How do you cope with agitation?

Healthy methods only plz

One way I deal with agitation, especially at night when I would disturb others, is to crochet. I make granny squares. It is a way to keep my mind and hands busy.
Agitation is no fun!!

Making jigsaws

My mom was crocheting yesterday afternoon. I never learned how and I wish I could.

Various types of grounding techniques. There are a wide variety of them.

Visualizing peaceful situations (i.e. on a beach with the sounds of the tide, a very pleasurable experience I had in the past).

Listening to my sound machine on a relaxing mode (i.e. rainfall, fireplace, brook, meadow). Or some other relaxing sounds.

Doing an activity that I consider pleasant that has low chance of triggers (i.e. don't watch the news), that sort of forces me to be mindful. Baking is one I turn to a lot.

Ask my husband for a gentle massage. Or something as simple as cuddling under my comforter with the electric blanket on. If you have a cuddly soft pet, pet them, kiss them, and hug them. Look at their appreciative faces and listen to their purrs of delight. Did you know that even parrots purr?

Breathing techniques, if at all possible.

If none of the above help, there's always my prn benzo or a prn Seroquel.

Interesting. Most of the activities you guys listed are very grounding, relaxing, and require patience whereas I tend to do more active things like running, cleaning, and punching pillows.
I did try a couple of the listed things like snuggling with the cat, crocheting, and breathing techniques. They helped Thank you guys.

(I didn't know parrots could purr!)

Yup, many do.

I think some people get a bit of relief from more energetic coping methods. You have to feel that out for yourself. When agitated, I do better with the less physical stuff. Even when hypomanic/manic (which often includes agitation), I "lay low". Major physical activity or excitement generally only fuel my manic beast.

I listen to music. I make playlists of my favorite songs. I have Amazon music. I have 2 different playlists. Favorite songs #1 and favorite songs #2. I’m also currently into the show Project Runway. I watched it a lot in early 2020 and I picked back up on it a couple of weeks ago. Seasons 6-17 are streaming on the streaming service Tubi which is free I think. They also have all 7 seasons of All Stars. Season 19 just started 3 weeks ago I think on the channel Bravo.

Yeah, now that I think about it I don't really find lasting relief from the agitation, I just get a temporary high (like a runner's high) that I just don't stop chasing. I don't think I could sit still long enough to do a jigsaw puzzle even at baseline though and I am impressed by anyone that can

I can't even stand jigsaw puzzles, though I know many like them. If I choose to do a more relaxing activity, I choose ones that give me a reward at the end. For example, baking/cooking, especially ones that require mindfulness (careful measuring over just stir frying). The end result is then a real accomplishment, to me. If I finished a jigsaw puzzle (if I even managed to do one, in the best of times), I'd be like "Well, this was a waste of my time! Big whoop that it's done!"

I rarely make jigsaw puzzles, maybe if I do it's a very easy one a 6 year old could make. I get it that it wasn't a good suggestion, I guess exercise works better for me sometimes, if I make myself Papa bear had thought of suggesting lego, probably another unpopular selection Sometimes listening to music helps me.

Taking long walks helps me when I’m feeling especially agitated. Whether that’s outside or on the treadmill, doesn’t really matter though it’s good to get out in fresh air when you can.

Exercising helps. Doing reps with weights, and some simple exercises you can do at home if you can’t get to a gym.

Hot or cold showers can help me too.

Yoga really helps relax me a lot if I’m not already super agitated. Sometimes I’m not in the right frame of mind to do it though and it just agitates me further.

Im learning how to crochet and that’s very relaxing.

Oh, I wasn't saying it was a bad suggestion at all. I know plenty of people that get a lot of benefit out of jigsaw puzzles, just I'm not one of them

Fuzzy, I think your suggestions are good. It's just that different people respond to different suggestions. I personally would find legos very much a distraction. I enjoy the creativity of making something of my own.