Any suggestions for hobbies during recovery?
Any suggestions for hobbies during recovery?
- Thread starterOhioguy
- Start date
dark empathy
Registrant
It depends upon what you mean by "hobby" and what sort of person you are.
Most of the things I do are solo related, but that's not about recovery, it's about the collective not liking disabled people and most people's idea of social interaction being to go into noisy places and get drunk where I have no way of communicating.
I have found my singing and on stage performing helps me a great deal when I can do it, but getting to actually be able to do any is the problem. I think ball room dancing might have worked as a physical activity, accept it was so much the wrong group of people I just felt a total burden and had little social interaction.
Tabletop rp has been fun, though like anything else it depends upon how it is run, what the dynamics of the ggroup and players are and how well people interact, sinse a game which is just about rolling the dice can be as boring as it sounds, likewise even though your playing another character if group dynamics are such that you don't interact partciularly well with other players personally, your character won't have much fun either.
If however it works it can be fantastic for shared experience and cooperative story telling as well as some very nice feel good moments.
For solo hobbies, I've found very cerebral, resource management games to be highly useful, especially in extremely down periods. Nothing competitive or with a time limit, but something complex enough to just let you continue with the rational calculations and avoid emotions for the time being. Spacial logic puzzles such as sokoban, resource management games that require calculations of prophet and loss, that type of thing.
It's odd, usually i play computer games for the interaction with the world and story and exploration of the atmosphere, but the worse my emotions get, the less I can engage with anything emotional outside my brain, indeed apathy is the worst form of depression and that's where cerebral challenges can help.
It's not a hobby, but I'll also say having a dog helps. indeed Reever is curled up on my feet at the moment.
Most of the things I do are solo related, but that's not about recovery, it's about the collective not liking disabled people and most people's idea of social interaction being to go into noisy places and get drunk where I have no way of communicating.
I have found my singing and on stage performing helps me a great deal when I can do it, but getting to actually be able to do any is the problem. I think ball room dancing might have worked as a physical activity, accept it was so much the wrong group of people I just felt a total burden and had little social interaction.
Tabletop rp has been fun, though like anything else it depends upon how it is run, what the dynamics of the ggroup and players are and how well people interact, sinse a game which is just about rolling the dice can be as boring as it sounds, likewise even though your playing another character if group dynamics are such that you don't interact partciularly well with other players personally, your character won't have much fun either.
If however it works it can be fantastic for shared experience and cooperative story telling as well as some very nice feel good moments.
For solo hobbies, I've found very cerebral, resource management games to be highly useful, especially in extremely down periods. Nothing competitive or with a time limit, but something complex enough to just let you continue with the rational calculations and avoid emotions for the time being. Spacial logic puzzles such as sokoban, resource management games that require calculations of prophet and loss, that type of thing.
It's odd, usually i play computer games for the interaction with the world and story and exploration of the atmosphere, but the worse my emotions get, the less I can engage with anything emotional outside my brain, indeed apathy is the worst form of depression and that's where cerebral challenges can help.
It's not a hobby, but I'll also say having a dog helps. indeed Reever is curled up on my feet at the moment.
Just find something that you find pleasure in. It could be a book, fishing, walking, volunteering, golf, tennis. For me volunteering at the children's center has been therapeutic for many different reasons. I know some people find writing to be a great hobby, I also met someone who finds gardening to be a great way to pass the day.
I agree some people need activities where other people are there and others like the solo activities. You know yourself the best.
I know you will find something you enjoy.
I agree some people need activities where other people are there and others like the solo activities. You know yourself the best.
I know you will find something you enjoy.
i find that walking is good. you can do it alone or with someone else or even a small group. it can be any level from a gentle stroll to a strenuous hike. it doesn't take any equipment or investment to start. and you can combine it with other activities - talking, listening to music or audiobooks, sketching or photography.
sketching and photography are also activities that i enjoy and find relaxing and fulfilling. nature provides an endless subject with infinite variations - from panoramic landscape to close-up details. i have been able to produce some pieces that are worthy of framing and display and even suitable for gifts.
i also like writing - very therapeutic and fulfilling - whether journalling, imaginative creative writing, poetry, editorializing/rants or whatever.
i am not into sports of any kind - but would engage in them if i was any good and if my past experiences did not trigger me. i would tend toward the individual ones like running or swimming, rather than team involvement - but that might be something that would be attractive to others.
i wish i could play a musical instrument - and i know it is something that brings joy to many.
collecting is also a fun activity - the hunt for new or old items. i used to collect 78 rpm records and had a great time at flea markets, junk shops, yard sales, etc. just choose something that you are interested in and can afford!
wood-working, pottery, or any number of other crafts...
maybe some of these suggestions will spark more ideas for you.
Lee
sketching and photography are also activities that i enjoy and find relaxing and fulfilling. nature provides an endless subject with infinite variations - from panoramic landscape to close-up details. i have been able to produce some pieces that are worthy of framing and display and even suitable for gifts.
i also like writing - very therapeutic and fulfilling - whether journalling, imaginative creative writing, poetry, editorializing/rants or whatever.
i am not into sports of any kind - but would engage in them if i was any good and if my past experiences did not trigger me. i would tend toward the individual ones like running or swimming, rather than team involvement - but that might be something that would be attractive to others.
i wish i could play a musical instrument - and i know it is something that brings joy to many.
collecting is also a fun activity - the hunt for new or old items. i used to collect 78 rpm records and had a great time at flea markets, junk shops, yard sales, etc. just choose something that you are interested in and can afford!
wood-working, pottery, or any number of other crafts...
maybe some of these suggestions will spark more ideas for you.
Lee
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