Cope

[Beautifulgirl01]

How do y’all cope with anxiety symptoms? I’m in need of tips.

[JAYnLA]

Engage your five senses by taking a walk outdoors or a shower and chewing some gum. Focus on all of your senses while doing these things for a while. It helps.

[Beautifulgirl01 in reply to JAYnLA]

How exactly do I focus on all five senses? I never did it before & im having a hard time grasping my mind around it lol

[JAYnLA in reply to Beautifulgirl01]

Let's take the walking example. Notice your footsteps. Notice how your feet feel in your shoes. Notice any muscle tightness. Notice your breathing. Then move to how the air smells. Do you smell anything from nature? Anything from cars? Now listen. What do you hear? What's a second thing that you are hearing at the same time? Now on to your sight. See that tree? Look at the bark. Notice the texture. Keep walking. The gum or hard candy in your mouth - how does it taste? How does it feel on your tongue? This is an example of what to do with your mind while on your walk. You can apply this to the 'taking a shower' suggestion as well.

[Beautifulgirl01 in reply to JAYnLA]

Basically to focus my energy elsewhere right?

[JAYnLA in reply to Beautifulgirl01]

Simply put, yes. But it's more important than that. It's about staying grounded in the present. Our anxiety tends to be rooted in false thinking and beliefs.

[Beautifulgirl01 in reply to JAYnLA]

Agreed!!