Methods you use to reduce anxiety

[P-Jay 1,987]

ask yourself: 'why do i even care about this?'

[Rocky 68]

I've been looking for ways to deal with my anxieties. It's gotten so bad to the point where my reputation on Twitter is in a spot where it can't be redeemed. I keep hearing negative voices in my head and they often consume my brain. To the point where I shut myself off away from people irl. Stay quiet. Stay away so I don't end up hurting somebody. 

[GuyNamedEarl 1,332]

I listen to my old hip-hop records.

[Henny Penny Benny 936]

In the short term, often the most helpful thing is simply to take my mind off of it. That can be by running, reading, playing a game, or just doing basically anything that requires direct attention. When I'm in the middle of an anxiety attack, that's usually what I need.

 

Long-term, though, that doesn't solve the underlying issue, which is my thought patterns. Now, obviously I can't speak for everyone since I only know my own experiences, but in my experience, anxiety tends to be primarily a result of the thoughts I choose to think. I get into patterns and habits of thinking negative thoughts that trigger anxiety. The solution, then, is to recognize the thoughts that trigger my anxiety and replace them with better, higher, more positive thoughts. It's often extremely difficult and requires a great deal of discipline, but it certainly helps to have the Bible as a firm, objective source of truth in my life to replace the lies I choose to dwell on.

[Lexamena 391]

I had an extremely anxiety ridden day at work last week, and today I had an early meeting that was also very hard for me.

 

I have been reading some articles just now about turning anxiety into excitement. Since those two states appear to evoke the same physical reactions, it stands to reason that it may be possible to just switch the perception of those physical reactions from fear or nervousness to actual excitement and happiness. Along with my other coping mechanisms, I want to give this method a try.

[best poni 1,518]

I watch My Little Pony! <3 

[EpicEnergy 23,183]

I do cardiovascular exercise and relaxation techniques to reduce my anxiety.

[Sovereign Leader Rarity 12,006]

Drink a lot (of coffee).

[Splashee 28,563]

Daily walking. Plenty of sleep. Focus on relaxing and not stress over tiny little issues in life. Easier said than done.

[Meson Bolt 2,648]

I listen to lofi hip hop beats on YouTube. Kind of an odd way to deal with it, but it really does help calm me down and smooth things out. There's this one track that I played almost every day in Korea, and I love it now.

[Lucky Bolt 35,062]

I listen to music. It always helps me. Or hugs from my boyfriend. 

[碇 シンジン 27,431]

Easy = go to sleep and hold tight onto something.

Medium = find out the root of your anxiety and erase it from yourself.

Hard = observe yourself and find out what is causing different kind of reactions and change the way you operate in situations so that you can minimize the causes of those reactions in the long run.

[RandomUserHere 0]

Listening to music always helps and thinking about fun stuff while listening to music help more I think. Also doing a lot of writing reduces anxiety a bit from my experience.

[applesjck 5,601]

I listen to music and draw, it helps a lot.

[Varrack 1,080]

I'll meditate. If I can remember to. I'll pace back and forth a lot to understand what's bothering me, and if that doesn't work I'll listen to upbeat music.

Sometimes I just let anxiety run its course because it's sometimes completely irrational and will go away eventually. I tend to have more of these moments in public because I fear I'll get jumped or something, so changing my environment can help.

[Meson Bolt 2,648]

I watch this.

Spoiler

 

 

[Here No Longer 5,276]

On 7/16/2015 at 3:49 PM, P-Jay said:

ask yourself: 'why do i even care about this?'

This assumes anxiety operates on logic and reason, which it doesn't.

 

I find that taking a few deep, long breaths can work to lower anxiety to some degree.

[Treeglow Flicker 13,619]

I have a sort of internal "Navi the Fairy".

If I find myself stressing or worrying it sort of just goes "Hey! Listen!" and it pauses me long enough to calm my thoughts to the point that it allows me to find something within the labyrinth of my heart and mind to defuse whatever it is trying to get me worked up. So I guess I control and keep it all in check through internal mental creativity.

[ChikaChan 7,323]

I just think of a sad song in my head knowing that somewhere out there,there's a person who is in a worse situation than me or had been before.

[Meson Bolt 2,648]

God bless Jack Daniels.

[TheRockARooster 50,788]

I mightplay a video game, watch YouTube or listen to music.

[Stone Cold Steve Jobs 22,440]

I used to have severe anxiety and anxiety attacks very often. The anxiety itself was a daily thing for me.

Then I cut out a TON of soda and caffeine from my life. I still have my moments but unhealthy amounts of sugar aggravate things. If you drink a lot of soda or eat a lot of candy, try lowering the intake a bit. It may help.

[ToastedScone 395]

Creating something, like a story or a piece of art, that expresses your feelings can help. That, or...no, I don't think playing twelve straight hours of Fire Emblem is a healthy method... 

[Vefka 1,499]

Don't think. Just stop thinking. More you think about a situation you're worried about, more anxiety builds up

[Evil Pink One 13,506]

1 minute ago, Vefka said:

Don't think. Just stop thinking. More you think about a situation you're worried about, more anxiety builds up

I love the way you think...thats how i think too!....or not to think...unthink....thats why being stupid is a bliss...