Finding it hard to relax.

[Richy626]

Hey all,

So I've been doing alot better with acceptance and breathing techniques, deep belly breathing and just letting the feelings come and go until my calm mind naturally comes back to me.

I did do an early shift today and was pretty good all day, but tonight I've been doing my breathing techniques waiting for my calm self to return for like over half an hour, this has been a massive staple for me and eventually the anxiety always passes.

But tonight I'm still feeling pretty wound up and my minds still coming out with anxious thoughts despite doing it for sooo long even in a nice hot bath.

It does work though my mind still being in an anxious state is sending me thoughts to doubt it, obviously I know these thoughts are lies and I'm trying to let these through as well.

I'm going to use a bit of distraction now but anyone experienced this that uses these techniques?

Thanks to Agora1 for showing me the breathing technique :).

[Cat33]

Have you tried alternate nostril breathing it's really good and makes you really concentrate on your breath and shut other thoughts out Raise your right hand slowly and deliberately use your thumb to close your right nostril and breathe in slowly through the left nostril Close both nostrils with thumb and forefinger for as long as is comfortable Keeping the left nostril closed breath out through the right

Inhale through the right hold exhale through the left Repeat 5 or as many times as you wish

Mindfulness listening meditations are good

Sit still close your eyes and just listen to all the sounds around you sit for 10 minutes

Mindfulness body scan

Sit or lie and close your eyes

Start at your feet see how they feel describe in your head - are they warm are they tingling etc Then go all the way up your body to your head concentrating on how every part of your body feels By the time you get to your head you should feel deeply relaxed

Hope this helps

All the very best

[Paulwilliv]

Don't listen to the thoughts going through your mind - they are only thoughts. Accept that occasionally you will have the odd off day, and go with it. Keep up the breathing even when it doesn't appear to work: it does have a longer term impact on the thought process for the better