Does anyone else experience “calm” stress?

[Inside Ana]

I know there’s probably another name for it, and the way I worded it probably sounds crazy, but in a nut shell that’s what I’m feeling.

I know everyone has moments when whatever they stress about becomes too overwhelming and you end up having a complete mental meltdown. Tears start flowing, knees buckle, and there’s usually some screaming… for me, anyway. Thats not the kind of stress I’m talking about.

I’m talking about the kind of stress where you still remember your breathing techniques, you play the songs that lower your heart rate, and you’re still capable of counting to ten. But after you come down, you’re still incredibly stressed out.

What are some things you do when your breathing is already under control, you aren’t shaking like a coke addict on a sugar high, but your mind is still racing way too fast for you to get even one clear thought out of it?

I feel like I stare off into space and do a lot of blinking. I tell myself I’m taking a minute to think of logical solutions, but to be honest I’m spending all that time trying calm my mind down. On the outside the rest of me is calm, but my brain is running a million miles a minute and I can’t concentrate on fixing any of my stressers because of it.

Does anyone else ever feel this way?

 

[Abstract]

I have a life long default setting of wanting to look as unaffected as possible on the outside. So visibly freaking out is not a common one for me. If it goes down that road I am more likely to dissociate, collapse etc, Implode.
I suppose it depends what has set it off if anything. I check what my emotions are. Check in why I feel that way. Try to validate those feelings or talk some sense into myself. Think if anything can be done if possible. If its just the usual ptsd stuff I try grounding. Splash face with cold water or have a hot bath. Wrap self in soft blanket. Play loud music. Do affirmations. Essential oil. Ice. Something to distract me. Brain developing computer games. Mindfulness. Relaxation tapes. Connect with someone - not that good at this. etc etc etc etc etc.

Do you have general coping skills? It sounds like you know breathing.

 

[EveHarrington]

I think everyone experiences stress differently. I think many people experience only mental stress but have no physical signs. I think that with any kind of stress, it’s a matter of finding the coping skills that work for you. Has anything helped slow your mind down in the past?

 

[Ronin]

Mind racing, rest of me calm / forced calm? For sure.

I usually try to grab things I know. Things that make sense. Things that are correct about what is setting me off, things I can rely on.

Distractions and other posh coping mechanisms, later. When that becomes accessible, externally or internally. Making sense of things, a.k.a. assure myself of solvability of the situation, first.

 

[Abstract]

Still trying to think what that state is. Does it only happen after a panic situation? Is it different from that intense internally agitated state that hangs around a lot of the time?

 

[Inside Ana]

Does it only happen after a panic situation? Is it different from that intense internally agitated state that hangs around a lot of the time?

Its the state right after the meltdown. The meltdown being where you either internally or externally come to a breaking point. This is when you decide nothing is salvagable, everything is lost, abandon all hope ye who enter here.

After you get over that tantrum, you’re calm on the outside but inside you’re still scrambling to put the pieces together. Thats the state im talking about.

Has anything helped slow your mind down in the past?

Alcohol, pills, cutting myself, weed. Nothing healthy mostly

Mind racing, rest of me calm / forced calm? For sure.

I usually try to grab things I know. Things that make sense. Things that are correct about what is setting me off, things I can rely on.

Distractions and other posh coping mechanisms, later. When that becomes accessible, externally or internally. Making sense of things, a.k.a. assure myself of solvability of the situation, first.

I relate to this so much

 

[Abstract]

Ah. Makes sense. I have a history of either self harming or dissociating. Sometimes get very hyper. Often find though that self gentleness is one of the things that helps the most. If can stomach it. Soft blanket. Self hug. Soothing. Im getting better at that. It doesnt feel intuitive.

 

[Stephernovas]

I know there’s probably another name for it, and the way I worded it probably sounds crazy, but in a nut shell that’s what I’m feeling.

I know everyone has moments when whatever they stress about becomes too overwhelming and you end up having a complete mental meltdown. Tears start flowing, knees buckle, and there’s usually some screaming… for me, anyway. Thats not the kind of stress I’m talking about.

I’m talking about the kind of stress where you still remember your breathing techniques, you play the songs that lower your heart rate, and you’re still capable of counting to ten. But after you come down, you’re still incredibly stressed out.

What are some things you do when your breathing is already under control, you aren’t shaking like a coke addict on a sugar high, but your mind is still racing way too fast for you to get even one clear thought out of it?

I feel like I stare off into space and do a lot of blinking. I tell myself I’m taking a minute to think of logical solutions, but to be honest I’m spending all that time trying calm my mind down. On the outside the rest of me is calm, but my brain is running a million miles a minute and I can’t concentrate on fixing any of my stressers because of it.

Does anyone else ever feel this way?

Distraction and mindfulness is the only thing that works for me. I used to love hitting up the gym but I've had to stop doing strenuous stuff until I'm medically cleared, so for now I manage my hyperarousal by completing tasks, but reminding myself to take deep breaths, and not to feed into the urge of racing around and letting my thoughts/urges take over. I actually had this feeling all day. I used it to give me motivation to clean my house, but had to be careful as I tried to enter a grocery store and grab a few items but sadly, my ability to concentrate was shot at that point. When I am in that state I need to complete tasks that I can do on auto-pilot so I can focus on being mindful. I have to do these tasks alone too, as talking screws up my train of though which allows the anxiety to take over and speed up again. I referred to it as Super Mario when he's got the invincibility star and the music speeds up - on the outside I look calm and focused, but on the inside there's a party going on (or I also thought of it as a young, terrified girl who is hunched over trembling away). It was awful - my bills were paid, house was clean and everything. All I had to do was sit and relax, but hyperarousal decided to show up...boo.

 

[MyWillow]

I’m learning that activity is really helpful - walking, gardening (weeding and pruning!) training/working with animals plus trauma sensitive yoga. The trick to the latter is that you can move constantly. It’s not about holding a position if that doesn’t feel available for you. Choice, movement or stillness, no right or wrong. I used to dissociate through it. Made me want to run or throw up. Now I practice it most mornings to help ground me.

Equine T is really good for bringing me back into my body too.

I definitely rely on alcohol too much but haven’t self harmed since I’ve been seeing my new psydoc.