What little things help decrease your anxiety?

[DDNatureLover]

I was sitting here reading the threads, with a fresh cup of hot tea in front of me. I picked up my cup and realized I use this little trick that helps me to relax, so I wanted to share. I enjoy relaxing with a cup of tea at many points during the day, but this would also work with coffee, hot chocolate, or really any hot beverage. I stop what I'm doing and focus my energy on the warmth of the cup in my hand. I close my eyes, hold the cup under my nose and inhale the aroma, feeling the warm steam entering my nose. The more senses we incorporate into our current activity, the less we have to give to extraneous things such as worrying about who is watching us, whether our hair is a mess, etc., so using techniques like this can help to decrease our anxiety and improve our focus.


What are some techniques you use to manage your anxiety? Maybe something we use can help someone else, so let's share what works for us.

 

[roxyfermor]

I don't know about specific techniques but I know there are certain things that definitely help me with my anxiety. They are more general though. One thing I do that I guess is more specific is when I run, I stop half way through the run and I just sit, typically I run on the beach so its nice there, but I sit for about 15 minutes and just breath. Its a kind of meditation for me. Then I get up and run back home.

 

[pwarbi]

I'm sure that I won't be the only one who turns to exercise as a way to relieve my anxiety and stress, and I find that cycling is a good way to relax me when I'm feeling anxious. It might seem strange to some, when there have been days that I've not wanted to leave the house to recommend, well...leaving the house, but I find that for me at least, cycling really works for me.


Any form of exercise is not only good for the body but also good for the brain as well as it gives it something else to think about. If you're worried or particularly anxious about something, then giving your brain something else to concentrate on such as exercise can help to relax a lot of people and while it might not work for you, it's definitely worth giving a go if you're struggling to find a release.

 

[Laneorexorcist]

That sounds like a really good technique, especially in winter, what can be better than that? I'm really glad that you have found something that actually works for you.


When it comes to anxiety, I don't have a special technique, but when I'm in public spaces, there's no much that I can do, and when the anxiety hits really hard and I don't want everyone to see that I'm having a hard time I usually go to the bathroom and try to calm myself down, I try to focus on thinking things with a little bit more of calm, and it has worked for me. It may sound weird, but chewing bubble gum really works for me.


I'm also looking for some breathing exercises, but I haven't found the right one, I guess. It might me a good option to decrease anxiety.

 

[lexinonomous]

When having any sort of anxiety, I find that grounding myself does wonders. I will count different themed items. In order for me to calm down, I will choose to find five items- red, blue, pink, purple, items with flowers, etc. Every time I finish a set of five, I will begin a new theme in order to calm myself down. This allows me to distract myself and stop thinking about my ongoing panic. It works amazingly and is a trick I learned from my friend, who uses this technique with his patients.


If this technique isn't working for me, I will take long and slow breaths. Other than these two options, I don't really know what to do. I have never had either of these fail on me, thankfully.

 

[Jemina]

Stopping whatever I'm doing and listening to one of my favorite songs is something that'll ease my anxiety. I suppose songs and music are something of a comfort blanket for me and I tend to cling to music a bit whenever I need something more stable in my life.


Another thing I like to do is just look out the window and watch the birds, or go to the park and watch the birds too, although usually there's so many people running around at the park that many of the birds get scared away there. In my garden I can watch them more easily myself and don't have to worry about them being scared off so much. It's nice to watch them picking worms from the ground or catching insects.

 

[jille]

I've noticed a huge decline in my anxiety since I've been doing yoga more consistently. I think it's both the exercise and the breathing that helps with it. When I'm feeling particularly anxious or beginning to panic, I close my eyes, take a long and deep breath in and out through my nose. I do this at least three times. It really does help me to remain focus. If that doesn't help, I try to remove myself from the situation and go for a walk.

