How To Calm Down: What do you do That... - Anxiety and Depre...

Anxiety and Depression Support

88,332 members82,837 posts

How To Calm Down

marheart profile image
11 Replies

What do you do That Works to calm down the ongoing anxiety? Iv'e never had it last so long.

It's been a couple of weeks of juggling meds, tapping and breathing and striving to distract myself. Agoraphobia is here.

Just list what works for you. Don't say what did not work. We are all individuals and have to make adjustments for our differences. Let's work on the positive.

Written by
marheart profile image
marheart
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
11 Replies
PushingThru profile image
PushingThru

In the moment, I watch short funny YouTube videos. Posts from Tumblr videos are hilarious. I know it's hard, but shifting focus to something humorous I have found works wonders for Me, especially when I feel least like laughing.

marheart profile image
marheart in reply to PushingThru

Laughter is the best medicine.

Now Agoraphobia is pushing in.

Oh Good Grief Charlie Brown!

Absinthia profile image
Absinthia

I have many things I try, some work some of the time, but the only thing that stops it when it gets really bad is meds; I currently take Xanax and Atarax together as needed when having a bad panic attack. But for less severe episodes of anxiety I prefer to try more natural remedies first, such as:

1.Herbal supplements; GABA, L-Theanine, 5Htp, and Melatonin.

2. Visual meditations on YouTube; regular meditation is too difficult to do during high anxiety but if I watch one that also has visual elements, it’s better.

3. Qi Gong. Also available on YouTube, with Qi Gong exercises especially for anxiety.

4. Yoga

5. Aromatherapy. I’ve made inhalers of the scents that are soothing to me.

6. Colouring Madalas or Sacred Geometry. Even looking at images of Sacred Geometry can be soothing to me.

7. Drumming. I’ve been studying Shamanic Drumming, and it can be helpful sometimes.

8. Hypnotherapy. I’ve only just started this so I can’t report on the success yet, but I’m hopeful.

HopeWithSmile profile image
HopeWithSmile

I agree with methods suggested by PushingThru and Absinthia.

As they say "drive out fire with fire". When I am sad I try to smile, when I am crying I try to laugh. Anxiety loves to create situations where you feel that there is no positive way out. You just show it "on ho, there is positive way out, and when I find it I am going to laugh in your face".

Music helps. Always.

Fantasising about something nice and warm.

Watching some happy photos/videos of yourself with family and friends.

xx

marheart profile image
marheart in reply to HopeWithSmile

Thanks for the tips and the positive posting name. Very encouraging!

1. Deep breathing exercises paired with relaxing music/noises.

2. Guided mindfulness specific to whatever I was feeling: anxious, stressed, insomnia.

3. Medication

4. Tapping

5. Bi-lateral stimulation apps.

6. Touchpoints (expensive option, $300, but I do enjoy them)

7. Acupuncture (WAS a skeptic, not anymore)

8. Various forms of distraction....music, movies, shows, whatever.

9. Facing the fear/anxiety and realizing I am or will be okay. Probably the highest risk/highest reward. I would dissuade this if you feel it would potentially ruin any strides made.

10. Optimistic views in general...giving negativity no place and ignoring various forms of it.

11. EMDR apps.

12. Exercise or any physical form of engagement.

If I'm honest, I'll do/try anything that seems even fairly worth the chance to help. More often than not, it ends up helping even the slightest.

optimuscoolbeans profile image
optimuscoolbeans

Could you tell me what tapping is? I have used all the other techniques but that one is new to me.

in reply to optimuscoolbeans

There's some good YouTube videos that show you exactly how. It's emotional freedom therapy for stress....it's sort of in the acupuncture realm.

It follows "tapping" specific areas of the body...top of the head, side of the eye, below the eye, above lip/beneath nose, below lips, and downward....even tapping the wrists and thumb area...usually about 10 times with two fingers. There may or may not be anything to it, but it's amazing at some of the things that bring a little or absolute relief.

Adding the source I used: healthline.com/health/eft-t...

There are many variations but this is pretty much a good summary.

marheart profile image
marheart in reply to optimuscoolbeans

powerofpositivity.com/how-t...

You_Are_Loved profile image
You_Are_Loved

What helps me is:

• deep breathing

•districting myself

•going on walks

•hangout out with friends/family

•moving constantly

• watching tv/ listening to music

•taking deep breaths while saying “I’m fine I’m fine”

•laughing will definitely take your mind off of it

• lastly EATING your favorite food 🤣

What really helped me was just knowing that lots of people have anxiety and if they can push through it then I can.

Extra stress has an effect on the adrenal glands. Taking large doses of vitamin supplement in tablet form spaced out through the day so you have say four coated 250 mg during the day can help adrenal gland function and reduce adrenal fatigue. Vitamin c is water soluble so you can't take too much but you have to find a brand which does not affect your acid levels in the stomach. .adrenaladvice.com/vitamin-a... -fatigue-shtml

You may also like...

Anxiety, zoloft, klonopin, can't calm down.

can't sleep or eat idk what to do. I have started counseling but nothing seems to calm me and I'm...

Do you have a song that calms you down?

everyone, I was wondering if you guys have specific songs or playlists that you listen to when...

Little ways to calm down?

dealing with anxiety. I was wondering if anyone had any little tips/ideas for little ways to calm...

I need to calm down

and i'm going insane. I can't rn. I need to feel calm. Anything nice appreciated

Does anyone know any good ways to calm down?

in an attempt to be constructive, what are some good ways to calm down mid-day? I've tried...