Coping mechanisms - What's your go to?
Hey everyone,
Thought I'd make a post where people can comment something that helps them in the moment (e.g anxiety or low mood) it can be something commonly recommended or something you found yourself that helps you! (It's okay if you repeat what others say!)
Everyone is different and I feel seeing/reminding ourselves different ways that might help when your own strategies just isn't helping that time
For me I either
-Blast music
-Wash my face with cold water
-Paint or drawer on my body
-Sitting on the floor against a wall
-Looking at photos of my family
-Making lists lots of lists from random things I need to do or random items I want to purchase
-Exercise
- and my biggest fav one is cleaning even if I have to force myself
Comments
When I'm feeling anxious (especially before an anxiety-provoking event) I find that watching a TV show or reading a book helps to distract me for a little while so that I can come back to the situation later feeling a bit more settled and clearer. In the moment when I feel my heart racing, I find that mindfulness and breathing techniques can help to ground and calm me as well! To bring me back to the present, I really like the 5-4-3-2-1 technique which involves acknowledging 5 things you can see, 4 things you can touch, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell, and 1 thing you can taste🤗
Hi everyone
This is such a brilliant post!! I always wanted to know how others coped when there were feeling stressed out and how they managed...
I myself do lots and lots of cleaning around my home and sometimes I have days were i lose the motivation to clean so i find listening to music and singing from the top of my lungs make me feel good. My absolute favourites are colouring, watching kid movies, sitting outside in the sun - Deep Breaths, Having long showers.
Music helps me a lot too!! Some of the other ways I've found helpful when I have anxiety or low mood are:
- going to the gym
- spending time with my pets
- doing something artsy (i like drawing or playing the guitar)
- cleaning/decluttering/organising my room
- baking/cooking
Hey @Eclipse2021
Great post! It’s really helpful to hear about coping strategies that you would not have thought of.
I usually remind myself that it’s alright to be feel how I feel and that it will pass. Music usually helps. I also like to talk through things with myself. It is easier to notice if my thoughts are unrealistic/disproportionate when I hear them vs when they’re just bouncing around in my head.
Music and mindfulness really help me. Also if I'm stressed I like to look at a chart of different CBT 'thinking errors' and identify which ones I am experiencing, and try to reframe my thoughts.
Hello @Eclipse2021,
What a great post! It's lovely reading what things help other people when feeling anxious or low in mood!
For me personally, I love to head to the gym, watch my favourite tv show, or if I'm angry or upset at something, I throw ice cubes into the bath 😂 Such a great way to release some anger, instead of taking it out on my loved ones, which I have a habit of doing!
I have definitely got some great ideas from this post that I'll be sure to give a go in the future 😍
Hi, thank you for this great suggestion of throwing ice cubes into a bath tub when your upset.
i will be using this strategy to cope with my anger 😅
Hey there @Eclipse2021
Thank you for this post! I think this is such a good thread. Here are a fews of ways I cope with anxiety or days when I'm feeling down.
- Eating my favourite foods (my go to is peanut m&ms)
- Baking cookies
- Invite my boyfriend over to help me out (if he's available)
- Drawing
- Journalling
Also very off topic but I saw one of your replies that you like Fourth Wing! I do to! I've been obsessed with that series as of late and tt's probably one of my favouriteeeee books right now. I've read the sequel (Iron Flame) and I just wanna let you know that it is just as good as the first book 😆
Yesss Ive read iron flame also and I've already pre ordered the 3rd book for next year 🤩🤩
Hi @Eclipse2021 !
Thank you for this post!! It's always so helpful learning how other people cope with their challenges! I personally find that my low mood/anxiety coincides with a lack of sleep or overall disruptions to my sleep routine. So my way of dealing with stress is to often prioritise my sleep hygiene and giving myself enough "downtime" just to rest!
Hello @Eclipse2021 🙂
For me, I really like listening to music that makes me nostalgic. For example, I often listen to soundtracks of movies or games I used to play when I was younger, particularly Minecraft and Skyrim. Music is so powerful for me, I find it a great way to help elevate my mood and re-experience memories.
Music is definitely so powerful, Minecraft and Skyrim definitely had some nice background music I always think the background music always enhances the gameplay the most when done correctly
Hi @Eclipse2021
Thanks for this great post 🙂
It's a good reminder to practice healthy coping mechanisms, it's so easy to forget in times of stress that there are so many ways to look after yourself. I like to blast music as well, exercise, go out and get some sunlight, clean and talk to friends and family.
Yes it definitely is hard to remember healthy coping mechanisms when stressed, I know its always something I remind myself and revisit for ideas from my social worker! How long have you been exercising for, I started in before end of last year and it really has helped my mindset
I've probably been exercising on and off for the last 3 years, I'm trying to be more consistent though but it's not easy! What kind of exercise do you do?
Hi @Eclipse2021 this is a really awesome post! Thank you for sharing.
My main coping mechanism is to escape in a book. I love reading, so it's good to be able to do an activity that I love whilst also not being myself and in my own world when I'm feeling low.
I love reading so much to dive into a different world also! What's your most recent read? I'm a fantasy reader myself and have been obsessed with fourth wing
Hey @Eclipse2021 I really enjoyed Fourth Wing too! I read it at the beginning of this year and I'm still thinking about. I'm reading The Da Vinci Code at the moment which is a real pageturner.
I love reading too. A good who done it will take the edge off anxious situations or just a good escape from reality while keeping my mind engaged.
Reading is such a great escape! Do you have a genre you like most?
