I face my shit and don't use any mystical crutches.

I knit for charity - warm scarves and hats for those who maybe sleep rough - baby items for mums who may need little things for a new babe. I'll be starting chemo and radiation soon - knitting gives me something to focus on, stops me wondering if things will work out, and helps someone else to get warm.

Talking it out, having even one person understand my side can be very healing. Getting out in nature soothes me, as well.

The last two years have sucked - packed full of hardships - I allowed one in particular to get to me and I ended up hospitalized, on antidepressants and many more hospital stays followed because of numerous panic attacks. I got off all the crap and I learned to recognize when I was having a panic attack and as a result, I've avoided the hospital for well over a year. The antidepressants made me more depressed than I was when I first started taking them. I learned that it's OK to be sad, it's OK to be disappointed, it's OK to be angry and it's OK to move on. I lost my brother last July - I mourned him - I missed him but now I've looking forward and that's OK too.

I also learned that with age comes certain privileges - one of which is the right to not give a shit about what others think. I am OK being an introvert - I am not up to socializing like everyone else and I've reached the point in my life where I feel comfortable saying "I appreciate the invite but think that I will pass". They can get upset about it and it can result in all kinds of drama - but I don't give a shit.

The point I'm trying to make in a long-winded kind of way is that I have kept going not because I have an external source to draw on for strength but because I changed my mindset and prioritized the things that matter vs. the things that don't. You are your source of strength - you gotta figure out how to tap into it. Not giving a shit is an important part of it as well .

Although this is a personal hypothesis of mine, I believe that non-clinical mood changes are a type of brain coping mechanisms and I try to let myself experience the moment to find out what I need to cope with.

I definately love your question. music is whats keeps me alive. all music which are not religious are heaven to me.

Friends who understand, and also Therapist and Doctor.

A little weed, a little music, and friends.

Nothing. Why fool myself just to feel better? I've recently challenged myself to wake up happy everyday. I'm focusing on that.

Lyrics from my favorite songs.

Find communities of like-minded friends....know that there IS strength in numbers...isolate yourself from the religiously-minded.

My brain, science writings.

We also have books. And the mountains, the deserts, the ocean, the moon, the stars...

Everything I need is within

I often take a nap or binge watch one of my favorite shows or movies.
Gets me out of whatever bad head-space I'm in and sort of pushes the reset button.

Even though I consider myself agnostic I do have beliefs that align mostly with the Taoist beliefs. That being said, I find comfort and strength living in the moment and appreciating the past but not dwelling on it. I remind myself this life is an experience and it includes good and bad feelings. I do my best to remember how good I have it compared to others even in hard times and to tell myself that hardships end but hardships create growth as well.

I turn to other people. If I withdraw I just ruminate and make it worse for myself. If I know them well enough, I'll talk the problem through with them. If not, I'll ask for distractions.

Failing that, I go to the gym and lift really heavy with loud music in my earbuds or get on a treadmill and turn it up as fast as I can go and run until I can't any more. Granted, it caused a bit if a scene the last time I ran off a panic attack because I started crying. Turned out the workout room wasn't as empty as I thought that day. ?

I get high and consider the yin and yang of the universe.

I relay on my self because that is the only one I can relay count on. Self meditation no set program just deep thought with my self. This is my spirituality ! I have several who relay on me in times of need but not me to them. I use my inner strenght to get through them.

Your's truly.

Me

I sit and think through ways to get back on track, be it financially, emotionally or whatever. I'm also fortunate to have a supportive, reliable and sensible partner. Other than that, I live in the situation and face up to it, however uncomfortable it may feel; I find it better than clutching to apron strings.

It's a very good question. I lean on friends and family, my online buddhist sangha, the nature around me, sometimes a good novel or film, or a dream.

Logically evaluate the situation to determine the best course of action. Carefully weigh options and probably outcomes.

On the flip side, I know of many religious who, when they are faced with great hardships, are abandoned by their churches, houses of worship and their men/women. Unlike those who are not "of the faith" they also get the additional weight of being betrayed by their invisible sky daddy who doesn't love them any more because they (the religious person) must have done something wrong to anger their god/church etc and the bad thing (cancer, death of loved one, money problems etc.) is a result of the religious person being bad. I could fill a few pages with such (true) stories.