[LadyShadow]

I am currently feeling very anxious. I bought a phone, activated it and sent it to a friend in a different state who is staying in a shelter. I am anxious because it was delivered and she hasn't called me from it yet. I am worried that it was stolen because they are shady characters where she is. I did put a lock on the phone (emailed her the code) so if it was stolen no one can use it, but I am still anxious.

I feel a tightness in my stomach and my head hurts. Currently it is all I can think about. How do you deal with being anxious? What coping stragedies do you use to try and forget the anxiety? I have tried watching my favorite show, taking a shower, going for a walk, but I keep thinking why hasn't she called me yet?

The passage of time feels extremely slow. I am hanging on every minute. Every second.

[Sesiley]

Stay busy

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G750A using Tapatalk

[spring2014]

hi platinumheart,
here is a list that my therapist gave me when my anxiety level is high
For High Anxiety
1) physical activity
2) deep breathing
3) mindfulness box
4) guided imagery
5) progressive muscle relaxation exercises
6) diversions
7) counteracting thoughts
a. think positive
8) relaxation exercises
9) journaling
10) mindfulness
11) STOP technique



Diagnosis: Anxiety and depression
meds: Cymbalta 60 mgs at night
Vistaril 2 25 mgs daily for anxiety prn
50 mgs at night for insomnia

[LadyShadow]

Originally Posted by spring2014

hi platinumheart,
here is a list that my therapist gave me when my anxiety level is high
For High Anxiety
1) physical activity
2) deep breathing
3) mindfulness box
4) guided imagery
5) progressive muscle relaxation exercises
6) diversions
7) counteracting thoughts
a. think positive
8) relaxation exercises
9) journaling
10) mindfulness
11) STOP technique



Diagnosis: Anxiety and depression
meds: Cymbalta 60 mgs at night
Vistaril 2 25 mgs daily for anxiety prn
50 mgs at night for insomnia

Thank you! You know I tried most of what is on that list and I have to say it worked. I went outside, called a friend and got some air. Some things are really out of my control.

put some of my fave music on and just get lost in it

[popuri88]

Physical activity is my #1. It doesn't matter if it is running 5km or tending your garden, but it helps a lot.

Cleaning also helps sometimes. I mean, when I'm really worried about something and I do the dishes, suddenly it seems my worst problem in the whole world is getting rid of a tiny dirty spots on dishes. I totally feel like I've solved something when I clean, and it soothes me.

If your anxiety is somehow stopping you from going outside or if you feel drained, there are some games and apps to help you focus your mind elsewhere. I'm giving a lists of anxiety coping games I've found on tumblr. There are other lists with links to random things that also can help, like non-stop rainfall sound to help you sleep, websites where you can anonymously vent to strangers, breath sync and more, but most of them have imbued links, so i couldn't simply copy-paste here.

Here’s a masterpost of a bunch of simple games that I find help with anxiety.

we will attack .com by rafaël rozendaal, 2002 - You click two point on the screen and the colours change.

THE EKARD COLLECTION: inner doubts .com by rafaël rozendaal, 2012 - The colours change at a moderate pace

move now think later by rafaël rozendaal, 2012 - You watch a fast-paced game of checkers (Noise Warning)

collection of Motoi Sadakane and Copilot inc., looking at something .com by rafaël rozendaal, 2013 - The time of day and intensity of the rain changes depending on the location fo your mouse (Noise Warning)

collection of dr. johannes teiser, violent power .com by rafaël rozendaal, 2012, commisioned by kunstverein arnsberg - You click on the screen and the panels move fairly quickly. Click the screen again and they stop. (Noise Warning. Epilepsy Waning? )

Collection MW, almost calm .com by rafaël rozendaal, 2012 - You move your mouse around to move the colours on the screen.

servais family collection, slow empty .com by rafaël rozendaal, 2013 - The colours and shapes on the screen slowly move around (Noise Warning)

Borusan Collection, Istanbul, i feel strange .com by rafaël rozendaal, 2013 - Red and blue shapes(?) move about the screen (Possible Eye Strain)

Collection of Annette Doms, everything always everywhere .com by rafaël rozendaal, 2013 - Rows of blue slowly move towards the edge of the screen. Almost like an ocean.

maybe what .com by rafaël rozendaal, 2013 - Pink and Blue triangle move towards the right side of the screen. (Possible Eye Strain)

nothing ever happens .com by rafaël rozendaal, 2013 - Black and white colours on the screen create a water-type effect

future is uncertain .com by rafaël rozendaal, 2013 - Blocks of colours approach the bottom of the screen at a varying pace depending on where the mouse is. (Epilepsy Warning?)

Collection of Benjamin Palmer & Elizabeth Valleau, if no yes .com by rafaël rozendaal, 2013 - Colours/Shapes move around on the screen with the mouse (Possible Epilepsy Warning) (Different than ifyesno)

if yes no .com by rafaël rozendaal, 2013 - Colours/Shapes move around on the screen with the mouse (Possible Epilepsy Warning) (Different than ifnoyes)

collection MW, hex attack .com by rafaël rozendaal, 2013 - Bright colours flash extremly rapidly on the screen (Epilepsy Warning)

random fear .com by rafaël rozendaal, 2013 - Colours/Shapes move around on the screen with the mouse (Possible Epilepsy Warning)

mechanical water .com by rafaël rozendaal, 2012 - Looks similar to water

allen & overy collection, like this forever .com by rafaël rozendaal, 2011 - A slowly animated rose that changes colours when you click on it

