Post your healthy coping mechanism for Anxiety

MoxieDoxie · Feb 01, 2020 at 10:24 AM

Whether it is your favorite guided imagery, breathing exercise, or some other technique you have been taught to do or learned to do on your own.

Something different than the usual go for a walk or take a bath.

Feb 01, 2020 at 11:26 AM

I just listen to music or journal.

probably not really what you're after but their we go

comedy tv shows too

MoxieDoxie · Feb 01, 2020 at 02:50 PM

I am really shocked that only one person replied to this. I thought with all the anxiety disorders out there people would be jumping on telling their story of what they have done to help with their anxiety or the tools their therapist gave them.

zapatoes · Feb 01, 2020 at 10:27 PM

Exercise helps and so does making a list and accomplishing my goal of completing things. A few weeks ago when I exercised and did dancing with getting my heart rate it did lessen my anxiety quite a bit. In the past yoga and meditation helped also.

*Beth* · Feb 02, 2020 at 03:18 PM

Probably very few replies because so many of us don't feel confident about controlling our anxiety.

The ways I try to lessen my anxiety (besides taking Klonopin) is by doing art or craft work.

It's very important for me to remember to breathe deeply and fully. When we do even 3 minutes of deep, full breathing the "logic" center of our brain is activated, while the "emotion" center (amygdala) is far less stimulated.

Structure keeps my anxiety lower...sometimes. In other words, I have a list of chores and hopefully get busy dong them so I'm not immensely focused on my thoughts.

Maybe best of all is escape in the form of movie or book.

Sometimes psychotic · Feb 02, 2020 at 03:34 PM

I hardly check the anxiety forum because talking about anxiety usually makes it worse for me. I like to paint to help with it.

SelfLoving · Feb 02, 2020 at 03:45 PM

Here’s my go to in this order. If the first one doesn’t work, I move to the second.

During Anxiety - the kind that can trigger panic attacks:

1) Deep slow breathing.

2) Present Moment descriptive exercise: I’ll sit and use whatever is around me. If I’m driving, I’ll describe the texture of the steering wheel in my hands, what I’m smelling, what I see, how the seat feels beneath me. I say it all out loud.

3) Ice. I hold ice. Emotions effect the body, so I use the body to alter the emotions. Ice jolts me back to the present moment and I can try again at step 1.

4) If none of that works, I look at the trigger and have the moment. I let it flow over me and then it’s lots of self love time.

Preventative:
To help me keep anxiety at bay, I exercise, Craft, do music, play with my puppy, bake, take a bath, walk in the sun and meditate using the app Insight Timer

Mopey · Feb 02, 2020 at 04:52 PM

I try very hard to focus my energy on something - could be almost anything - outside of myself. Anything to distract my attention from what I'm anxious about. I've found the more I can be in the moment, and avoid fantasizing about how badly things could go wrong, the more it helps. I've been doing this for a couple of years now and it's gradually growing more effective as a technique

No question anxiety is painful and unpleasant.

Feb 02, 2020 at 05:03 PM

I just try to keep in mind lessons learned from books like the power of now. That a lot of my anxiety is a voice in my head nattering at me but I don't have to listen.

Also I have a list in my head of times I was SURE things weren't going to work out, and they did, so I am reminded things can go well.

winter4me · Feb 02, 2020 at 06:47 PM

When possible, I jump in a lake (I am not kidding) or get into any body of natural running water.
Riding a bicycle also helps.
If I am stuck inside and can push myself, I can do better with listening to certain music (having a neighbor now stops me from blasting certain music and dancing around like a crazy person like me) knit, simple sew, clean if able
reward myself with fresh flowers when it's over. or something else.
Then again...there are times I curl up under the covers, listen to an audiobook I like, or watch a show I can deal with that I know, …
If I could ski out the door I would.
I don't like walking right out the door...need to feel up to driving a bit.

winter4me · Feb 02, 2020 at 06:49 PM

Driving actually helps sometimes, back roads with the radio on...once I put it in gear, I am much better...usually.

*Beth* · Feb 02, 2020 at 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by winter4me

Driving actually helps sometimes, back roads with the radio on...once I put it in gear, I am much better...usually.

Yes, this is a good one for me, too. Focus, good music, and the feeling that I'm not stuck in one place.

winter4me · Feb 03, 2020 at 06:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BethRags

Yes, this is a good one for me, too. Focus, good music, and the feeling that I'm not stuck in one place.

Exactly! -

TishaBuv · Feb 03, 2020 at 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoxieDoxie

I am really shocked that only one person replied to this. I thought with all the anxiety disorders out there people would be jumping on telling their story of what they have done to help with their anxiety or the tools their therapist gave them.

Well, you asked for healthy coping mechanisms, lol.

