What do you do to curb anxiety

[Mumma1984]

Hi
I have terrible health anxiety mAde worse by the fact I'm not waiting on a referral app I made privately to try and stop me worrying about what all the GP's say are anxiety symptoms that have come and gone over a number of years.

Anyway, today for example I'm super anxious worrying about what serious illness I could have and I wondered what tips people have for relaxation or taking your mind off anxiety?

I guess all I can think of is bath, tv show to distract and then a walk maybe but I don't have many creative ideas, I've been thinking of buying an anxiety diary or workbook perhaps?

Any suggestions? Xx

I meant now waiting ... lol 🤦🏻‍♀️

Exercise. The type that gets you sweaty and briefly breathless.

Ah yes sorry I meant to mention I do try to exercise, only problem being when I'm really anxious I have no motivation and just am too deep worrying so it takes a lot of effort !

Asmr? Works for me. Not for everyone though! Check it out on YouTube

Mindfulness, reading, walking (getting outdoors).

When I'm anxious the only thing that makes me feel better is doing something positive or productive... there are quite a few things I do to help...

Exercise or walk the dog

Write a to do list and start to work my way through it

Housework - I always feel better and more relaxed in a fresh clean house

Do something for myself - order myself some food and sit and watch a tv show I've been meaning to for ages or reading a book

Talking to friends which sometimes leads to meeting them

Writing down how I feel, putting the worry in a draw and coming back to it later when I feel more relaxed

I try to distance myself from my anxious thoughts and tell myself they are only thoughts, not reality. I also try to keep going,as others said, exercised, housework, cooking, gardening.
Anxiety is hell.

The gym is a lifesaver for me but it took me a long time to get into a routine with my anxiety issues. I stated by doing short walks with headphones (music is a massive distraction for me), linger walks, tried spinning classes and now a regular at the gym.
Also found writing a big help, putting every single big/small worry into paper helped to get them out of my head. I would read maybe a week or so later and couldn't believe I had made them such a big deal at the time.
Most importantly, do something nice for you, bath, nice food, candles, new book.
Sending you hugs 🤗

The gym is a lifesaver for me

Same. It's like a health rule now because no matter how shit I feel. I know when I leave the gym I'll feel amazing for the rest of the day. It's better than any pill.

I got very angry that I was being controlled by my malfunctioning adrenal gland and brain. Just no. Fuck you anxiety.

I think my biggest thought I constantly go back to is .... is this anxiety or am I ill

I think if I knew everything was anxiety I'd cope better

I did find the gym easier when I didn't have a baby and I got addicted to it but now I struggle to get as in to it but I do need to because I have 1 stone to lose!

I want to try and get into reading but it makes me fall asleep 🤣

Thank you for your lovely suggestions and thoughts xx

When my children were little I did some workouts on YouTube, there are some quick 10/20min ones that I found good to do (kids would be crawling under me while doing planks)😂

I hope you have some support around you 🤗

Just done one of my home workouts - I bought that Alexandra's happy body plan and it's great, feel better for it I just have this constant worry in the pit of my tummy about my app on March 6th - seems so far away!

I give doing jigsaws really distracting - I just zone out for a while concentrating and I find that really helpful. Lots to be found in charity shops and good ones in The Works.

Find not give

@ktjb39 thanks! Yeh I wondered about stuff like that - I like artsy things - maybe also the adult colouring books was another thought I had - like you say just to zone you out and distract a bit! Xx

Yes, focusing on other stuff helps me. I have health anxiety as well.

I also do exercise. Although on a day like today my inclination to go for a run is minimal.

The other thing I do is thought-labelling. It helps create a bit of distance between you and your thoughts. (Because the brain is just sending out electrical impulses, it isn't always right.) So I'll go, 'I am having an anxious thought about my health' or something like that. Takes some practice, and time, but it does help.

I also look back at the innumerate times I've predicted my own demise in the last five or six years and asked myself, how often was I right? The answer was never. So I've learned to distrust my 'anxiety voice' (which I have called Carl).

Book recommendation: The Chimp Paradox by Prof. Steve Peters. It's more broadly about how the mind works, but I've found it very handy on the anxiety stuff. It's really accessibly written and very funny in parts.

Seconding the idea of thought labelling - try writing out the anxious thought (for me it might be “my baby is going to get sick”). Then put in front of it “Sometimes I think that...”, and after it “My brain does that sometimes.” I find it helps me frame the thought as a symptom rather than a reality, if that makes sense?

That's a good idea I'll try it! I'll also look at that book, I have couple like 'help I'm a hypochondriac' lol

Can I ask what illnesses you guys worry about?

I seem to either actually have or have picked an illness that's not that easy to diagnose with MS (well I've had one clear mri but it was 7 years ago so back to worrying now) wish I was randomly back to worrying about hiv - least I could just go take a blood test and be done with it! Altho that's prob why I don't worry about that one anymore 🙄

Walking, tidying the house, going to museums and looking properly at each exhibit in a room and reading the full descriptions (the shit I now know!) and making lists - not random ones, useful ones. Lists of what I'm fearing the most, different outcomes, what I'll need to do etc - it magically clears the mind and make me feel like I've been proactive and have a bit more control over whatever it is. I'll go back and revisit them at some point and cross off what I was wrong about or never ended up happening (most of it) later. It serves a as a reminder that anxiety is not reality.

Well,...I've had counselling, done a cbt course, do simple Thai Chi....tried yoga.... but I've learned that when I feel really anxious not to 'fight' it.
I do deep, slow breathing and change my thoughts from 'this is terrible, what if I die?' to 'OK, it's this feeling again...it feels bad but it won't kill me, and it will go, it never lasts forever' In between times, I repeat affirmations in my head, or sometimes out loud looking in the mirror....Things like 'I trust my mind and body to heal' 'I am strong and healthy' 'Everything is I'm
You don't have to believe them,....just keep doing it. It helps re train your brain and thoughts.

Run! Work day lunchtimes have become essential for survival. It’s no good, I’m going to have to look for another job