Collection of Sima Familant, into time .org by rafaël rozendaal, 2011 - The screen randomly changes colours

collection of mark rosman, open this window .com by rafaël rozendaal, 2012 - You pull the glass to the side to open the window (Noise Warning)

tossing turning .com by rafaël rozendaal, 2011 - A lemon and a ball change size depending on location of mouse (Noise Warning)

collection of hampus lindwall, falling falling .com by rafaël rozendaal, 2011. sound by gloumouth1 - Varying colours fall down like fabric (Noise Warning/Possible Epilepsy Warning)

Borusan Collection, Istanbul, sad for japan .com by rafaël rozendaal, 2011 - You can move the red dot around and it responds almost like a jelly or omse sort (Noise Warning)

goodbye farewell .com by rafaël rozendaal, 2011 - A black and white animation of a moon reflecting off of the water

burning my time .com by rafaël rozendaal, 2011 - Colours fly by on the screen (Possible Epilipsy Warning/Noise Warning)

cold void .com by rafaël rozendaal, 2008, collection of niklas belenius - You can grab a spiderweb and break it

burning cigarette .com by rafaël rozendaal, 2008 - You play 3 videos at once and watch a ciggarette burn

tiny cursor .com by rafaël rozendaal, 2008 - You have a tiny cursour

color flip .com by rafaël rozendaal, 2008, collection of sébastien de ganay - You flip the colours like pages in a book (Noise Warning)

broken self .com by rafaël rozendaal, 2007 - You click on the screen and it cracks, eventually breaking, like glass (Noise Warning)

flaming cursor .com by rafaël rozendaal, 2007 - Your cursour is on fire

collection of sébastien de ganay, paper toilet .com by rafaël rozendaal, 2006 - You can unroll and roll and toilet paper roll

let me sleep .com by rafaël rozendaal, 2004 - Light blue skulls fall from the top of the screen

25 minutes to go .com by rafaël rozendaal, 2004 - Watch somebody’s feet in the water (Noise Warning)

the end of reason .com by rafaël rozendaal, 2004 - Different patterns move like waves on the screen

it will never be the same .com by rafaël rozendaal, 2004 - Click the road and you will move

on a horse .com by rafaël rozendaal, 2004 - Watch some dude ride up a red hill on a horse

on and off .org by rafaël rozendaal, 2003 - Click a switch on and off

everything you see is in the past .com by rafaël rozendaal, 2002, collection of hotel amister, barcelona - Various patterns move across the screen

i am very very sorry .com by rafaël rozendaal, 2002 - Watch water droplets fall onto water.

why was he sad .com by rafaël rozendaal, 2003, collection of miltos manetas - Hover over clouds to make the go away (Noise Warning)

stagnation means decline .com by rafaël rozendaal, 2002, collection of christophe boutin - Watch piles of money grow

This is all I have for now! I know that most of them aren’t actual games, but I will have a masterpost of actual games up eventually!

Sorry for the long post. And here's the source

[C2015]

I sometimes make myself walk. I prefer to walk indoors so I do what I have seen on the walk at home videos. I have watched enough of them that I don't need them anymore. I also listen to Michael Jackson. He is my favorite singer and he has a song for every single feeling I have. He also has a song for every mood I am in.

Sometimes exercise is the answer.

First of all I try to combat the anxious thoughts by answering them with reason. For example in your case it would be:

"Just because she hasn't called you does not mean anything is wrong"

"Even if something has gone wrong/phone is missing it is not the end of the world. I will cope with it."

[AnxietyMaster]

I dig my nails into my hands... Let's see... I go for walks...

Oh... Cleaning helps as stated above ^... I love to rearrange furniture. Also, doing mindless tasks i.e. homework helps.

[jdk82]

I deal with it by doing something I enjoy, am good at, or can get a positive feeling of accomplishment from. They are all distractions in the end so you can get creative with it with things that you believe will improve how you feel.

[ninetyone]

I play Tetris
Actually, I got that tip from this site. There was a post linking to an article about how Tetris may be able to ease anxiety and/or PTSD. Since then, I've been playing it when needed and I've got to admit, it does calm me down a lot.

(Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk)

[smartiesparty]

I pace around the kitchen until I am tired.
I watch a funny movie, sometimes it works.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by spring2014

hi platinumheart,
here is a list that my therapist gave me when my anxiety level is high
For High Anxiety
1) physical activity
2) deep breathing
3) mindfulness box
4) guided imagery
5) progressive muscle relaxation exercises
6) diversions
7) counteracting thoughts
a. think positive
8) relaxation exercises
9) journaling
10) mindfulness
11) STOP technique



Diagnosis: Anxiety and depression
meds: Cymbalta 60 mgs at night
Vistaril 2 25 mgs daily for anxiety prn
50 mgs at night for insomnia

I'm curious what #11 is, I may not know it by that name - STOP technique??

Excellent list BTW! Thanks!

[spring2014]

hi kennyc,
the STOP technique is when you have an impulse or a negative thoughts crossing your mind .you say STOP then its three deep breaths in and three breaths out until the negative thought or impulse pass .

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by spring2014

hi kennyc,
the STOP technique is when you have an impulse or a negative thoughts crossing your mind .you say STOP then its three deep breaths in and three breaths out until the negative thought or impulse pass .

Thanks!



.

[Rebound]

Originally Posted by spring2014

hi kennyc,
the STOP technique is when you have an impulse or a negative thoughts crossing your mind .you say STOP then its three deep breaths in and three breaths out until the negative thought or impulse pass .

Thanks. Would you mind if I ask the same about 4,5, and 6?