I can't stop losing my mind at the smallest thing

[HotCrossBummed]

The tiniest thing. I will explode in anger or tears. It's affecting every area of my life. And I'm not sure how to fix it. I just can't be calm, im constantly on the edge. A few years ago I was quite zen. Any tips on how to handle this and stop myself going from 0-100 in the space of 3 seconds 😢 is anybody else like this?

What do you do to engage your parasympathetic nervous system? Your rest response? It sounds like your sympathetic nervous system is over active. You need to retrain it.

@bryceQ what could she do?

@FlowerBarrow
There is absolutely tons you can do. Google the vagus nerve - lots you can do to tone it like humming, breathwork, movements, you can even buy stimulators.

I do meditation and sound baths very regularly. You want to extend the length of the exhale which is a signal you're resting

Journalling

Restorative Yoga or yoga nidra

Sensory rest eg walks in nature

Floating / sensory tanks

Mindful art or cooking

Our natural state as humans is to be in a restful state but modern life puts us constantly into fight flight mode - activated nervous system. Long term a huge trigger for chronic stress and anxiety

Hmm and would expect to notice a clear difference in underlying stress/tension levels by doing some of these things?
How much (ie how little!!!) of them would you need to do and for how long to notice clear benefits?

I’m 42 and peri. My main symptom is extreme PMT, I can fly off the handle over the smallest of things, I know I’m being OTT and I try and control it but this results in my being an anxious angry mess.

The primary function of the nervous system is to keep you safe and alive. In our modern society the stimulus that bombards us keeps us in an artifical state of sympathetic engagement (active nervous system) that prepares us to fight or flight. Constant irritations are mistaken my our nervous system as serious danger. If you don't learn how to self soothe and take yourself out of this state you will experience chronic stress, burnout, chronic pain, fatigue, anxiety etc.

There's no "correct amount" to do, you do as much as you need to regulate your body so you can feel healthy. For me it's a daily practice as I live with stress I can't change (disabled child) if I didn't practice these techniques I wouldn't be able to function.