Coping mechanisms

[tiggra]

What's your best coping mechanism if you almost panic when you face something scary and new, ie: stiffness in legs from car accident makes getting into higher seats more difficult. I have to take cabs to get wherever I need to go.

[val11]

I try to remind myself that I am safe. Grounding techniques help too.

[tiggra in reply to val11]

I need to do that. Thanks

[tiggra in reply to val11]

Never thought about that. Any suggestions or examples?

[catsrock]

Deep breaths

[tiggra in reply to catsrock]

Thanks, I'm going to do my best to remember that.

[tiggra in reply to tiggra]

I meant to try to remember to do that when needed.

[PrettyLobster]

What helps for me is trying to do everything at half the speed I would normally do it. And in case you wonder: No, no one ever noticed it.

[tiggra in reply to PrettyLobster]

I guess sometimes I forget to not be so hard on myself. Thanks.

[SongofAmergin]

I stop thinking. It sounds silly or strange, but it works. It doesn't work all the time, because I can't stop my thinking all the time, but when I can stop thinking, it works great. I just somehow pay attention to my brain, and just stop the thought train from chugging along with its collection of scary thoughts. I just refuse to think about anything. I mean anything. I don't think positively. I don't do affirmations or visualizations. I just stop the mind chatter from going around and around. I recommend it.