What helps you cope?

[donthaveabreakdown]

Hello, Ive been struggling with anxiety as long as I can remember. Sometimes I get myself so sick and worked up over silly things that all rational thinking goes out the window and I struggle to calm myself. I’ve already been down the path of medication, therapy etc but still have these moments 😩. If anyone has any suggestions on what helps them I would love to hear!!

thank you 🩷

I think we are who we are so drug therapy’s aren’t goi g to change. I think we have to learn to accept and live with who we are to a degree.
i am extremely anxious too and understand that sometimes really silly thoughts can snowball and feel much bigger than they are. Even when you know you’re wrong to be so worked up you can’t always stop yourself.
so my coping is distraction, talking to someone I trust to help ‘bring me back down’ music and cooking or even a movie. Just try not to worry so much, things always work out, even after a bad day etc x

Write it down. Your imagination, creativity, memories are all controlled by the emotional side of your brain and therefore can go off on the wildest tangents without restraint. By writing down that "silly thing" the rational/problem solving part of your brain can have a look at it and decide that it's, um, silly, and not worthy of your time.

If you need a bit of structure this guide can help;

www.getselfhelp.co.uk/docs/ThoughtRecordSheet7.pdf

Thank you for taking the time to respond, I really appreciate it! Some great ideas to try. I will defo try getting back into cooking and taking the time to write things down. Maybe writing down what on my mind and taking a moment to look at it rationally will help 🙂.

Ive never seen that structure guide before but it looks really helpful, I will definitely try that.

thanks ☺️

I try and live by the thinking of “what’s the point of worrying about something that probably won’t happen.” And also the thinking of “I’ll deal with situations as and when they happen.”

We can spend our lives worrying about the future or possible scenarios and 99% of the bad things don’t happen.

Try and focus on weekly blocks rather than letting your mind spiral about the future.

Have a weekly diary, chalkboard, white board, anything visual where you can see your week in one place. Make sure you have everything like appointments, specific timed events etc written down and also things you want to achieve in that week to make you feel good. Nothing huge just a reminder to walk out in nature, drink enough water, treat yourself to something that makes you happy, a new book, special edible treat etc.

Doing the above helps your mind be calmer as you haven’t got all your information whizzing around in your head and it sets good positive intentions for your week ahead.

Try journaling in the evening before bed. Write down watching go so great in your day and then write down some things that were positive even if it’s just that you appreciated the sun was shinning or that you had a cosy bed to get into at night. Practising gratitude and positivity is a great thing.

The only thing that seems to really help me is low demand living.

I let myself think for 5 minutes and then I have to do something to distract myself. I play piano, listen to a song I like or a good podcast, read a book, try to get absorbed in something. It's not always easy but I find it helpful.

It gives me heart when I remind myself that I’ve felt like this before and then I have felt much better in a few days.

I take anti depressants but I still overthink and worry. I don’t sweat the small stuff anymore but I’m sensitive and easily upset. That’s my character. It sounds a cliche but I do try to remember how incredibly fortunate I am, that everyone is happy and healthy. Anything else is just “stuff” really. It’s usually all fixable

Starting and ending the day with structure makes big difference for me. So getting up and going to bed at the same sort of time, dogs out for a walk first thing so I'm getting fresh air and exercise. I like to plan my meals a few days in advance and eat at similar times. If something crops up during the day which makes me feel anxious, or I make a mistake which I start dwelling on, then I have a script to go back to... Can't get too bogged down worrying about x because it's time to start making my dinner in 10 minutes.

Thank you for all your responses! It’s been so comforting to know I’m not alone in how I think and that there are many different ways in which I can try and take my mind of things.

i have realised that my anxiety and overthinking are just parts of who I am and I just need try and calm myself and take on board these suggestions.

all I really want is to enjoy life with my children and husband without having these lingering anxiety’s hanging over me like a dark cloud ruining my mood.

I really appreciate all suggestions and will take them on board ☺️.

Do you tell your husband when you’re feeling anxious? For example, I have loads of anxieties but going to the cinema/hairdressers anywhere where I feel trapped and feel I can’t leave if I tell the person I am with, it can sometimes help. So my hairdresser knows I have panic attacks going for my appointment, the fact that I have told her has relaxed me because I am not alone and I know I can reach out if it gets too much. That in itself has, over time, helped me to feel much more relaxed and I don’t now have the big pre appointment build up of anxiety in the same way. I hope that makes sense. Hard to write it down.
Perhaps explain to your husband, close friend etc these anxieties when you’re calm so that if it raises its head you can simply say your feeling a little anxious - let them know to chat to you about something to take your mind off of things, a few strategies that I hope will help. Even if they chat about the weather, tea, a program anything just to help calm you, it will work.
most of all, just remember that this feeling doesn’t last forever, it’s just a small moment, it doesn’t feel like it at that time but remind yourself of this.
you will get there, it takes time and patience. Keep checking in, would love to hear an improvement whichever way works for you x

I do tell my husband and he does try his best
to comfort me and reassure me when I’m having these thoughts but most the time I find It more helpful to talk to my best friends as she also has suffers with anxiety so I feel like she understand me a bit better from her own experience.

today I did go out and buy a diary and a new book in the hopes that writing things down and distracting myself with reading will help. I used to read loads but after having two children close together I just sort of stopped but I would love to get back into it again. Thank you, I will keep updated as I go in the hopes that if I find things that work well for me it may help other people.

Thanks again for all responses!

I find the biggest thing that helps me to cope is to avoid people 😬I have a job which involves more animals than people. Avoiding my anxiety-inducing manager where possible is an enormous help. I also try to keep out of the way of other dog-walkers, because I get tired of their chihuahuas and sausage dogs barking at my larger dogs, one of whom hides behind my legs from them...

I write things down. People have said to me, "It's better to talk about these things..." but if you do, then you get told to stop whining/overthinking/"It's all just in your head". Thus, if I write things down, it gets it off my chest and sometimes gives me extra time to think things over in a calm way. The only people who it is easy to discuss anxiety-related things with is other people who also have anxiety, because they have some understanding of it.

I'm lucky enough to have time and space to myself. That way, I can do things that make me calm and happy, like reading, attempting to play the piano, or making things. Knitting helps, because my anxiety means that I can't keep my hands still!

Good luck with finding your "calming thing", OP!

Anything specific that helps? Or low demand everything?