What do you do when you feel anxious?

[mocha.]

Just wondering if anybody has any tips or would like to share how they deal with their anxiety!

my anxiety has been pretty bad again and it interferes with my sleep/eating habits, I just thought it would be nice to share our experiences & how we deal with it to help eachother feel less alone c:

for me, I always fill a hot water bottle before bed and usually have it laying on my chest or I cuddle it. There’s something really soothing about it and I think the heat almost tricks your body into thinking it’s a real person haha. I also try to focus on my breathing by doing deep breaths. If I’m in full panic mode I like to ask myself “am I in danger right now/do I have anything to worry about right now” and most of the time the answer is no so it kind of takes me back to the present as most of my worries are about the future. Also, I like to tell myself that I can’t change certain outcomes and usually the thought is worse than the thing itself - our bodies produce hormones that help us deal with “threatening” circumstances so we deal with them better than when we’re sat thinking about them.

I’m always here if anybody needs to talk - times are hard right now and if you are struggling please don’t be afraid to reach out

 

[Porxelain]

Hi it’s been pretty rough since the start of covid tbh. I’m not sure if all of these will help you out but it certainly does to me. I usually have a candle lit most of the time & the white noise of my fan is relaxing. If I’m out driving I have a pillow on my lap or my purse for comfort. Deep breaths and learning to let things go instead of thinking about it over and over again. It’s easier said than done but ya know. Hope you’re well and hope you have a great day

 

[mocha.]

Hi it’s been pretty rough since the start of covid tbh. I’m not sure if all of these will help you out but it certainly does to me. I usually have a candle lit most of the time & the white noise of my fan is relaxing. If I’m out driving I have a pillow on my lap or my purse for comfort. Deep breaths and learning to let things go instead of thinking about it over and over again. It’s easier said than done but ya know. Hope you’re well and hope you have a great day ♥

You are so sweet and that is great advice! Thank you so much I think the white noise is something I need because I struggle to fall asleep when my mind is racing with thoughts. I usually sleep with one earbud in positioned just so it makes a kind of muffled noise which helps lol!
I hope you’re doing okay and if you ever need to chat about anything you can dm me anytime

 

[JemAC]

There's a lot of really good advice here that I can definitely relate to, in particular using a hot water bottle (I have a microwaveable seal and a dinosaur that both smell like lavender so I like to use them when I'm feeling stressed or anxious) and lighting candles I've found often help, there is nearly always a candle lit in my home and its help create a calm atmosphere.

Doing some breathing exercises and/or meditation can also help, there are a lot of apps that can help anyone who is struggling and doesn't know where to begin get into these techniques, I've used Headspace numerous times and have found it be useful while I have also heard good things about Calm and MindShift too. Also if it's nice out then I quite like getting out for a walk, usually with my dog for company, as there are a lot of fields by my home and during the daytime I find this to be a good way to clear my mind if there is a lot going on.

Also completely agree on the advice to try and let things go and not dwell on anything you're unable to change, I've been in that position before where I feel like I've been a failure and it's played on my mind constantly and kept me feeling down so trying to move on is usually easier said then done. It's important to know that if you're struggling that there is usually someone to talk to like family, real life friends, online friends (there are a lot of very kind people on here whom I'm sure would lend an ear and talk things through with anyone) or there are quite a few helplines around that provide trained people to talk to. On top of that I'd also like to say that if you're going through a hard time (which I'm sure a lot of people currently are doing given the pandemic) that it's alright to cry, I think unfortunately some people worry they'll be seen as 'weak' for crying but I've learnt that keeping it in can make anxiety worse while taking a moment to get it all out if you feel like you're suffocating under the weight of it all can really help.

Most of all I hope everyone is managing to keep well and stay as safe as possible with everything going on, this whole situation (as well as other things for a lot of people) is difficult for so many but finding something to help you relax, whether its a walk, some nice music or something like meditation can clear your mind and help you organise your thoughts more clearly and know you're not alone, there are always people that are ready to listen if you want a chat ❤

 

[.: Meri :.]

Deep breathing exercises can be very helpful, but I would like to add that you shouldn't think you have to hold or exhale longer than you're comfortable with, especially if you're trying to follow a breathing guide. Breathe as slowly and as deeply as is comfortable for you.

Oftentimes when I'm anxious, it's over some extreme possible outcome or set of circumstances that I logically understand is rather silly, but my brain doesn't—when I get like this, it helps me to spell out the situation and my fears to someone I trust and ask "is this a realistic possibility?" Hearing that no, it's not at all likely and I don't need to worry from another person can really help reassure me and calm me down.

