Ah, anxiety, an annoying part of life that I've come to accept so well. Anxiety looks and feels different to everyone who is affected by it, but many of its underlying features remain similar. There are the feelings of being overwhelmed, panic, and insecurity. I've compiled a list of all of the ways I tend to soothe my anxiety, and while they might not all work for everyone, some might work for you!
1. Take a bubble bath.
Who doesn't love bubble baths? It's a super warm place where you can play with bubbles and relax. I do some of my best writing in the tub because my mind is in the right state. It could be your place of mental zen. I recommend treating yourself at LUSH because all of their stuff is great. Between bath bombs, bubble bars, and all of the other treatments, you may go nuts trying to not buy them all.
2. Focus on breathing.
Regulating your breathing is a majority of the battle during an panic attack. Having control over your breath prevents hyperventilating, lowers your blood pressure, and helps subside the worst of the anxiety. I use this gif when I feel totally fine as well. Sometimes, I use it to help sleep.
3. Submerse yourself in a story.
Sometimes it's easier to distance yourself from the cause of the anxiety by concentrating on something completely different. I recommend reading a book, but if reading might not be your thing, movies and TV shows will do the trick as well. Just make sure you don't have commercials to interrupt that concentration. If you don't have Netflix and aren't into streaming things illegally, YouTube is a great option!
4. Make a playlist of happy and inspirational songs.
My playlist is called "good vibes," and it ranges throughout many, many genres. They're just songs that put me in an all-around good mood no matter what's going on when they start. Some of the songs on my playlist are "Alibi Afternoon" by Grant Lazlo, "Lover of the Light" by Mumford & Sons, "Samson and Delilah" by the Grateful Dead, and "Float On" by Modest Mouse. Listening to a playlist of your own can quickly put you in a happy place.
5. Go on a walk.
The methodical "one foot in front of the other" motion helps because of how methodical it is; it's one of the most basic things we learned as children that we now can do while we're on autopilot. Also, it takes you away from sitting in one spot, ruminating in your own thoughts. I like walking through the woods, but I know some of my friends who live near the beach love that option too!
6. Hang out with animals.
Some animals seem to have a sense of reading emotions. My dog can tell when something is "off" about my family members and me. Petting and playing with animals boosts happiness levels for everyone involved.
7. Aromatherapy
Some people say that it's fake, but I think otherwise. Certain scents can comfort someone immensely. Personally, I love to burn incense. Some other people use potpourri or candles.
8. Listen to the rain.
There's just something about hearing the rain hitting the roof that soothes me more than I can really describe. It's a peaceful sort of white noise that helps me sleep soundly and happily. Even if it's not raining, there are apps that have multiple types of rain, so you can listen right on your phone.
9. Cool down your face and pressure points.
Anxiety makes the body heat up. By cooling down your body, you can concentrate on other aspects of being calm like the breathing I mentioned earlier. My go-to methods to cool down are to put my face in front of a fan or to have a cool washcloth around my neck.
10. Talk to an ally.
Just like there are allies in the LGBT community, there are allies in the mental health community. They're just people who understand and want to help in the ways that they can. Don't assume that everyone is an ally though. Some people may have no clue how to actually help in that moment, and sometimes matters can get way worse.
11. Avoid using any sort of drug as a crutch.
You probably read that and thought, "Well obviously, Jaclyn. Drugs are bad, and I don't want to get an addiction on top of my anxiety." Well, good for you for not drowning your sorrows in wine or smoking weed every time life gets heavy, but, my dear readers, did you know that food is also considered a drug? Drugs are technically anything that alters the chemistry in your body. I'm not saying that you shouldn't eat if you're hungry or anything crazy like that, but using food as a comfort can easily lead to other sorts of issues after a period of time.
These are my strategies. Did I miss any of yours? Let me know!
