[LiteraryLark]

Mine? I like to eat chips to calm myself, specifically Ruffles Original chips, more specifically, I like to eat Ruffles Original chips in bed right before I fall asleep.

So comforting...Somehow.

What's yours? What is the strangest thing you do to cope/calm yourself?

[LadyShadow]

It may not be strange - but the same song over and over again. Especially a weepy one to make me cry. Inducing tears is really helpful to me, although some may see that as strange.

Great thread!

i have 2.

the first one is a little weird, I imagine myself a doctor/ nurse in a hospital waiting room looking at all the people sitting their with far worse problems than I have

then I imagine taking one through to the ward and imagine how I can help them feel better

if I can help them, I can help me too.

the other one is I like breaking my stuff

it means I have to eventually replace it (which is extra money, and that's never good), but the sadness it causes me also gives me a sense of calm

maybe it's to check I can still feel something

actually, something else I do, is pretend I'm looking after a baby

pretend to read her a story or take her for a walk in the park

[Mountaindewed]

Thinking of this girl who has it way worse then I do.

Is that a bad coping mechanism? Isn’t it like trying to boost my ego or something, and isn’t that not right? Sometimes I don’t feel like it’s a healthy thing to do. She just reminds me how I acted when I was 14 and she kind of freaks me out, and she gives me bad memories of my past.

[KD1980]

Well, I talked about one of mine on PC, and I was told it's not so strange. But one I've had for more than 20 years is parasocial relationships. I develop a crush on a celebrity and imagine becoming friends with them or dating them.

I also look at Instagram or Pinterest while listening to a relaxing song. I like looking at fine jewelry photos, skincare routine posts or handmade soap posts.

[WishfulThinker66]

I have a small oddly shaped oyster shell stuck to a stone which fits my hand and fingers well. I sometimes rub at the stone. I also have an essential oils blend I rub on my wrists and temples; lavender, peppermint, and grapefruit.

[healingme4me]

I like to rub cool fabrics. Whether the corner of my shirt or something similar

[Taylor27]

Cup of expresso keeps me calm when im very anxious

[Ford Puma]

My collection of teddy bears. I'm not kidding!

[saidso]

Imaginary dog... hopefully one day soon it will be a real one.

[Mopey]

You may or may not know that little nonsense song that goes:
"100 bottles of beer on the wall, 100 bottles of beer...." etc. If I start to feel stressed or start having painful thoughts I like to start repeating that to myself, counting down until I reach 0, then starting back up again.

[TishaBuv]

Here’s an embarrassing one... searching negative words I think about myself as images and looking at them

pretending I am on a forum of all women members and coming up with my own usernames and thread ideas

Repeat a mantra:

When I am stressed I say "stay on target" to myself over and over.

When I want to wallow / comfort myself I sing a little tune from Mr. Magoo's christmas carol.
*a hand for each hand was made for the other why don't my fingers reach..*

[LiteraryLark]

Originally Posted by raging vortex

I imagine myself a doctor/ nurse in a hospital waiting room looking at all the people sitting their with far worse problems than I have

This. I LOVE THIS. Beautiful, absolutely beautiful. I wish more people thought like you.

[LiteraryLark]

Originally Posted by KD1980

I develop a crush on a celebrity and imagine becoming friends with them or dating them.

Dis ma baby, Joel. Everyone who knows me knows about da mau5y. I've been mentally dating him for over five years. *squeal* <333

[LiteraryLark]

Originally Posted by healingme4me

I like to rub cool fabrics. Whether the corner of my shirt or something similar

Believe it or not, I have a "texture allergy". I think it's related to smoking pot. Sometimes I'll touch something that would be considered pleasant and all of a sudden it'll be like nails on a chalkboard to the touch.

[LiteraryLark]

Originally Posted by Mopey

You may or may not know that little nonsense song that goes:
"100 bottles of beer on the wall, 100 bottles of beer...." etc. If I start to feel stressed or start having painful thoughts I like to start repeating that to myself, counting down until I reach 0, then starting back up again.

hahaha, that's awesome.

[Velvet Lounger]

My daughter keeps a cardboard shoe box that she can put items in, ones that bring happy memories; ones that make her smile, and bring comfort. It's her happy box which she goes to when feeling down. She also says everyone needs a little space to make room for good things to enter it, so if you make room in your life, then good things will enter. I like her way of thinking.

What I find is there is nothing more satisfying than putting what you wanted most on paper. Writing gives substance to something that was before as thin as air; a fleeting thought, a feeling. Therefore, writing one's feelings into a journal makes it one step closer to being real, and that goes a long way into helping me cope.