Coping Skills: TV and Movies

[ysabetwordsmith]

Folks have mentioned an interest in questions and conversations that make them think. So I've decided to offer more of those. This is the current list of coping skills.

6. Watch television or a movie.

If you have trouble thinking what to watch when stressed, consider making a list or keeping a shelf of EFA videos.  I prefer rewatching things I've seen before, usually lighter stuff, often animated.

Further ideas ...

63 Comforting Movies

65 Comforting TV Shows

All the episodes of The Joy of Painting with Bob Ross <3

Comments

More Comfort Shows

[jtthomas]

The official Mister Rogers' Neighborhood website puts up two episodes a month, with the most recent five episodes available at any given time.

PBS has The Woodwright's Shop available to watch, too. Creative, with an emphasis on everyone makes mistakes, including professionals, and that's okay.

[caera_ash]

I'm a big fan of My Little Pony for destressing. Colors, friendship, really catchy songs, and short episodes.

[siliconshaman]

I've a folder of "Bad Day Videos" ... which I freely admit, are mostly anime because they know how to do it right.

Number 1 of those is sewayaki kitsune no senko san {dubed version here} because it is literally all about having someone [in this case a kitsune] taking care of you.

For a more realist approach to self care, and affirmation it's ok to be a bit of a loner, there's Yuru Camp season 1 and two which is about a group of friends discovering the joy of winter camping, mostly inspired by Rin, who is a seasoned solo camper, and convincing Rin to try camping in a group.

[fianna9]

Personally I've got a couple of comfort movies:

Disney's Lilo and Stitch. Things can get rough, but its the family you make that will help get you through things. David and Noni are both seriously underrated.

Steel Magnolias (either version) another bond between friends movie and helping to cope with the good and the bad.

Yes ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

Lilo and Stitch is on my list of comfort movies. Treasure Island is another.

Re: Yes ...

[fianna9]

Queen Latifah is always good to watch, but I love Dolly Parton in the original film. I could watch or listen to her read a phone book.

Another good one for comfort is to put on some of David Attenborough's old familiar favorites and just let his voice and those visuals settle you. The Caves episode of Planet Earth is one example.

Another one that holds up for me is the original Tremors movies; the second one is good too. Those were fun action/horror with characters and dialogue that make me laugh.

Suggestion- go with re-watching

[dialecticdreamer]

Rather than picking a new movie or show, go with re-watching something. I've had some nasty surprises with new shows that hit a sore button unexpectedly, so my choice now is to pick something that I can quote large chunks of dialogue from, and use that familiarity as part of the de-escalation of stress.

I haven't seen every episode of Bob Ross, but I /know/ that he's as consistent as Mister Rogers, and I wouldn't hesitate to throw in an unknown episode of either show.

Re: Suggestion- go with re-watching

[dialecticdreamer]

OH!

Townsends you tube channel is a go-to when I want something relaxing. Michael Twitty talking about the history of food, a guest expert on coffee (including period methods of making and storing), making their own shelters one style at a time, and a ton of recipes... I love these.

I do NOT love the too loud You Tube advertising, and would pay for a digital collections so that I could watch without those nasty interruptions.

For anyone interested in music, their music is almost always period, but a few have instrumentals done by the same band that does the historical tunes, so the feel is very similar.

Re: Suggestion- go with re-watching

[ysabetwordsmith]

Yeah, that's one reason I prefer rewatching. Another is that, if I'm comfort-watching, I usually don't have the focus to pay close attention to complex plot or subtle characterization. Rewatching not only makes it easier to choose something simpler, it means I've already analyzed the thing so I don't have to do it then.

Re: Suggestion- go with re-watching

[dialecticdreamer]

I just don't have a lot of options without paying for some kind of subscription. Which bites.

Re: Suggestion- go with re-watching

[readera]

I love to comfort rewatch and so does my partner. We tend towards light hearted animation & musicals. Forged in fire & the repair shop area also in the rotation.

I also enjoy rewatching youtube videos like Emmymade or other soft spoken narrated style videos.

Re: Suggestion- go with re-watching

[dialecticdreamer]

For something that I have to /watch/ rather than listen to, Primitive Technology is fun. There's sound, but no talking, and he builds shelters, ovens, cisterns, and more, starting with a ROCK.

Ah the Joy of painting.

[bunnylane74]

I dont' make it very far into the episodes.. any episode. Instant sleep pill until he stops talking. Him and my favorite ASMR artist.. total comas.

Re: Ah the Joy of painting.

[ysabetwordsmith]

Also good for pain control and emotional first aid.

People rely too much on drugs as a first solution when there are often other things that work with less risky side effects.

Overdose on sleeping pills, need your stomach pumped.

Overdose on Bob Ross, doodle happy little trees on napkins while waiting for the food to arrive.

Re: Ah the Joy of painting.

[bunnylane74]

Yeah my doctors tried pills first. for some reason, sleeping pills don't really work on me. I dont' get sleepy. I just get cranky and groggy. It's not pretty. I found ASMR by accident.. and then when I found bob ross on hulu and netflix.. ZZZZzzz I love it. Although sometimes I get a little freaked out by dancing happy little trees in my dreams.

Re: Ah the Joy of painting.

[ysabetwordsmith]

Most downers backfire on me. I have only had one medic acknowledge this -- and I strongly suspect that one is neurovariant. Everyone said it's impossible. He said, "Oh yeah, that's a known phenomenon."

Best I can tell, my body interprets most such things as poison and breaks them as fast as possible. I wind up hypervigilant and vibrating, which is the opposite of helpful.

Most relaxing herbs either don't affect me or have normal soothing effects, though. Chamomile and linden are mild, valerian and hops stronger. So I have a collection of "evening" teas in my cabinet.