In a similar vein to the making music and Lego ideas – I have found that creative activities are a great help. Something as simple as sitting down to draw or even doing some colouring in relieves the anxiety and helps me feel like I’ve accomplished something too. Colouring books aren’t just for little children any more, they make some great ones with loads of detail and space for auditions targeted for adults, even some aimed at people with anxiety or stress problems. Hope this helps, as I know how powerless anxiety can make people feel.
– Make a blanket fort and camp out in it
– Hearty and healthy home cooked food
– Get your friends in for moral support and cuddles
– Deep breaths and fresh air. Biking is one of my favourites.
– Other enjoyable sports
– Puzzles
– Mindfulness
– Talk to a professional
This may not be universal, but for me it helps to have something that I can mentally recite. A soothing poem, something in which each line can be slowly delivered and savoured. Something which, in the retelling, reminds me of positive and encouraging things.
I make lists, and I look at the list and generally realize “you know what, there’s actually not that much on there that I -HAVE- to do.” I have a tendency to feel like I have WAY too much to do when I really have very little (sometimes nothing) that I actually need to do. I don’t think everybody’s anxiety is like that, though, so lists may not be helpful for everyone, but people in my family tend to really like having lists.
& If I get repetitive thoughts, writing it all down helps. I find it takes it out of my head because my brain is like “oh, it’s written down somewhere? I don’t have to think about it any more, because there’s no way it’ll be forgotten now!” [And then I quickly proceed to accidentally lose the paper that I wrote down the anxiety-provoking stuff on. 😛 ]
Always nice when science confirms your favorite feel-good techniques. ^^ I am itching to get back to gardening… Pity I have very little money and my state’s in an epic drought right now.
In a similar vein to the making music and Lego ideas – I have found that creative activities are a great help. Something as simple as sitting down to draw or even doing some colouring in relieves the anxiety and helps me feel like I’ve accomplished something too. Colouring books aren’t just for little children any more, they make some great ones with loads of detail and space for auditions targeted for adults, even some aimed at people with anxiety or stress problems. Hope this helps, as I know how powerless anxiety can make people feel.
Well that should have said ‘additions’ but my phone’s auto-correct hates me.
– Make a blanket fort and camp out in it
– Hearty and healthy home cooked food
– Get your friends in for moral support and cuddles
– Deep breaths and fresh air. Biking is one of my favourites.
– Other enjoyable sports
– Puzzles
– Mindfulness
– Talk to a professional
This may not be universal, but for me it helps to have something that I can mentally recite. A soothing poem, something in which each line can be slowly delivered and savoured. Something which, in the retelling, reminds me of positive and encouraging things.
I make lists, and I look at the list and generally realize “you know what, there’s actually not that much on there that I -HAVE- to do.” I have a tendency to feel like I have WAY too much to do when I really have very little (sometimes nothing) that I actually need to do. I don’t think everybody’s anxiety is like that, though, so lists may not be helpful for everyone, but people in my family tend to really like having lists.
& If I get repetitive thoughts, writing it all down helps. I find it takes it out of my head because my brain is like “oh, it’s written down somewhere? I don’t have to think about it any more, because there’s no way it’ll be forgotten now!” [And then I quickly proceed to accidentally lose the paper that I wrote down the anxiety-provoking stuff on. 😛 ]
Doing something small but productive helps me.
See!
I opened my mail!
I clearly am the worlds most competent person!
(often followed by rewarding myself by curling up in bed under a pile of blankets.)
Gardening: Now scientifically proven!
http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/antidepressant-microbes-soil.htm
Ha! Excellent!
Always nice when science confirms your favorite feel-good techniques. ^^ I am itching to get back to gardening… Pity I have very little money and my state’s in an epic drought right now.