[Travelinglady]

I just found a note card my last therapist made for me, which reminded me of what to do when I start having negative/anxious thoughts. I am passing the info on to you folks.

Distraction---Thought Stopping

1) STOP!

2) Visualize a red stop sign.

3) Visualize a pleasant scene.

4) Distract yourself.

What advice have you been given or read about dealing with anxiety that you have found helpful?

I like that^^^

I've used the stop sign image for much of my life to stop obsessive ruminating. I mean, REALLY visualize a big, bright red-and-white STOP sign. I like the added image of a pleasant scene.

FLEE and booze work for me.

[Travelinglady]

Maybe I should have said "Good, healthy ways of dealing with anxiety"!

[BLUEDOVE]

Mine is almost gone after I allowed myself to be
angry when needed for self-protection. And since
most of it,is what MIGHT happen,I also realise
I do not have a crystal ball,so I don't KNOW what
will happen in the future. Hope this helps.

[Insignificant other]

I like your 4 step program .. it will be very useful for me during ruff patches. Thank you.

[Travelinglady]

Another way to help with anxiety is to watch what you eat. Avoid caffeine and anything high in sugar in particular. I know that caffeine can rev me up---and that I can feel just like how I feel when I get anxious, with the rapid heartbeart, etc. And sugar can create a high and then cause a drop.

Also, taking deep, slow breaths can help. Take air in and then let it slowly out. You might even try blowing into a paper bag.

These are two things my psychiatrist suggested, and they do help.

[anxteach]

I really like that 4 step suggestion... good practical tool that I can use right now. Thanks! I've also begun a guided meditation program that has you focus a lot of your breathing, and it seems to help.

[Black_Raynebow23]

To take some deep breaths, close your eyes and picture a calming blue ocean.

I've heard that certain scents can be calming. Such as lavender-scented airspray, or cinnamon candles, or different fragrances/oils...

It also helps with the distraction from anxiety, if you focus on it, and let it calm you.

I read this in my CBT handbook. Basically, you can use all of your senses to your advantage, and focus on them to distract yourself. Such as petting the soft fur of a purring cat (that always takes me down a few notches when I'm feeling up in the air), or a nice warm bath. < that's my favorite. For some reason I like bathing in the dark. Then its just warmth all around you, and the comforting sound of water.

And after, I feel clean, like a new slate.

Also, a good one for me is to listen to positive music. Think Katy Perry's "Roar"
I don't even like pop music. But most of the stuff I usually listen to is admittedly depressing. So an occasional happy song tends to lift my mood.