they showed helped.

- focusing on things that are important to me and where I can/need to make an impact. As I get older, I find I have limited time and energy, so I stopped wasting that time and energy on things that are not important to me

- focusing on doing things I enjoy. I have a limited number of “healthy” years left, so I want to make the most of that time (also, making sure I do everything to increase the number of healthy years)

Good luck!

[musth]

Great thread OP. Been thinking the same thoughts and wondering as well.


Following

[AC]

If you're finding a positive benefit obviously it doesn't matter but I believe recent studies have shown microdosing doesn't have the benefits previously suggested.

Microdosing with psilocybin mushrooms: a double-blind placebo-controlled study
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41398-022-02039-0

Psilocybin microdosing does not affect emotion-related symptoms and processing
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8801668/

[flamesfever]

I think too much introspection can be unhealthy

I would go easy on the mushrooms

I would suggest being as positive as you can be, be grateful for what you have, and enjoy each day as much as you can.

[topfiverecords]

I get a coffee and go for a walk daily. Does the trick.

[Ozy_Flame]

Meditation. Helps ground your anxiety around life's issues, big or small. And doing it regularly, you get better at it.

It seperates anxiety in 'modules' and lets you reset for the rest of your day.

I swear by it. And I started doing it when I got into my late 30s.

I use Balance, but the Calm app is also great. Spotify playlists are also great for meditation.

[Jiggy]

Meditation and deep breathing has been amazing for me. Start off slow with 5-10 minutes a day (more if you're able to), and then work your way up to 30 or more minutes. I do it in the morning and evening and it's help me tremendously.

Getting good exercise. Even if it is a light walk. At least you're outside getting some sunshine.

I'm down to about 15 close family and friends that I'm constantly in touch with. Everyone else just drained me or used me when they needed an I had to get out of that cycle.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by AC

If you're finding a positive benefit obviously it doesn't matter but I believe recent studies have shown microdosing doesn't have the benefits previously suggested.

Microdosing with psilocybin mushrooms: a double-blind placebo-controlled study
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41398-022-02039-0

Psilocybin microdosing does not affect emotion-related symptoms and processing
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8801668/

Thanks. Good info. I've only done it once, FWIW, but heard it's not good to do these things too often.

[GGG]

Endurance based excercise, nothing extreme but an hour or so really distresses.

And an unhealthy rabbit hole of going through the worst possible outcomes of a situation and deciding I could live with it. I don’t think this is a healthy process but it seems to help fight through anxiety episodes.

[RichieRich]

Already some great suggestions. Overall you'll have to figure what works for you and then adapt as life changes too.

For me definitely exercise is important and moreso being outside for some time most days. I'm a "desk-jockey" so fresh air and nature seem to feed my soul more than I used to realize. Sometimes it's reading a book on the back deck, or a simple 30min walk (sometimes slow, sometimes in power-mode); a 5km run, or decent bike ride. Hitting the gym seems good but moreso in the winter. The slow calming yoga has been super beneficial for me - mentally and physically.
Thinking about situations can be good, but yeah those rabbitholes can bury you too - which is why a mentally stimulating exercise checks all the boxes.

Personally I have not tried CBD or mushrooms or other stuff but am curious...

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by ah123

I have been in the midlife phase of my life for a while and found some stuff that works for me:

- meditation - i had a membership to the Calm app for a while and the meditation technique they showed helped.

- focusing on things that are important to me and where I can/need to make an impact. As I get older, I find I have limited time and energy, so I stopped wasting that time and energy on things that are not important to me

- focusing on doing things I enjoy. I have a limited number of “healthy” years left, so I want to make the most of that time (also, making sure I do everything to increase the number of healthy years)

Good luck!

This. End thread.

All the other stuff is just going to delay the inevitable need to do the above, and most likely it will have some negative health complications along the way.

Midlife crises are real. Don't feel bad if you have one. Just don't overreact and do dumb #### in the process.

[Ozy_Flame]

'Stores starting to pop up'

I didn't even have to look at his handle to know that's Toronto. Yonge or Queen.

You are braver than I sir, I don't have the courage to go in, I don't know what I'd be buying and my wife would probably kill me lol

[TheIronMaiden]

With respect to psilocybin and other psychedelics they may help give you new perspective on life, but only if you have the tools prepared to undertake the mental exercise. These are not magic solutions. It is like running a marathon. You should practice the fundamentals before diving head long into it.

[Matata]

I think psychedelics can be wonderful tools for mental health, but i think the ideal is having a very intense experience every 3-5 years. I think they offer a very unique opportunity to unclutter your mind and reassess ones own values and goals, and it's best to put a chunk of time in between in order to gather the life experiences required to have a really productive session.

I think the most important thing to remember is that mental health lags behind physical. A healthy mindset requires the chemistry produced by a healthy body. All of your life experiences are impacted by your physical health to some degree.

[CroFlames]

Is there anything out there besides the Calm app, or is that the gold-standard?

[Winsor_Pilates]

Say NO to more things.
Stop doing things others want you to do that you know are really not your priority.

Prioritize sleep, exercise and healthy eating.

Build social circles around activities you enjoy. If you like cycling, golf, music, whatever; find friends who do too.
It's ok to hang out with new people over your old friends if your old friends don't want to do anything you enjoy.
Your time is too limited to prioritize their activities just to see them all the time.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Is there anything out there besides the Calm app, or is that the gold-standard?

Headspace is the other big one in the app world

[TorqueDog]

Get "The Little Book of Calm" by Paul Wilson.

Spoiler!

It's a real book.

[bluejays]

Thanks. Some great starts and advice as well by all. Truly appreciate it. I’m sure a few around here could use the advice as well as recently I’ve noticed a few posts alluding to such things!