What do you do when emotions start to well?

My day is attempting to go south, I do my best to breathe and meditate in order to keep calm. I'm wondering what others out there do when things in life start to trigger the negative?

i kind of just be with the feelings knowing that they are going to pass. so prone to mood swings i came to view them as ocean waves. they would sweep over me, overwhelming me, threatening to drown me to where i thought i was going to die. but like all waves, they ebb and flow, as quickly as they wash over me, they retreat. my history proved to me the feelings would go away, it just took some time, but they would go away. so i would just wait it out until the wave retreated. in the meantime i would do my best to disconnect from the negative feelings and not let them take over my life.

I take 5 minutes at a time, literally. I ask myself, "What will I do in the next 5 minutes, how will I use them, etc?" Then, whatever it is a say I am going to do, I literally do it for 5 minutes and then reevaluate where I am. Even if I tell myself that I am going to lay in med for the next 5 minutes, stare and the TV, cry, clean dishes, it can be anything. I know it sounds ridiculous, but on my hard days, it helps me move through the day in a more stable, productive manner. Some days, getting from point A to point B, whatever that looks like, is a success. Getting through without falling part inside is a success...keep pressing on, you can do it. I know that sounds cheerleaderish and naive, but, if you have the strength to ask for help, you have the strength to get through. ((hugs))

I've actually been thinking about this a lot lately and trying to come up with a "plan of action" for when I feel like I'm starting to slip and get overwhelmed/depressed/anxious. Always looking for new ways to cope but these are the things that have been working for me so far :

* Becoming aware of my thoughts - taking a step back for a moment and recognizing my thoughts/emotions
* Bringing myself back to the moment. "If you are depressed, you are living in the past. If you are anxious, you are living in the future. If you are at peace, you are living in the present." - Lao Tzu
* Distracting myself with an activity/task and keeping my mind focused on something other than whatever is going on in my head.
* Talking to a friend.
* Buddhism/Chinese philosopher quotes.
* Getting fresh air and a change of scenery.
* Practicing gratitude. Thinking about all of the good things in my life that I am thankful.
* This quote by Lao Tzu from the Tao Te Ching - "As the soft yield of water cleaves obstinate, so to yield with life solves the unsolvable. To yield, I have learned, is to come back again."
* Going to the gym or a for a walk and sweating out my emotions.

Sometimes, fighting off the triggers is really difficult and I just let it engulf me.
Other times I'll read happy things, or draw and I usually feel better.