If I'm not feeling too anxious to do so, I find that doing something that requires most of my focus or attention can help to get my mind off of things. Things like playing an involved video game, doing a craft or DIY that I have to concentrate on, or watching Youtube/a show, just so I have to focus my attention on something other than what's causing my anxiety. If my anxiety is at more of a low, general constant and not over anything specific, sometimes doing something a little more mindless, relaxing, or creative is enough to help calm me down. I'll play New Leaf or Happy Home Designer, do some coloring, or listen to some music I like or hang out at a chill livestream. I can't always do those things if I'm feeling very anxious because my mind will run away with me, but if it's fairly low-level I can do stuff like that to prevent it from getting worse.

I'm also a person with a lot of comfort characters, and just thinking or talking about them can help calm me down considerably. I might call up a picture or a few on my computer to keep checking back to when I feel the need, or I might engage with the media they're originally from, even if it's just to replay or re-read specific scenes. This all depends on if you have any comfort characters/what they are, but I also personally find daydreaming, reading headcanons, or finding other people who adore the character to be helpful.

 

[oranje]

This thread is great! Self-care is so important, especially now during the pandemic.

As for me personally, I have a few things that I like to do when I'm feeling anxious. I like to take walks/hikes around parks and other nature areas. For me, being among plants and animals, combined with the fresh air really helps me to relax.

I also have hobbies that help me with anxiety too. Gardening and taking care of plants helps as does reading/writing and drawing/coloring.

 

[-Lumi-]

I think it depends on what sort of anxiety I'm feeling at the time. Which might seem a little silly but there are certain things that work for one feeling vs another.

If I'm out shopping, or working, or just out in public for any other kind of reason and I start feeling nervous I find it personally helps me to focus on my breathing. I like to breathe in, count to three, and then breathe out and repeat. I find counting to the number three is the sweet spot for me personally. Any higher and I feel like I'm holding my breath for too long and any lower it isn't long enough to help.

That is usually the first step I take because sometimes that can be enough to just get my heart rate back down and things just smooth out from there. If I have water with me I find having a sip of cold water helps too or being able to touch anything cold helps. I find that when I get really anxious I tend to feel a bit sick and get too warm, so I prefer touching cool surfaces vs something warm.

If my anxiety/nerves are playing up and those things above don't help that's typically when I excuse myself from whatever situation. If I'm shopping, I'll either try my best to zip through the checkout so I can leave or if I'm just in a "fun" store and don't actually need anything I'll put my items back and just walk out. If I'm in a different setting I'll take a minute and go to the bathroom because sometimes I just need the quiet. The noises and general setting of wherever I am tend to make my feelings worse so I'll try and find some places secluded and quiet to focus on my breathing and settle down. I find that I'm prone to crying when I'm nervous to being able to be alone helps a lot, too. This is also when I try and practice the positive thinking aspect of things. I'll try to rationally think about the fact that I am okay, this is just a feeling, it'll pass because it always does, and that it is okay for me to be taking this time for myself. I struggle a lot with guilt so that reinforcement that what I'm doing is okay is a key thing for me as well.

If it's not that immediate feeling of, "oh no something is wrong we need to leave asap" and just more that feeling of dread I handle it differently. Sometimes nights are just rougher and I get a bad feeling in my chest or my stomach will drop and I just feel bad. When that kind of anxiety hits I find having a hot water bottle or heating pad can help. I like the cozy feeling of it and I also have one of those little microwaveable heating pads that smells like lavender and can be put in this softer outer casing. I like that one a lot since the beads that are in it give it a nice weight. I enjoy peppermint tea when I'm feeling this way too since I just find peppermint to be calming.

Sometimes I'll journal because I find that writing out my thoughts can help. If I do something else calming like colouring, playing animal crossing, or reading I'll pair that with music because if it's just silent then it can make me feel uneasy as well. I generally opt for instrumental music vs songs with words. I have a couple movies or shows that I'll also default too if I'm having a bad night. It's comforting to rewatch something because I already know how it'll play out and I'll specifically choose movies that don't have a sad part to them. So while I love The Lion King it is not a go to because Mufasa's death makes me really sad, lol. The Cat Returns is really nice and cheerful though! The shows Hilda and Little Witch Academia on Netflix are also really sweet, too.

Sorry that my answer is so long and rambly! Hopefully there are some parts in it that are helpful and I hope that your anxiety and stress eases off for you soon. I know that it can be really rough.

 

[bleached]

Not many things help my anxiety, especially when I realise I'm starting to panic. The only thing that really helps is to leave the room, outside if I can, and distract myself for a while. Usually I'll just draw or go on my phone and read something. It just clears my head and makes me think of other things.

