Quote:
Originally Posted by wing
hamster, I love the idea of massage. One of the things that helps me calm down, weird as it is, is brushing my hair. I guess that's a form of massage. When I get tense I'll remember this, and go to the rest room to brush my hair. My husband will be thrilled if I want to get there on time for a change. Makes sense to meet a few people at a time as they come in. These are annual events, and hopefully be a jump start to avoid other events I've skipped in the past because I don't know anyone.
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I just got this, on the recommendation of my hairdresser. It is so worth the 15 bucks it costs!
Michel Mercier Professional Detangling Hair Brush Normal Green | Walgreens
They also have this brush for thick hair and for fine hair. It reduces the loss of hair from brushing and also feels supreme.
Another thing that helps me is
SKINTELLIGENCE daily moisture enhancer. I don't use it regularly, but just put it on before I leave my apartment to go to something important (an interview, eg). It is weightless and gives the skin on my face the feeling of cooling freshness that translates in my mind into: "I am ready for everything". The bottle - 4 fl oz - costs 23 dollars and if used occasionally lasts for 6 months.
I also chew Xylitol gum (it is soothing AND helps prevent cavities - epic dental is the company I buy it from) in the car on the way to an event as well as rinse with Xylitol mouthwash (from the same company) before I leave for something important. The mintiness (is there such a word?) is refreshing (which, again, translates into the "I am ready for everything" feeling) and the rhythm of and being occupied with chewing is very grounding. I have come up with these tricks on my own, but later, I read that chewing gum stimulates brain activity!
My anxiety is of a different type than yours - it is not social but physiological (even though I have the dx of GAD, I can present to a meeting and talk to strangers and all the rest of that, but if I am stressed out, I would be unable to ingest food - that kind of thing), but I think that the tips and tricks and workarounds and little perk-me-ups are fairly universal across different flavors of GAD.