I think this is a great thread. I know of many methods to calm the racing mind, but my 2 "odd" ones are: Coloring. I am past adulthood and I color. In a regular coloring book with thick black lines and crayons. There's just something calming about it. It takes me back to my childhood and gives me something SIMPLE to focus on so that I can shut the other crap out. The other one is to close my eyes and imagine that I'm on a trampoline. In slow motion. Which is odd because I have never been on one. But it seems to work, again, because it's simple...up and down and repetitive.
I imagine that they're a form of meditative thinking.