Ask HN: How do you manage your mental health?

Exercise. Not 'going to the gym' but regular, intense, 60m+ workouts that push you further than you thought possible.

Good apps for this: Keelo, Peloton. I use them both in combination since they are totally different. Insanity is also great but their app blows.

YMMV but really hard exercise has proven invaluable for my mental health.

I made the decision to be positive and happy. Previously I let my mood/happiness levels be dictated by external factors. I realized that it was my decision so I started to make it a habit to be more positive.

I have a list of values/sayings which I review every week and I set a reminder on my phone. It keeps me focused on the most important things in life like my health and relationships with friends and family. I also believe in abundance mentality.

With drugs for the most part.

Disappointed to see that "See a doctor or mental health professional" has not yet been mentioned. So I'll recommend that. My anxiety had started manifesting physically as panic attacks. After verifying my situation wasn't an emergency, he said my diagnosis was a no-brainer and prescribed Sertraline. It's helped a lot, and I've had no ill side-effects.

Please, please see a doctor or mental health professional if you suspect you have anxiety or depression. It doesn't necessarily mean you'll need medication if you're not keen on that. At the very least they will help you establish a baseline.

I see a therapist in the same way that I see a dentist – even if there's no immediate crisis, preventative care is generally much easier than waiting until there is some sort of major issue.

If we have someone check our teeth and gums a couple times a year just to clean out the gunk and make sure everything is ok, why wouldn't we do the same for our (arguably) most important organ?