 

[BluebearL]

I have also been having a lot of trouble recently, I am not getting enough sleep anymore because I have trouble slowing down my heart rate and racing thoughts. It really depends on what the underlying cause is for me. If there is an actual issue (or series of issues) that are causing my anxiety to be significantly worse then I find someone that I can talk to asap about it or start to plan how I can make things better (but of course that is not always possible in life). Other times I use sensory; scented candles nearby, something to hug, some music, and maybe some reading. Sometimes writing about it can help too, if I write about it through a character (sounds silly I know). Going for a long run also helps me clear my head a little. To be completely honest I still don't know how to manage my anxiety when it gets bad, I find it really hard.

 

[TemalRustic]

Just wondering if anybody has any tips or would like to share how they deal with their anxiety!

my anxiety has been pretty bad again and it interferes with my sleep/eating habits, I just thought it would be nice to share our experiences & how we deal with it to help eachother feel less alone c:

for me, I always fill a hot water bottle before bed and usually have it laying on my chest or I cuddle it. There’s something really soothing about it and I think the heat almost tricks your body into thinking it’s a real person haha. I also try to focus on my breathing by doing deep breaths. If I’m in full panic mode I like to ask myself “am I in danger right now/do I have anything to worry about right now” and most of the time the answer is no so it kind of takes me back to the present as most of my worries are about the future. Also, I like to tell myself that I can’t change certain outcomes and usually the thought is worse than the thing itself - our bodies produce hormones that help us deal with “threatening” circumstances so we deal with them better than when we’re sat thinking about them.

I’m always here if anybody needs to talk - times are hard right now and if you are struggling please don’t be afraid to reach out ❤

I like to calm my brain, open the window for some cool air, and close my eyes and think about my favourite place. The house I want, the kids I want, the garden.. terraforming and landscaping just like in crossing. It relaxes me and helps me sleep too.

 

[mocha.]

x

Wow your whole post resonated with me! it's like you took a look into my brain haha. I totally know what you mean about the guilt/dread feeling, I've slept with a hot water bottle for the past few nights because of it & it's helped immensely. I'm allergic to lavender (strange, I know) and the smell of it puts me off otherwise I'd love one of those microwaveable toys. I think at the minute I have a lot of uncertainty due to uni applications & an upcoming interview and I'm just doubting myself in general which affects my concentration etc. I'm sure once it's out of the way I'll feel a bit better but I think uncertainty is something a lot of people call relate with especially during the pandemic. I'm so grateful to know such lovely people on the forums & it makes me so happy seeing that we deal with issues in similar ways!

One thing I'll say that's helped me at the moment is reinstalling Pokemon GO I struggle to motivate myself to get outside & that game gives me a sort of purpose. I'll also tend to force myself to walk a little longer to hit a certain milestone and I'm always thankful that I went out when I get back home.

 

[Croconaw]

I very well may be alone here, but I find myself less anxious around other people, assuming they’re not horrible human beings of course. I’m happiest and most calm talking with other people. It might just be the extrovert in me.

 

[Xara]

man, anxiety is absolutely brutal and can be really isolating, too so i appreciate you making this thread and everyone for sharing their advice. to be honest, i’m anxious quite often and while much doesn’t help me (other than whatever is making me anxious being resolved aha), i find that laying under a weighted blanket actually helps me a lot and has even managed to soothe me through an anxiety attack. i’m not entirely sure how it helps but even though for me, it doesn’t feel similar to having an actual person laying with me, it manages to calm me down a lot and i guess,, ground me when i’m spiralling, if that makes sense? it’s a bit of an investment (costed me about $80 at walmart >_<) but it’s definitely worth it imo. :’)

my pms are always open if anyone ever needs someone to talk to! <3

 

[LuchaSloth]

When I feel anxious, the only thing that really works for me is to remind myself that I'm little more than an animal, and I can return to the natural world if manmade problems become too much. I think of the basics of life...(food, water, shelter). Of course, this is an extreme thought-process...it's not like I expect to resort to that. But, it's basically a failsafe. Life (outside of societal expectations) is not really a stressful thing. You need to stay alive...(which can be difficult). But "stress" itself is a very manufactured feeling, by my estimation. So...I always do my best to remember that.

 

[mocha.]

I think the weighted blanket is a fab idea @xara ! I’ve had my eye on one for a while but can’t bring myself to spend that much money lol!

@LuchaSloth I actually think that a lot too. Sometimes I watch videos about space & the universe just to calm myself down and remember that we’re just floating on a rock and living day to day. I guess that freaks some people out but it’s really calming to me to know that we’re just a crumb of the universe haha. Also, you are so right! I read somewhere that anxiety disorders are due to an overactive/grown amygdala and you can actually train yourself to use it less or shrink it by meditating and cancelling out spiralling thoughts. Our body is just trying to protect us when we feel anxious, it’s just that most of the time there is no threat so it’s irrational!

