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Godort@lemmy.ca 3 days ago
As others have said, light exercise is okay at pushing the feeling down. Anecdotally, a change in scenery also helps me when I get that way. Go for a walk somewhere you haven’t been before and see what’s there.
Also the 54321 rule seems to help ground me if I feel myself start to spiral.
Name 5 things you can see Then 4 things you can touch Then 3 things you can hear Then 2 things you can smell Finally 1 thing you can taste
The 54321 exercise (or a variation of it, anyway) has gotten me through so much stuff. I recommend it all the time.
The version I was taught had me think of 5 things I can see, 5 things I can hear, 5 things I can feel, then the same with 4, 3 etc., skipping smell (which I can’t do) and taste!
Light exercize? The heavier the exercize the better. Light is a good start.
StickyDango@lemmy.world 3 days ago
I have an “anxiety first aid kit” in my bag for exactly this when I can’t get out to greenspace. I have:
menthol cough lollies (smell, taste, feel)
headphones (hear), and earplugs (hear, for when I’m overwhelmed and need some quiet)
hand warmers (feel, one of my first signs is cold/numb fingers)
a nostalgic menthol rubbing oil that my mum used to use on my neck and chest whenever I was sick as a kid (smell)
peppermint oil for when I’m nauseous (smell)
I wear a ring (feel).
If I resort to headphones, I also use the Balance app and pick one for dealing with anxiety. It gives me something to focus on when someone is telling me what to do.