Avoidance where possible to protect myself, effectively dealing with the stressor then trying to not let the aftershock trigger me too much which is hard to do, distractions like posting on here, reading, watching tv, shower or bath, physical exercise if I can muster the strength at the time.

LilyMop · Feb 03, 2020 at 12:11 PM

I’ve started guided meditation and it seems to help. I also find that exercise helps. Making sure I get plenty of rest and sleep seems to keep anxiety lower. Reading or talking also helps me. Journaling or communicating here on PC really helps me sort through my thoughts so that I can see what is rational, what I can take responsibility for and what to let go of. My anxiety wants me to hold and control all of it...

Rick7892 · Feb 03, 2020 at 10:44 PM

Slow deep breathing with attention to the physical aspect or noise of my breath and not to my anxiety for at least 2 minutes.

Looking outside and naming and watching objects to try to bring my attention outside of my anxiety mind.

Slow rocking in my rocking chair and slow breathe and looking outside to name and watch stuff altogether. About 2 rockings per 5 seconds. If I rock too fast, I get amped up.

AnAnxiousDude · Feb 05, 2020 at 08:50 AM

- Three part breath (google it)
- as much gym or physical exercise as possible
- monitor sleep and mood on a daily basis
- surrounding myself with positive and lovely ppl
- keep mind busy reading complicated things (example: history of Chinese dynasties)
- achieve objectives
- list things to do and do them
- listen to music
- sex
- a beer with friends

skittytab · Feb 05, 2020 at 01:08 PM

Exercising really helps me out! I don't exercise often but when I am stressed or anxious it really helps.

EFont · Feb 10, 2020 at 12:18 AM

I listen to music or watch Netflix. Netflix provides distraction and sometimes laughter, depending on the show picked. I used to watch Friends all the time before they pulled it, but guilty pleasure shows like Grace and Frankie do the trick as well. Music is both a distraction and restorative. Listening to sad, slow music is calming and makes me feel less out of place. Then, on the upswing, I tend to go for chill folk (like Sam Burchfield's The Last of the Honeybees).

Another common thing I do is call my sister and talk for awhile

Buffy01 · Feb 10, 2020 at 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoxieDoxie

Whether it is your favorite guided imagery, breathing exercise, or some other technique you have been taught to do or learned to do on your own.

Something different than the usual go for a walk or take a bath.

I watch positive magazine mediation for anxiety.

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Anonymous32451 Guest Posts: n/a	Feb 01, 2020 at 11:26 AM #2 I just listen to music or journal. probably not really what you're after but their we go comedy tv shows too
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zapatoes Grand Magnate Member Since Sep 2018 Location: Islandia Posts: 4,263 (SuperPoster!) 5 10.9k hugs given	Feb 01, 2020 at 10:27 PM #4 Exercise helps and so does making a list and accomplishing my goal of completing things. A few weeks ago when I exercised and did dancing with getting my heart rate it did lessen my anxiety quite a bit. In the past yoga and meditation helped also.
	Reply With Quote

Sometimes psychotic Legendary Wise Elder Member Since May 2013 Location: Chicago Posts: 26,409 (SuperPoster!) 10 22.8k hugs given	Feb 02, 2020 at 03:34 PM #6 I hardly check the anxiety forum because talking about anxiety usually makes it worse for me. I like to paint to help with it. __________________ Hugs!
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Anonymous45521 Guest Posts: n/a	Feb 02, 2020 at 05:03 PM #9 I just try to keep in mind lessons learned from books like the power of now. That a lot of my anxiety is a voice in my head nattering at me but I don't have to listen. Also I have a list in my head of times I was SURE things weren't going to work out, and they did, so I am reminded things can go well.
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winter4me Wise Elder Member Since Dec 2012 Location: new england Posts: 7,733 11 1,818 hugs given	Feb 02, 2020 at 06:49 PM #11 Driving actually helps sometimes, back roads with the radio on...once I put it in gear, I am much better...usually. __________________ "...don't say Home / the bones of that word mend slowly...' marie harris
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AnAnxiousDude New Member Member Since Jan 2020 Location: Singapore Posts: 5 4 6 hugs given	Feb 05, 2020 at 08:50 AM #17 - Three part breath (google it) - as much gym or physical exercise as possible - monitor sleep and mood on a daily basis - surrounding myself with positive and lovely ppl - keep mind busy reading complicated things (example: history of Chinese dynasties) - achieve objectives - list things to do and do them - listen to music - sex - a beer with friends
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skittytab Junior Member Member Since Jan 2020 Location: Ohio Posts: 10 4 5 hugs given	Feb 05, 2020 at 01:08 PM #18 Exercising really helps me out! I don't exercise often but when I am stressed or anxious it really helps.
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