The Emergency Button

[The Albatross]

Life affirming, self affirming activities help too. Self care... a good nutritious meal, countering the thoughts with reviewing the day before and documenting 3-5 neutral or positive things that happened, inspirational reading or audio book listening, exercise, breathwork/breathing through stress or other stress management stuff... PROACTIVITY basically rather than distraction works best for me.

I do like the aroma therapy one though... and have a few fragrances that I find calming/soothing but I have others that make it easier for me to retrieve more pleasant memories. Peppermint is a good one for me because peppermint ice cream is always a solid memory of my grandfather and I, armed with two long iced tea spoons, sitting on the floor of the garage after breaking into the deep freeze to get a snack. Peppermint ice cream was his favorite. When I taste or smell peppermint it becomes much easier to get the head space to bring that good loving memory forward. When I relax enough to allow the thought to remain even if my mind wanders - bringing myself back to it.... it is a good tool to thwart stress. The more you use it, the easier it gets. That's just one. If you allow your mind to find memories where you were happy, calm, at peace, they are there.... our brains aim to please, they give us more of what it thinks we want. Perceptional preferences can be redirected away from helplessness/stress/anxiety/depression... but it takes work.

 

[Rani G2]

PROACTIVITY basically rather than distraction works best for me.

I do like the aroma therapy one though... and have a few fragrances that I find calming/soothing but I have others that make it easier for me to retrieve more pleasant memories. P

These are definitely things I need to try out more Alba. I feel Okayer, had a smoothie ( Selfmade).


Thank you very much Alba

 

[The Albatross]

Good deal, now don't back off. Follow up with other activities or self/life affirming things to reinforce the momentum. Maybe set a mini goal and as you go about your day/evening - observe/feel 5 pleasant things.

Like for me that would usually be, watching the birds or squirrels at my feeder, doing a long hot bath/shampoo/deep condition, feeling the fur of a pet on my lap and listening to the purring or observing how relaxed they are, reading an essay or story that I find inspiring which is most usually something which requires bravery/courage and besting adversity.

I highly recommend including inspirational reading as they are real life examples that can be applied to our own day to day life. There are a whole host of daily thought/motivational inspirational emails that can be selected, for example. For about 4 years I would pick 3 and subscribe and on waking, they would be in my email for me to read. I would pick new ones on different topics/subjects each year.

 

[The Albatross]

P.S. These aren't "things to try".. these are examples of things that can be assistive, you can brainstorm your own keeping proactivity and management of stress/anxiety in mind. Those that you find assistive for you, are the ones that you want to cultivate through practice and repetition to become habits that will replace your habit/behavior now. Then consistency of habit gets you to 6 months and Wha-la, a bright, beautiful and better new behavior. Honest.

 

[Rani G2]

Thank you Alba..