Need Distraction And Calming Ideas

[sun seeker]

I can't think of any when I need them the most. Today looks like one of those days when I am facing one of my really major triggers and may be spending the day just trying to get through it without collapsing entirely. There's something I need to wait for someone else to do, so in practical terms all I can do is wait, which is not so easy for me and brings up huge issues. So nothing that needs a lot of thinking but something absorbing to pass the time. Anybody?

 

[SeekingAfrica]

The problem with that is that something absorbing for someone might not be enough distraction for you.
But here are things to do:
Clean your space(house, apartment, etc)
Go to a movie
Go to a lecture or workshop
Take class on coursera in something that interests you. You can drop it later, but you'll have lectures to watch, readings and homeworks. For me that was always soothing
Try to learn a new language
Go to any physical class- workouts, dance(like ballet, it's too involved to leave space for too much thinking of bad things and it's very physically tiring which in this case can be great), zumba, gym(blasting your favorite music in your ears of course)
Write a list of tasks that you wanted to get done but never have time for and do one
Journal. With quotes and pictures from magazines and stuff like that.
Read a book that interests you
Cook something unusual(I suggest Thai red curry chicken with veggies or asian orange chicken with rice, both have a lot of spices and cutting and so on)
Watch crash course on YT, they have playlists for literature, economics, history and many other things. it's an awesome channel and chock full of info so it's usually distracting enough for me

 

[watundah]

Nothing sucks me in like YouTube.

 

[Deleted member 34328]

Sounds like feels like a lose lose situation. Waiting for someone else's timetable is really hard. You really need to put your mind to use on something more constructive. The suggestions above are all good. I don't know if you feel safe leaving your home, but perhaps you can look around, find your favorite spot and clean it up and down.

You need to be pro-active about distraction. I have a young family. Laundry is ALWAYS an issue. So is vacuuming, dusting, cleaning floors, cleaning out pet cages - that type of thing. Things that are very difficult when anxiety is high, but very rewarding when done. It also is tiring for me as I tire very easily these days.

You can also put some relaxation techniques into practice - breathing, yoga, warm drink, comfy blanket, picture yourself in a calm restful environment. Again, you need to be proactive about it. Determine to succeed.

Stay away from your computer if possible - or any other tablet devise if need be. Playing a game passes time in a hurry though.

 

[Freedomfighter]

I can't think of any when I need them the most. Today looks like one of those days when I am facing...

To calm yourself is actually very important. I love crafts, so painting, knitting are all activities that are awesome, love that because then I concentrate on something beautiful.

I also only talk to people that I want to in my private time which are people in this group.

 

[ladee]

I do a lot of craft and art work.. right now am making hats for the homeless.... keeps my mind off of things I can not change and makes a loving contribution to the world. Hope you find something that helps... its such a crazy making feeling that you are having... sending positive energy for something to resonate with you. gentle hugs

 

[sun seeker]

So sorry everyone, I asked for advice and then disappeared. And it's all really good advice. I am going to write down what appeals most and stick it someplace prominent. After making the request I realized I was a bit too far gone to be able to use most of it, and spent a couple of days just hibernating. But for next time things are not quite that bad, I will certainly use some of this. Thanks again.

 

[Friday]

@sun seeker... I used to keep a jar around with things I wanted to do/learn/go that I just sort of never got around to. Had all kinds of things in it from learn how to pick locks, to fill a bathtub with jell-O, to glow in the dark stars mural across ceiling, to make vegan marshmallows, to learn motorcycle repair, ballroom dance, dig a koi pond, learn to read Arabic, pole dancing, pickpocketing, skip codes, morse code, massage, Xmas ornaments; all kinds of random things that pop into my head... Or that I've been trying to get around to for years... But also needed an excuse of some sort / time / money / access / etc.

During my good years I'd drop into funks for no good reason (anniversaries, for the most part, looking back), or I'd get all worked up over nonsense and my brain would just quit working for a few days, or every fall I'd hit a run of insomnia for a few weeks. Minor symptom stuff. But that's when I'd dump out the jar and look through ideas of things to do. I MISS that jar!!!

"You know you have PTSD when... All your hobbies are coping mechanisms."

The picking locks thing, I am just on about, at present... Because I've been sick. So I haven't been able to do my gross-motor burning off the anxiety. Fine motor, though? Also helps. Gangbusters. <chuckling> and come to find, shaking hands actually help :p Unlike drawing, which has seen a few notebooks take to flight. (Notebooks are not very aerodynamic). So I've been doing that one -lock picking- a lot, lately. Also throwing stuff. Balls... Mostly. (No one will fetch my notebooks back for me :shifty: But balls bounce back. Well. Most of the time.) But, for real, taking all my random "That would be fun/ interesting/ a good thing to get around to one of these centuries" writing them down on a scrap of paper to drop in a central location? Shortcuts around my 'I cannot brain today. I haz the dumb.'

 

[sun seeker]

You know you have PTSD when... All your hobbies are coping mechanisms."

I can sure relate to that one.

Hope you feel better really soon. :-)

 

[Leighlee87]

Something I wish I had found MUCH sooner, PTSD Coach. It's an app that you can download on your phone created by a ptsd research organization and the VA. Basically, it has a list of symptoms to pick from (ex. Depression, anxiety, unable to connect, etc). Then it has you rate that symptom. It offers a coping tool to use/try, if you don't like it then skip to the next one--there are a ton. You can rate them, so if it was effective it will pop up next time & if it didn't help it won't come up again. It has everything from guided meditation, breathing exercises, music, images, and a million other things. Its free, so worth a try. I'm sure there are other similar apps out there, but I haven't tried them.

 

[Gs172003]

"You know you have PTSD when... All your hobbies are coping mechanisms."

This

 

[EmmaOwl]

So sorry everyone, I asked for advice and then disappeared.

I get that, sun seeker. It makes sense. You do what you do. Nothing to apologize for!