Calming and anti-stress methods

Hello!

We all here struggle with different things, but one thing that most people can relate to is a feeling of stress, mind racing, feeling uncomfortable and agitated - be it because of anger issues, ADD, recovering from a drug addiction, anxiety, or just the toll of everyday life, we all experience this from time to time.

We have some many threads here discussing our issues, so I wanted to make a "lighter" one. In this thread people can share their methods for dealing with this, for calming down. Not treatment or medicines, but other things they do in their life that has an effect.

I have always been very restless and I used to struggle with anger issues. For a long while adults around me wondered if I had ADD (I think some of them might still do, probably). These are the ways that have almost always calmed me down, my personal therapy so to speak:

1. Being outdoors, particularly in the woods or somewhere else remote. Getting away from the stressful city life, breathing in the air, hearing the birds... Tenting, waking up in the morning to watch the sunset. Makes me forget everything else in life.
2. Listening to classical music. I was so "hyperactive" as a child, always running around, the one thing that would get me to sit down and get lost in the moment was classical music, and it still has that effect. It works as everything from "drunk music" when you're agitated after drinking to music to accompany any major event in life to just calming down after a bad day. It makes you feel and imagine in a different way than modern music, that already creates the lyrics for you.
3. Writing.

So, anyone else who have any methods and happy moments to share?

Meditation

Yoga

Listening to quiet music

Walking our dog

Relaxing with a hot cup of tea

Watching clouds gliding across a blue sky

Listening to the outdoor sounds late at night

I have intense intrusive thoughts. The only technique that works for me is to close my eyes and picture a slice of lemon in a cup of tea. I focus on the lemon in microscopic detail - the rind, the oils that come off it, the fruit in sections, etc., and on the tea - its color, its aroma.

I don't know why this works, but it does. I have to really focus to drive the intrusive thoughts away and that takes time. I spend a lot of my day fighting my brain.

Hi norwegianwoman

Music does it for me, too ! I am a musician !
But I also have to be very careful what music I listen to and when. If I am feeling down, some classical music can make me feel worse, though I can't explain why - perhaps it's the key or the harmonies.

But I did find one piece of music, not at all classical, which, if I listen to it enough times on repeat, can actually put me into a very calm trance. It does have lyrics but they are comforting lyrics - yes, lyrics are very important and sometimes they shouldn't be there depending on how you feel.

Sometimes, though, I can't rehearse certain songs when I'm feeling bad, which annoys my musical partner ! He thinks I am being unprofessional, and I suppose I am, but it just goes to show how powerful music is.

Keep on listening !
Take care

I need to stay away from some of my problem people to help with stress. I need to let go of all these redecoration details. I need to stop and rest. So , my feet are up and a little glass of wine.

I think this is a great thread. I know of many methods to calm the racing mind, but my 2 "odd" ones are: Coloring. I am past adulthood and I color. In a regular coloring book with thick black lines and crayons. There's just something calming about it. It takes me back to my childhood and gives me something SIMPLE to focus on so that I can shut the other crap out. The other one is to close my eyes and imagine that I'm on a trampoline. In slow motion. Which is odd because I have never been on one. But it seems to work, again, because it's simple...up and down and repetitive.
I imagine that they're a form of meditative thinking.

I think alit about coloring when I'm upset, haven't tried it uet. Sometimes I just doodle while watching tv. What made me think og coloring-16 yrs ago, when inot, each day part og the time was for coloring! Separate time for crafts.sooo there must be someyhing theraputic to it

My go-to's. If I'm not supposed to link, my apologies. I'll delete.

Seed Plant Breeder ~ Doll Divine

line

29a.ch - Neonflames

the quiet place

the thoughts room

Jackson Pollock by Miltos Manetas, original design by Stamen, press any key to s

Relax Online - Stress Analyst

Silk – Interactive Generative Art

Vent. Laugh.

That's beautiful.

Warm summer breezes.

The fall colors.

Rain or Thunderstorms.

The sound of the ocean.

The taste of my first cup of coffee in the morning.

Taking a warm shower on a cold winter day.

Petting a cat or dog.

Seeing people reading or studying.

Riding on a train.

Recognizing a friend.

Learning something.

I had a thought a few years ago: "Your senses are trying to heal you." I think it's true. - v

I get so inspired and feel calmer because of this thread already nice to have things to remind us of the calmness and beauty in life when all seems chaotic. Thanks for sharing to everyone!