My own techniques to self-soothe. Can be cumulated without too many unwanted side-effects

- watching instructive tv shows and videos I usually enjoy. Instruction helps keep the anxious thoughts and feelings at bay.
However, I consciously avoid anything related to the object of anxiety. For ex, if I get phobic of a specific object, watching a video about my phobia is putting oil on the phobia's fire : counterproductive at best.

- Reading books I've already read in the past. I prefer reading on a screen rather than paper because backlighting helps with attention and some visual issues ;

- spending time with my cats. The two brothers enjoy giving cat kisses and have taught this skill to the two older females ;

- Accepting the negative as a temporary situation that doesn't say nothing about my level of worthiness. My rational mind knows that my representation of the underlying fact is inaccurate, but it doesn't change my powerlessness about the intense anxious feeling.
The paradox is that you surrender some control to gain back your control.

Crafting doesn't work for me.
Journaling with a copy book and pen is more work than it worth because of my very slow handwriting. A good app for journaling on iphone will go a long way !