Non-professional help options

• Mindfulness meditation can be a great way to relieve stress. Insight Timer is a great app with free meditations as short as 5 minutes. The Calm app may also be very useful, and has programs that you can follow along with. Also, the CoRec has a Mindfulness room that you can use (see https://www.purdue.edu/recwell/fitness-wellness/wellness/mindfulness.php).
• Exercise is another great option. Something as simple as getting out for a short walk can help to clear your head.
• Spend time with people. Sometimes when one feels stressed or sad, hanging out with other people is the last thing you want to do. However, it can be really helpful! You might learn that they too are struggling. Also, try to establish relationships with people that are not solely based on graduate school (e.g. sports, book clubs, video games, religion, etc.)
• An hour a week at an animal shelter or foodbank can help you to feel that you are doing something worthwhile when everything in lab seems to be going wrong. It can also help you to get out of your own head.
• Color in an adult coloring book, paint something, play with some clay, knit a scarf, or make some music. You do not have to be good at it to see benefits!

Obviously, you do not have to do all of these things. What works is very individualized. Choose something that speaks to you and try it. If it does not help, try something else.