Weekly Prompt #2: What helps shift your mind from anxious thoughts?
Hello everyone, I hope you are all being easy on yourself this week.
Last week we discussed What worries tend to dominate your thoughts? Thank you to all who participated and shared their thoughts for discussion. I enjoyed them. I hope you all did too. If you didn't share yours, please share them here and I look forward to reading and discussing them with you.
This week's prompt: What helps shift your mind from anxious thoughts?
Anxiety can be awful and difficult to process but if there is anything that helps you shift your mind from anxious thoughts, what are they?
Let's get started and share your thoughts with us.
Also, you can join the Anxiety Group Support Chat every Monday and Tuesday.
@ASilentObserver
for me, being near my cat always helps as she helps to ground me and remind me that there are always good and stable/reliable things in the world. i think it was also like touch therapy, just the sensation of her fur is calming!
First I turn to distractions for a bit just to initially calm down so it doesn't turn into a panic attack. I'll play a video game or watch a YouTube video. Then I can return to what made me anxious and look at it with fresh eyes so I can see which fears were rational or irrational.
@nikglass You have effective techniques for regulating distress. Once sensations ease, worries are reassessed with a balanced perspective, discerning facts from fears unfounded. Rational or not, all concerns are acknowledged and addressed using strategies suited for each. You got this Glass and we are all here with you.
@ASilentObserver Listening to pop music and reading stories helps shift my mind from anxious thoughts. Also spending time with my friends helps shift my mind from anxious thoughts!
It depends of the intensity but usually play some relaxing music, see myself in the mirror and start telling me good things, sit and rest for a while and start thinking about all of the happy moments.
See my boyfriend and go out with him if I've had a stressful and anxious day.
@ASilentObserver
ASO this was such a beautifully useful question!! I loved knowing about how others take care of themselves and walk anxiety out, not a pleasant guest at all .
My tiny input , I love looking into open spaces , reading good books , trying out something new ( which may or may not end up with the desired results... Ahem.. aaand let's not forget music 🎶 . Also what's yours?
My anxiety starts with burping. I usually soak in a warm bath and that helps.
@oliveShade5436 It sounds like your anxiety manifests in physical symptoms. A warm bath seems to help relieve some of that tension. You doing good Shade, keep taking your small steps and know we are all here with you
@oliveShade5436 Same sympom and same coping strategy with me! On a bad day I can take up to 4 baths, but I just want to do it instinctinctively and it really calms me down.
I'm doing good, I'm learning that I don't need anyones approval to shine like a star
@PhoenixButterfly97 Good for you, keep up this attitude !
Anxiety is a difficult feeling indeed and we all have experienced it. It has an ability to keep you stuck depending on its intensity. It may or may not go on its own. Sometimes, even a cup of tea, listening to some nice piece of music or a nap can help ease the situation and sometimes nothing seems to work.
I think, most of the times what works the most is bringing our attention to present, living in the moment and making a little effort trying to do things that are need based. As mind has a tendency to wander, the moment we hold the reins, it starts coming back in control.
Back in school we were constantly reminded of asking this question to ourselves, ‘Are we doing the right thing, at the right time and at the right place?’ which also used to be the motto. It’s challenging to follow but interesting too and constantly keeps our actions in check. Sometimes, when we start giving more importance to our actions, mind takes a backseat. And bonus, when we tire ourselves out doing things, at least at the end of the day we get a good night sleep which is vital for a healthy mind.
Different things seem to work at different times for different people. For me, anything that I can ‘create’ really helps me shift my mind (even if it’s just talking about anxiety - creating an essay xD - that I am doing right now).
Through a meditation, I've learned to admit that I'm feeling anxious and that it's a valid feeling, but in time when it's ready the anxiety will leave. It's a way of acknowledging it and recognizing that it will not last forever.
Other things that have helped are music, anime, and funny videos.
