If you are between a 6-8, and it's not already a habit for you, go brush your teeth.
I know it probably sounds lame. Like, it's obviously not a replacement for therapy, and you might think that the advice will be ineffective, is dismissive to your situation, or whatever. But a tiny intentional act of self care can go a long way to making you feel better.
If I hadn't heard that advice before, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be here to share it. So go brush your teeth and know that I'm rooting for you.
Haha, yeah as soon as I got to 5 I thought there’s where the baseline has been since childhood.
I was actively at a 6 for many years. A lot of my family used to make fun of me because I would never buy a gun, saying stuff like "oh are you against gun ownership or something?"
It took a lot to not snap at them "no I love guns but if I owned one I know it would one day end up pointed at my temple"
Now I have a girlfriend and while life's still hard, I don't have those thoughts anymore. Still won't buy a gun though
Oh I thought I was normal. Turns out baseline is 4/5 and most of last week was spent in 8 only snapped out of by a 2 day
No joke here, I just sincerely hope you can reach out in some manner and speak with anyone you trust, or a professional.
I'm between #5 and #6 my whole life. As far back as I can remember. More often going to #8 lately.
I'm about at a 9, but I learned a long time ago my friends will distance themselves from me if I say anything that might imply the fact.
People can only take so much drama from others before they need to distance themselves for their own wellbeing. I feel no distress or fear. Two years of an abusive relationship followed by a high dose of psychedelics burned most of my self-preservation out a year ago. I have a little under a week left unless something changes. I'm quietly getting my affairs in order.
Huh. High point days is a 5, otherwise baseline about 6 through 8.5 (have a list of plans, research, modalities, but haven't made any steps)
Kinda nice to have a chart that I can point at and go "Yup, I'm here."
Going from a 9.5 to a 4-5 basically takes going scorched earth on your old life and rebuilding it.