[xmascarol]

I am asking this questions to see if you do not only have any hobbies but if they make you relax at all.Mine is knitting and crocheting and sometimes I can relax from doing these things,I also love to draw to I love to make people laugh It is funny how sometimes I can relax just by knitting and sometimes doing any of these dont make me relax at all,Funny how the brain works isnt it?

[Blue_Bird]

Drawing and playing video games, I also enjoy coloring , and reading. I love books! They all help me to relax

[xmascarol]

Originally Posted by Blue_Bird

Drawing and playing video games, I also enjoy coloring , and reading. I love books! They all help me to relax

I do read to.I love suspense and mystery books.Especially Steven King books.

I live in the desert, so hiking, backpacking, camping, off-road road exploring, gold prospecting and anything like that are what I do with my free time. Honestly, while these things have always been a source of relaxation and escape, my panic and anxiety have been making these things not so good for a while now. I know I'll get back to enjoying these things someday.

[xmascarol]

Originally Posted by Nemo1934

I live in the desert, so hiking, backpacking, camping, off-road road exploring, gold prospecting and anything like that are what I do with my free time. Honestly, while these things have always been a source of relaxation and escape, my panic and anxiety have been making these things not so good for a while now. I know I'll get back to enjoying these things someday.

I am sorry that your anxieties and panic are making you so sick.I have had panic attacks plenty of times believe me it is no picnic.I hate the fact that my mind is crippling me .

I like discovering new music, surfing the internet and playing trivia games and puzzles.

they don't make me relax since I have to sort of be in the moment for all of them to be affective

I like watching tv too, but even that doesn't make me relax.

I enjoy it (especially watching comedies), but it isn't relaxing

I can't seem to relax no matter what I do.

honestly for me I need to be in the moment all the time

hard though sometimes

[PositiveSue]

Originally Posted by raging vortex

I can't seem to relax no matter what I do.

honestly for me I need to be in the moment all the time

hard though sometimes

I understand how you feel, I try to do progressive muscle relaxation once a day as I find it hard to relax

[xmascarol]

Originally Posted by raging vortex

I like discovering new music, surfing the internet and playing trivia games and puzzles.

they don't make me relax since I have to sort of be in the moment for all of them to be affective

I like watching tv too, but even that doesn't make me relax.

I enjoy it (especially watching comedies), but it isn't relaxing

You would think by watching tv it would relax us it doesnt especially when you watch it before you go to sleep.

[zapatoes]

Cooking, studying French, exercising, reading, and want to start knitting, as well as play piano. Also enjoy getting lost in doing a crossword.

[Martha2019]

I love to garden (any kind) and doing crafts. Going to the local harbor park and taking a walk along the water is calming to me. I love to read, but lately, have found it difficult to concentrate on the words on the page.

Originally Posted by PositiveSue

I understand how you feel, I try to do progressive muscle relaxation once a day as I find it hard to relax

hey positive sue, welcome to the forum.

hope you like it here and get the support you're after

Originally Posted by xmascarol

You would think by watching tv it would relax us it doesnt especially when you watch it before you go to sleep.

or you just want to watch the next episode because the last one ended on a cliffhanger

always the way for me

[made08]

Doing homework, music, watching a TV series on my phone. But lately ASMR helps me to relax

[xmascarol]

I have been doing a lot of drawing and crocheting lately.A friend of mine wanted to know if I could make her friend an afghan I said yes.She told me a couple of times about my drawings that I have a gift.How nice is that to hear?

[WishfulThinker66]

Originally Posted by Nemo1934

I live in the desert, so hiking, backpacking, camping, off-road road exploring, gold prospecting and anything like that are what I do with my free time. Honestly, while these things have always been a source of relaxation and escape, my panic and anxiety have been making these things not so good for a while now. I know I'll get back to enjoying these things someday.

I am sorry to learn you have been not doing those things you love. Would you say you have been isolating yourself in other ways too?

I am/was an avid outdoors person myself. I especially enjoyed and was passionate about kayaking. I have a great deal of money invested in it. The problem is I haven't for years. I once was paddling several times a week. But I lived in a locale surrounded by lakes and the ocean nearby. Here I am in the prairies. While there aren't a great deal of places to do so, there are opportunities. But I have been putting up barriers and finding excuses not to paddle. I crave doing so but I just can't do it. I cry and grieve over not doing so anymore yet I can't bring myself to do the hobby that once gave me basically a reason to live.

It gives me a great deal of anxiety. I panic about aspects of paddling that I never thought twice about before - like rolling the damn thing.

There is a difference though about the person I was then and the person I am now. I was, I am sure, hypo/manic during that time period in my life. Things are more under control now. Before I was spontaneous, carefree, and quite willing to take on risks for the thrill of it. I am quite the avoider of risks now.

