Activities For When Anxiety Is Overwhelming

[zeropoint]

Though I know that just doing almost anything will help when I feel really anxious, lately I don't seem able to make myself do anything when the anxiety takes over. I just lie around and feel awful.

I am looking for suggestions not necessarily of how to reduce the anxiety but of kinds of activities that are soothing or distracting or otherwise helpful when the anxiety seems all-consuming. My favorite things to do in general are write, paint, and listen to music. Music feels too passive right now and I don't think I could relax enough to write or paint. Some of my anxiety is about an essay I have due tomorrow, so I know I should just work on the essay and I will feel better about it, but it's so hard to calm down and get started.

Thank you for any ideas you have.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

I think it is highly individualized....and I'm not saying that to be smart or anything, rather the things I do wouldn't necessarily soothe other people. I have certain hobbies that I love and so I work on them when I am anxious. One of those is a multi-faceted hobby so I can work on it at home or I can work on it out of the home, depending on my mood. I think the key may be finding something that you really love, something that you can pick up at a moments notice, and just going with it.

 

[Jane.l]

Walking really helps me - I like to have my headphones on - running is great. If you enjoy music how about learning to play an instrument? If that sounds a bit out of your comfort zone try something like a ukulele, quick and easy to pick up.agree with solara it's what works for you .

 

[JEKBreatheandBelieve]

How about bouncing a ball? I have a basketball for when I need something more powerful, but I have a small bouncy ball that I toss against the wall. I find it hard to do anything when I am anxious, too. Running or walking sometimes help me. Reading is always a great escape from anxiety.

 

[TonyG]

I was anxious on Subday and tryed gardening, weeding more to the point felt good once I got going until my wife came home and said most of what I pulled were ground cover. Point is it was mindless mayhem

 

[arfie]

When I am in full anxiety paralysis - unable to do anything but lie around and feel miserable - I start with going outside and opening my senses. Listen. Look. Feel. Smell. Taste. Once I am able to open my senses, I usually know which of my other activities have the medicine I need. I, too, find that listening to music is too passive to be a therapeutic activity. I keep a collection of musical instruments - from kazoos to sticks to a piano and cheap keyboards - which help me allot when I can keep my expectations away from expecting myself to sound like a digitally mastered recording. I wonder if we need a new term for live music. The fellows in Nirvana WORK music. I play music... Playing live instruments is indisputably a therapeutic activity.

 

[Joan]

I agree with what many have said about doing something active///walking and noticing the things around me that I see, things to be grateful for. Art for me is a lifesaver...sometimes if really anxious...throw paint at a canvas...do something to try to express what I am feeling. Sometimes collage...trying different art form...writing, rocking in a rocking chair

 

[KwanYingirl]

I like to read. It gets my mind off my worries. Walking my dog at the beach and working distract me too. When I was in college, writing papers was wonderful. I always started my research as soon as the assignment was given, because the research process is so calming to me. Learning anything new is a fun process. Granted, I'd forget half of what I read and had to go over and over material, but my papers always turned out great.

 

[Tympre]

I craft. I crochet, quilt, embroider, tailor, or even knit. Crochet is my go to. I focus on counting my stitches and the feel of the yarn, the pattern of colors and such. I agree though with others that this is highly individualized. I am moving soon and plan to have a half acre vegie garden, chickens and goats. That way I can work outside when my anxiety gets really bad.