 

[ProNine]

Just reminding myself that at the end of the day, in the large of scheme, everything will be alright and there's no rational reason to worry. A good thing that also does help me occasionally is my music. The thing about my music is that it also helps me escape, zone out, and even imagine and live in events which I wish to happen. Plus, going out in nature helps me unwind a bit, and as I mentioned in a different thread, reflect a bit on what's been going on.

 

[mauricioq]

It's definitely a little thing, but just laying around in my house by myself is really good. I feel peace with peace and I start to realize my life isn't that bad. Relaxing is the key. Just go to your bad and think how your life could be way worse.

 

[nytegeek]

Simple controlled breathing exercises, walking, and cycling seem to help me a bit.

 

[foolsgold]

What really helps me is listening to music. It can't be any type of music because there are a few bands that make me feel existential - of Monsters and Men and Sigur Ros come to mind. It needs to specifically be Christian/praise music. I'm not even religious so it's a little weird but for some reason it helps calm me down.


I also like walking around and drinking hot chocolate

 

[joshposh]

Exercise is a good stress and anxiety reliever. If you have tension and pent up emotions, a good hard workout or exercise will do some wonders. After that you can take a long hot shower, then a hot meal. Maybe take in a good movie and fall asleep exhausted. I can guarantee you that the next morning you will feel refreshed and ready for the next day.

 

[John Snort]

An easy way to relieve anxiety is by reading a feel-good story. You can search for inspirational stories using a search engine or watch some "act of kindness" video on Youtube. These always make me feel better each time I watch them. Or even better you could do small acts of kindness. They can make you feel less anxious.

 

[DDNatureLover]

Speaking of music, one thing that has always helped me is to listen to Christmas music. Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year, so things associated with it tend to calm me down. Over the years, I've let go of the other side of the coin, the anxiety of unrealistic expectations of having the perfect holiday, buying someone (particularly an ex) the perfect gift, and so instead of a mixed bag, I'm left with overwhelmingly positive thoughts and feelings about the holiday. If I'm not near something to play music, I can just hum or sing to myself, or even let the tunes and lyrics go through my brain if I'm not in a place amenable to making sound. Christmas pictures have the same effect.

 

[justsayyes]

Doing exercise is one thing that never fails to make me feel good about myself. It really helps with my anxiety and depression. Also listening to music helps a lot, i used to listen to slow songs but realized it doesn't help me lighten up so i opt to listen to upbeat songs nowadays.

 

[SirJoe]

I think the thing that helps me out is taking in one or two deep breaths. If I'm in a situation that I can close my eyes while doing so all the better. Sometimes just switching off from your surrounding for a second or two can really make all the difference.

 

[kelden]

Taking a deep breath helps me a lot. When I have been pushed too hard or in the middle of an important decision, a calmed long breathing relieved me from the usual intense anxiety one shall experience.

 

[andy21]

The most important thing to reduce my anxiety is to meditate and do yoga. It may not be for everyone but there are other mind and body exercises that allow you to release some of the stress and feeling of fear. Adding that to a balanced diet most of us can get over our anxiety attacks or reduce them down to a manageable state that doesn't prevent us from enjoying life. I remember several times in my life I have let great opportunities pass me by because I thought that it was going to be a situation where I would be socially humiliated. Taking small steps and giving yourself credit for every accomplish you make is a must to start of controlling when and even if you have attacks in the future.

 

[amy88]

Exercise is key for me. I find that running or jogging really clears my mind - I think a big part of that too is just getting out amongst nature! That's huge for me as a calming, peaceful influence.


I like tea and coffee like you said, too - but I do find if I overdo it that it seems to exacerbate my anxiety so I try to limit myself to one cup (max two!) a day. Any more than that and I have times where I literally can feel my heart racing.


Journaling helps me too. I like writing down how I'm feeling, even if I'm just rambling - it helps me identify the root cause of what's making me anxious more.

 

[GrecianShamrock]

Escaping through reading is my number 1 way to de-stress. But if it's too much I listen to music or write out my feelings and try to sort it out. Like a puzzle and think about it from 3rd person point of view. (Might be weird but it helps me)