first post - healthy coping strategies

[bookskeepmecompany]

Hello. Are there any healthy coping mechanisms that I can use or that someone can recommend to me for anxiety and depression? I have been crying/having panic or anxiety attacks for months now and I am getting to the point where I need real help. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

[Hidden]

hi and welcome! CBT is a good one. There's also DBT. There's writing, exercise, drawing, painting, etc. It's a matter of finding what works for you.

[just_keep_swimming]

breathing excercises , meditating , reading , excercising , drawing can help just find something that you like.

[Thankfulforhelp22]

getting outside in nature and sunshine, listening to music, exercise, finding a project to do around the house, find something to make you laugh. Also, prayer.

[TrustYourSoul]

Going outside, even on a very cloudy day, provides your body with Natural Vitamin D, which has been proven to increase the Seratonin (happy fuel) in your brain. Vitamin D is crucial to mental health.

[RemySue]

CBT has really helped me. Journaling-I write everything out and it sometimes helps me figure things out. I also walk alot. Best of luck to you! Write here as often as you need to

[designguy]

Learning to breath from your diaphragm through your nose slowly to calm your self down helps, learning and practicing simple mindfulness to be able to let the anxious thoughts and feelings come and go and realize they are just thoughts and feelings and you don't have to engage with them is really helpful. Listen to calming meditations and progressive muscle relaxation helps. Do a grounding exercise by sitting in a room and and focusing on each thing in the room one at a time to calm and center your self. All of this info is available on the web or youtube.

I also found ACT Therapy very helpful for learning to investigate, acknowledge and feel my anxious and depressed feelings. I also found the DARE Anxiety book and youtube videos very helpful for learning how to constructively deal with anxiety/panic. Another key thing is to be willing to investigate and determine why and how you developed anxiety/depression to be able to better heal it and accept yourself.