What can we do to make change? I too am hoping to at least do a little paddling this summer. I hope you plan to do a little hiking. I have enlisted someone to do so with me. This then is a commitment to taking the adventure on. I am more likely, I hope, to stick with it.

Do you think then you could find a buddy to do these things you yourself are passionate about alongside you?

Great luck!

[xmascarol]

I wish I could go down to my favorite place the Marina in Ct.it is so calming there ,my late husband and I use to go there every weekend.We once saw a car boat.WE laughed so hard because we were always talking about them.Seeing a car going into the water is so funny but nice.We would go down to dunkin donuts and get some donuts sit down there why we watched the boats go out .Even the birds are funny.One time I was sitting in the car I had my coffee in my hand but it is sticking out the window a gull came by and decide to relief itself in my coffee,needless to say I threw it out.You cannot go swimming there .It is also a park to .We would take walks along the park at one time they had a mini golf course.Every time someone did something a volcano would erupt.It was so nice.I cannot go anymore because I have nobody to take me.

Originally Posted by Blue_Bird

Drawing and playing video games, I also enjoy coloring , and reading. I love books! They all help me to relax

Same here to all, except I haven't drawn anything in a while. I love reading, can't get enough of books.

Originally Posted by WishfulThinker66

I am sorry to learn you have been not doing those things you love. Would you say you have been isolating yourself in other ways too?


I am/was an avid outdoors person myself. I especially enjoyed and was passionate about kayaking. I have a great deal of money invested in it. The problem is I haven't for years. I once was paddling several times a week. But I lived in a locale surrounded by lakes and the ocean nearby. Here I am in the prairies. While there aren't a great deal of places to do so, there are opportunities. But I have been putting up barriers and finding excuses not to paddle. I crave doing so but I just can't do it. I cry and grieve over not doing so anymore yet I can't bring myself to do the hobby that once gave me basically a reason to live.


It gives me a great deal of anxiety. I panic about aspects of paddling that I never thought twice about before - like rolling the damn thing.


There is a difference though about the person I was then and the person I am now. I was, I am sure, hypo/manic during that time period in my life. Things are more under control now. Before I was spontaneous, carefree, and quite willing to take on risks for the thrill of it. I am quite the avoider of risks now.


What can we do to make change? I too am hoping to at least do a little paddling this summer. I hope you plan to do a little hiking. I have enlisted someone to do so with me. This then is a commitment to taking the adventure on. I am more likely, I hope, to stick with it.


Do you think then you could find a buddy to do these things you yourself are passionate about alongside you?


Great luck!

I certainly have been avoiding many things that cause me anxiety and panic. I had a panic attack and an episode of depersonalization last year while on a hike alone in a remote area. I lost a few hours of time and walked away terrified that this will happen again. This is the event that led me to finally seek therapy and address my mental health issues.

I too have great sadness over all of it because my backcountry treks were always my one source of solace and rejuvenation.

I have been going out with others for the last few months, and am trying to work through this fear. Like you, it feels so strange to be afraid of something that I've always done without a second thought.

I've always wanted to become skilled at paddling! I'd also love to get into rafting without feeling like I needed a guide. I live in the Southwest US and there are so many amazing places to go with those skills that are away from everyone!

I wish you luck getting back to your love! Thanks for the kind words.

[starryprince]

What helps me are playing my instruments, writing, and playing video games.

[xmascarol]

Originally Posted by starryprince

What helps me are playing my instruments, writing, and playing video games.

Sometimes I do write letters to my friends.I am so stuck now on to what to draw I think I have run out of ideas

[Mountaindewed]

I have a bad hobby and that is TV and my phone. I work early in the morning so I’m off by noon. I have this mindset of “my free time is my free time” I go out shopping and out to eat but I can still spend 5-8 hours a day sitting in front of the TV. I don’t binge or mindlessly eat while watching TV. I don’t even eat or drink anything while watching TV unless if it’s at lunch or dinner. So that’s good. But spending so much time just vegging out I’m not sure is healthy. Yeah I’m relaxed though.

[hope2010]

My hobby is cooking a new recipe every week. My husband and I enjoy doing it together. I read every day, can't be without a good book on my table. I spend about 5 hours a day online, I am a moderator for the ACS online Support Network. That makes me feel good and also help me as a breast cancer survivor. All these relaxed me.

[Misfit Toy]

Crochet, but I am not that good at it. Just started a few months ago.

[Astreja]

My top two hobbies, in terms of time and commitment, are music and writing.

I love playing in a concert band, but when we're on deadline to get a particularly challenging piece ready for a concert sometimes I panic a bit.

Writing is a lot less stressful -- except when I was trying to do National Novel Writing Month, trying to get to 50,000 words before midnight on November 30. Haven't done that for about 7-8 years, and now I just write when I feel like it.