 

[cornimer]

I've enjoyed reading through this thread because I've been trying to find ways to manage anxiety lately after having an episode at work. My two biggest issues are 1) if I'm around people and something triggers my anxiety, my natural reaction is to freeze and cry and I have trouble controlling that; and 2) if I'm alone and something triggers my anxiety, my mind will spiral/race so much that I can't do anything else for hours. Unfortunately I haven't found anything super effective yet, especially for controlling it around people but I have a bear that I'll hug tightly if I'm by myself which is an emotional comfort at least. I find it interesting that having something physically hot or cold helps some people here, I might look into that!

 

[-Lumi-]

I've enjoyed reading through this thread because I've been trying to find ways to manage anxiety lately after having an episode at work. My two biggest issues are 1) if I'm around people and something triggers my anxiety, my natural reaction is to freeze and cry and I have trouble controlling that; and 2) if I'm alone and something triggers my anxiety, my mind will spiral/race so much that I can't do anything else for hours. Unfortunately I haven't found anything super effective yet, especially for controlling it around people but I have a bear that I'll hug tightly if I'm by myself which is an emotional comfort at least. I find it interesting that having something physically hot or cold helps some people here, I might look into that!

I'm really sorry that you've been having troubles with anxiety too. I completely feel you in situation number one, as that can be my response a lot too. I'll try my best to excuse myself and go somewhere private to handle those outbursts of anxiety but I know that can be tricky, especially if you're in the midst of dealing with customers or something! I found that my anxiety was the worst when I was in school and then again as a pharmacy assistant because we dealt with the public so much.

I know it may not be an option but when I was working in the pharmacy I told my supervisor about my struggles with anxiety and how that sometimes happens and she was really understanding if I ever needed to excuse myself. I always told her as opposed to just vanishing, lol, but it helped knowing that that was an option for me! I would be able to wave her or somebody else over to cover my post and take a minute.

For the temperature thing I think it breaks down into two categories for me! Warm is when I want to be comforted and feel cozy and okay but the cold is better when I'm in the middle of a panic attack and I'm feeling really overwhelmed because I usually find myself feeling a bit suffocated, too. I think it's personal though! Like how some people when they're in the middle of a panic attack like to be hugged and that helps calm them down whereas for me if somebody tries to hug me when I'm panicking it makes things worse.

 

[cornimer]

I'm really sorry that you've been having troubles with anxiety too. I completely feel you in situation number one, as that can be my response a lot too. I'll try my best to excuse myself and go somewhere private to handle those outbursts of anxiety but I know that can be tricky, especially if you're in the midst of dealing with customers or something! I found that my anxiety was the worst when I was in school and then again as a pharmacy assistant because we dealt with the public so much.

I know it may not be an option but when I was working in the pharmacy I told my supervisor about my struggles with anxiety and how that sometimes happens and she was really understanding if I ever needed to excuse myself. I always told her as opposed to just vanishing, lol, but it helped knowing that that was an option for me! I would be able to wave her or somebody else over to cover my post and take a minute.

For the temperature thing I think it breaks down into two categories for me! Warm is when I want to be comforted and feel cozy and okay but the cold is better when I'm in the middle of a panic attack and I'm feeling really overwhelmed because I usually find myself feeling a bit suffocated, too. I think it's personal though! Like how some people when they're in the middle of a panic attack like to be hugged and that helps calm them down whereas for me if somebody tries to hug me when I'm panicking it makes things worse.

Ahh thank you it's so relieving when somebody understands, although of course it sucks you feel that way too I'm really lucky that I was able to talk to my boss about it as well! He's very supportive and even just knowing that he knows makes me feel better.

And thanks for explaining the temperature thing, I definitely will experiment with both!

 

[Bcat]

I’ve been trying to practice meditation lately. Even if I can’t do it for long, I just close my eyes and take a bunch of deep breaths until I start feeling better. It definitely helps.

 

[mocha.]

I’ve been trying to practice meditation lately. Even if I can’t do it for long, I just close my eyes and take a bunch of deep breaths until I start feeling better. It definitely helps.

I’m so glad it’s working for you! I think controlling your breathing is one of the most useful things you can do to calm down. I watched a tiktok the other day where it said to imagine one colour for hope and one colour for fear. Then for 7 seconds inhale “hope” (the colour you imagine) and exhale “fear” (the other colour). I guess in a way it’s kind of sensory thing which is probably why it works so well, it really helped ground me again so I recommend it if anybody wants to try it c: