[epiphany.]

what do you do when you're mind is not able to work right? when i cant think of anything except how i did the wrong things, and i cant control it.
i am slowly sobering up from a night out (what is considered a regular weekend event for a university student)... i feel like i am at some pivotal point of my existence, and i'm not even allowed in the chat room. what am i suppose to do right.now.

[darkrunner]

(((((((epiphany)))))))

How are you today?

Sometimes alcohol makes our minds not work.
I know how it is in college - I did it too.
But remember, alcohol is a depressant and WILL make you feel much worse in the long run

Keep posting, dearie, and let us know how you are.
sending (((((hugs)))) and happy thoughts,

ktgirl

[epiphany.]

thank you.
i am much better today, although my anxiety is extremely bothersome. i need to do a lot of school work and every time it comes to actually writing an essay, i "lose it" and i just cant do it. you would think after 3 years of university i could do something without bringing myself down so hard.

im thinking clonazepam may help, but iit may make me sleep. any suggestions to calm me down w/o putting me to sleep would be great

[nowheretorun]

tell yoursef there are no wrong things.. only unhealthy or healthy options... then choose a better one next time?

[J-Dog]

(((epiphany)))

Much Love to you!

Here's something that has always helped me calm down and focus -

Take a minute out, not long, just a minute or two will be enough, but more is always better. Try to be in a comfortable space to do this, but it isn't necessary. Where ever you are, sitting, standing, laying down, will be just fine.

Breath in.

Pay attention to breathing in. Feel it coming in through your nose, notice how your chest expands, pay attention to the incoming air.

Breath out.

Pay attention to breathing out. Feel the relaxation of the rib muscles, hear the air as it leaves your body, pay attention to the outgoing breath.

The idea here is not to stop thinking, like most people tend to believe, but instead to focus your thought on the breath.

Don't worry when you find yourself caught up in your thoughts, it will happen. Don't beat yourself up about it, just go back to focusing on your thoughts.

Don't worry when you find yourself so caught up in your thoughts that you have completely forgotten that you are supposed to be following your breath. It will happen. Don't beat yourself up about it, just go back to focusing on your thoughts.

This can be done at almost any time in almost any place - while having morning coffee, standing in a checkout line, in the shower, on the toilet, stuck in a traffic jam, waiting for the beer you just ordered (you are a college student! ), and, yes, most importantly, just before class, before writing essays, before taking exams...before anything that stresses you out.

Don't forget to do it more often when you are not in a stress situation, because it is the calm practice during peaceful times that enables the calm during the stressful times.

This practice has many physiological effects, including lowering the blood pressure, boosting the immune system, and balancing serotonin levels (very important for emotional control and stability!).

Even one breath will have effect, but for the best effect, try to do this at a regular time everyday, like when you first get up, for an extended period. The effect of this exercise is cumulative, so the more you practice, the better you will feel!

I hope you are helped by this!

Oh, yeah...If you don't want to go to sleep doing this I suggest you don't do it lying down! LOL!

[epiphany.]

thanks for that.
i've studied mindfulness quite a bit, so im aware (haha) of the importance of breathing, but i forgot all about it. its unbelievably easy to forget the simplest of things sometimes. so thank you for reminding me.

[J-Dog]

You bet!

The greatest thing about this practice is that it can be done anywhere, anytime you think of it! I made a habit of it, doing it as often as i thought of it, until one day i found myself doing it without thinking of it! Boy, that was cool...