If you are between a 6-8, and it's not already a habit for you, go brush your teeth.
I know it probably sounds lame. Like, it's obviously not a replacement for therapy, and you might think that the advice will be ineffective, is dismissive to your situation, or whatever. But a tiny intentional act of self care can go a long way to making you feel better.
If I hadn't heard that advice before, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be here to share it. So go brush your teeth and know that I'm rooting for you.
I was actively at a 6 for many years. A lot of my family used to make fun of me because I would never buy a gun, saying stuff like "oh are you against gun ownership or something?"
It took a lot to not snap at them "no I love guns but if I owned one I know it would one day end up pointed at my temple"
Now I have a girlfriend and while life's still hard, I don't have those thoughts anymore. Still won't buy a gun though
People can only take so much drama from others before they need to distance themselves for their own wellbeing. I feel no distress or fear. Two years of an abusive relationship followed by a high dose of psychedelics burned most of my self-preservation out a year ago. I have a little under a week left unless something changes. I'm quietly getting my affairs in order.