How do you calm yourself when you are anxious?

[StillWaiting]

Stressed out by everything.
I am not sure how can I calm down when I feel anxious.
Just curious how do you guys calm yourself down when you feel helpless or anxious

 

[Halo13]

Classical music with headphones, eyes closed. Petting my dog. Going out for a walk, if possible. Distractions are helpful. If it's a full blown panic attack, I'm a mess.

 

[blanketyblk]

Animals help a lot. something about unconditional love. also playing music can make me think of something else. usually happier times.

 

[LogicalConclusion]

Tbqh, I smoke a bowl lol or take my meds. That's only if it's completely unmanageable, though. The rest of the time (I'm always anxious) I try my best to focus on stuff I'm learning or play a game.

 

[AtomicNewt]

Stressed out by everything.
I am not sure how can I calm down when I feel anxious.
Just curious how do you guys calm yourself down when you feel helpless or anxious

Well often drink and wander round. Or sit down and drink. A lot. Not really to be recommended, will ruin your health and finances and undoubtedly make your position worse. In my case it's just the ptsd symptoms were so extreme I couldn't leave the house or sleep without this. Pattern forms. Fuckers should have just given me the damn valium.

Sorry to hear you're feeling anxious and stressed, now I've offered my inadvisable two bits, perhaps you could try going out for a walk - sounds patronising but promise it beats staring at the wall! - the best place I find is along some water, preferably the sea. Make it aimless, as it doesn't place stress on you. Only go places where you won't see people that know you. *

As for the rest, the hopelessness, no idea. Haven't tried howling at the moon, but it seems as useful as anything. Hell, might even be cathartic.

* I'm currently lying on the sofa, trying to muster the energy to do this. It's been best part 24hrs thus far, so I'm pretty rubbish.

 

[blanketyblk]

As for the rest, the hopelessness, no idea. Haven't tried howling at the moon, but it seems as useful as anything. Hell, might even be cathartic.

Can confirm.. when i go camping i usually whale at the moon. it's never replied back. but i sure as hell feel a little better afterwards

 

[letmeseethedeath]

i cry

 

[WinterIsComing]

Hipnosis for anxiety in youtube. For everyday when needed.

 

[Halo13]

Can confirm.. when i go camping i usually whale at the moon. it's never replied back. but i sure as hell feel a little better afterwards

Perhaps it doesn't speak whale? Maybe try sonar like bats? (just trying to get a smile out of someone)

 

[blanketyblk]

Perhaps it doesn't speak whale? Maybe try sonar like bats? (just trying to get a smile out of someone)

ahhh.. you got me there . stupid moon. how can it now understand whale.. it is after all a universal language.. right? :-)

 

[Halo13]

ahhh.. you got me there . stupid moon. how can it now understand whale.. it is after all a universal language.. right? :-)

I'd hope so or Shamu has some explaining to do!

 

[blanketyblk]

I'd hope so or Shamu has some explaining to do!

Aww Shamu.. poor thing.. yes i'm old enough to remember and know who/was shamu.

 

[throwaway123]

I try to breathe and to not think of anything.

 

[burnedCookie]

I try to exhaust myself as much as possible, walks, pullups/pushups, anything that requires energy and prevents me from thinking
its just impossible for me to stand still when I'm overly anxious, my chest would explode

 

[Black_Knight]

When it's really bad, I try to be still and imagine myself as a rock. In that state, any form of excitation can send my heart racing so I try to get away from any sources of external stimulation, especially other people. Lots of self-soothing statements that I repeat in my head too.
If it's the normal daily anxiety I pace around and mutter to myself.

 

[ArtsyDrawer]

For me, it's mindfulness walks. In moderation.
I mean, they walk without moderation as well, it's just that it's 28 goddamn degrees outside. I had to do a lot of mindfulness walks in order to just kill time. As a result, I am now thoroughly baked, and not the stoner kind

 

[pole]

Stressed out by everything.
I am not sure how can I calm down when I feel anxious.
Just curious how do you guys calm yourself down when you feel helpless or anxious

controlled breathing, and if it gets to a an extreme level, step out of the environment/setting for a split second go gather yourself. whether that be go go to the bathroom quick or whatever.

 

[imademypicture]

I can't. I just tell myself "It do be like that" and fasten myself for a trainwreck of a journey till I complete the very thing that was giving me anxiety lol.

 

[Saga]

for me i usually do things that physically hurt me,or sometimes i drink coz most of the time when i drink my mind becomes blank..when I hurt myself I end up putting more attention on the parts of my body that hurts

 

[ManWithNoName]

Classical music with headphones, eyes closed. Petting my dog. Going out for a walk, if possible. Distractions are helpful. If it's a full blown panic attack, I'm a mess.

I second the classical music. Vivaldi, or Bach comes to my mind. It should be calm, but uplifting.

 

[Numbtopain97]

i listen to music

 

[Donewith_]

I eat.. sometimes.
Or listen to music..

 

[a_strange_day]

benzos mostly, a lot of it
once it dosen't work anymore I switch to something else for a while, then I start the cycle again

 

[Cleopatra123]

Stressed out by everything.
I am not sure how can I calm down when I feel anxious.
Just curious how do you guys calm yourself down when you feel helpless or anxious

Bach flower remedies: two drops in a glass of water, sip through the day, no side effects at all. Takes the edge off with the pharma reactions. You'll have to do research of how to get a tincture of what would be made specifically for you: Good luck, best wishes.

 

[StillWaiting]

I second the classical music. Vivaldi, or Bach comes to my mind. It should be calm, but uplifting.

Thanks for the suggestion. Feeling a little better while listening to this

 

[ManWithNoName]

Thanks for the suggestion. Feeling a little better while listening to this

Glad you enjoyed it.
And on the subject of soothing music, don't forget opera:

 

[DetachedDreamer97]

I draw. It's the one thing that keeps me sane.

 

[StillWaiting]

I draw. It's the one thing that keeps me sane.

I wish I can draw too.

 

[mathieu]

Sometimes walk my dog, sometimes take a clonazepam.

 

[Orin]

I've been struggling with anxiety lately as well. But I try to remind myself that i feel anxious because i desire a certain outcome, and the fear of not getting that outcome is what stresses me out. So i try to accept the fact that i may not get what i want; that we can't control everything in life. I imagine the worst possible outcome and how i would react to that. In a weird way, that sort of calms me down because i kinda know how to react in the worst situation.