How do I calm down?

Calming down is essential for me, as I suffer from anxiety disorder and panic attacks. What helps me is most definitely distraction - I realize sometimes it's really hard to leave your work and responsibilities, but health is the most important. Whether watching a movie or reading a book - if you are not sure why you feel stressed/anxious this is the best. Furtherly, when you realize whad made you anxious, TAKE TIME TO WORK IT THROUGH. Seriously. write down the thought that caused you anxiety and ask yourself some questions: why do I think certain way? Am I biased? What are the proofs that this is true? What are the proofs that this is not true? Try to be as objective as you can. When you get anxious in a public place, breathing slowly with your daphragm and keeping your breath for at least 6 seconds is crucial. Then imagine something full of various colors. It will help your brain to distract from anxiety/panic. Please, remember, put yourself first.

Diaphragmatic breathing and visualization usually work for me. I close my eyes, take a couple deep breaths and imagine myself somewhere peaceful. I concentrate on all the aspects of that place, contructing it from memory. After doing that for a few minutes, I start calming down. Thought distraction is also a great way to calm yourself down, you could do that by counting the wrinkles on your palm.

Square breathing is always a good tactic. Inhale 4 seconds, hold your breath 4 seconds, exhale 4 seconds, hold your breath for 4 seconds.

Picture something peaceful in your mind, do a small ritual like making tea, take slow deep breaths, look up pictures of baby animals or something else that makes you smile

(I read this on the internet and found it very helpful!) Try to contract and relax various muscles in your body, start from your toes up. Try to find as many muscles as possible, and focus on the movements of your body parts rather than on the panic inducing situation at hand. Generally, by the time your reach your head, you should have calmed down!

Try using a distraction technique. For example, while you take deep breaths, try to name every city you have ever visited or something like that, or perhaps try to envision yourself in a warm and safe place. some people even close their eyes and picture a red stop sign and they say to themselves "stop, stop stop stop" until they find themselves calming down. There are many things to try.

It will obviously depend on the person, but I fully believe in the grounding techniques used for anxiety/panic attacks. There are many ways you can do this, but one I like is the 54321 method, where you focus your senses on your surroundings. (name 5 things you see, 4 things you feel, 3 things you hear, 2 things you smell...)

Try timed breathing. It can help you can down and there's even apps to help time it. Breath in a pattern and about down your thoughts

Well that question simply relies on what you like to do to bring yourself down from emotions that cause anxiety, depression and anger. I would suggest taking a minute or two out of your day to sit down and just relax. Take a minute to take in everything and breathe. As humans with the fast lifestyle that we've adapted to, we sometimes forget to slowdown after a stressful day.

A good way to calm yourself down is to engage in events or activities that are interesting or joyful to you, in order to ease the sense of anxiousness or being 'riled up.'