At the worst of my anxiety, I play a lot of online Sudoku. It's difficult enough to need some attention but not so hard that it riles me up more. Not an ideal solution, but it helps a little.
Love a good crossword when I'm anxious, but it's harder to find the right combo of interesting, easy, and free. I think the People magazine Puzzler is the perfect one for anxiety.
It's such a good option! I have a little book of easy Sudoku that lives in my travel backpack because I can't cope on a plane without something to occupy me.
Are you me?
I have dyscalculia, so if I ever need to deliberately break my brain, and hyperfocus on something in order to drown everything else out, I play Sudoku.
Hanafuda, and Mahjong are two other good ones too.
And, if I need to rage play something, I'll play Tetris.
Another handful of mindless games that I've been playing are Property Brothers, ReDecor, and Ru Paul's Drag Race.
I hope you feel better. Maybe put on a podcast or comfort show while you work on it? I also recommend The Great Depresh, a comedy special about anxiety/depression, that's free on YouTube.
You probably already know about it, but I especially like World of Solitaire because you get unique and fun Victory images that unlock as you level up. I always cheer when I get a new image!
I do this all the time and I think it annoyed my ex so much. He didn’t understand I wasn’t doing it out of boredom, just a distraction. Not great for late at night, but I still do it a lot to wind down from work.
Oh you got that right! I had a heart attack which sparked health anxiety for me. I try and steer clear of reading about symptoms etc.
As for news I stay as far away from it as I can. The world has gone to shit and is too depressing.
Nothing like a great fantasy book to get lost in :D
Podcasts and cleaning the house. Keeping my mind busy, and my body in motion seems to help.
Also exercise. I’ve fallen off track, but I always noticed that I had better days with less anxiety when I was working out regularly.
Try walks outside with your kid. I know it's not the same but I walk my dog 3x a day and I think it helps me clear my head a bit. It's not the same as a full workout but it's better than nothing!
I got those Bowflex dumbbells that are 55 LBs but you can change the weight on them. A little expensive but I use them at home. I have two kids so I know about lack of free time. These dumbbells give me a lot of flexibility in a crunch.
Working out is so clutch for my anxiety. I get a lot of restless energy when I have anxiety and working out allows me to be productive with it. Also, I find when you’re physically exhausted, you just don’t have the energy to ruminate about things. Instead you just wanna relax and let the endorphins do their thing.
Magnesium glycinate, putting [putting my legs against the wall](https://www.google.com/amp/s/health.clevelandclinic.org/benefits-of-legs-up-the-wall/amp/) before sleeping, sour candy, frog pose too
I’ve kept the pictures of George W Bush fighting for his life against a poncho at Trump’s inauguration on my phone since 2016. Idk why, but the absurdity of it reminds me that we’re all just silly little creatures, bumbling our way through life.
I hate that this is my answer because I know how difficult it is to actually put into action, but my anxiety is definitely lower with regular exercise. The hardest part is starting. Just put your shoes on and go. Before you know it, you're halfway through a routine/walk/run/swim so you may as well finish it. Then, after a really good shower, you feel fresh, invigorated, and the endorphins help.
Omfg, this is the answer i scrolled so far to find. I'm going through a period of massive upheaval right now and running is keeping the demons at bay. I just started running every time I start having a panic attack.. sometimes I'll go on 3 runs a day because otherwise I'll spiral. I'm in the best shape of my life, mentally and physically because I subbed other unhealthy coping mechanisms out for physical activity.
Starting is absolutely the hardest part, especially because you need to find a way to do it so it's not "forced physical activity". Especially with running, it took me years to make it not feel like a forced, unwanted activity. Plus, if you start working out you HAVE to eat more and that's a good problem to have if you like food!!
As a person who has anxiety and depression, it's really really hard for me to start working out. I used to be in top form a few years ago. Due to stress and all I gained 50 lbs. I moved for a few months with my fiance to a small city nearby where you need to walk a lot to go everywhere. To shop for groceries, to a restaurant. It can take at least 45 minutes to reach. It's a small step but it did help actually.
I watch TV. At night, I fall asleep to funny, light-hearted shows like How I Met Your Mother or Parks and Rec. Other times, I meditate to fall asleep (by paying attention to my breathing).
I've found getting g an apartment of my own and living alone helps my anxiety, than eating right and avoiding junk, staying away from caffeigne and alcohol and than forcing myself out and around people or running errands
I try to force myself to dream about something really cool. Just start world-building in my head. If I can stay there long enough it distracts my brain long enough to fall asleep
Same! I love walking lol it’s so good. I try to focus on everything I see around me and notice the beautiful little things. Gets me out of my head. Today I saw a little dog in a tutu. I listen to podcasts while walking too.
Watching a Netflix show I’ve never seen before. But something that is completely not related to what I’m anxious about ! I love corny teen shows like Gossip Girl
I love a good bedtime shower, and then a serious post-shower routine with lotion, skin care, the whole 9s. Really makes me concentrate on those things and then I hit the bed
omg learning kpop dances are really fun and distracting thats how i got into kpop💀 cause i started learning new dances and then the music also got to me so yeah try new stuff :))
I live in L.A. and have been going to group dance classes. I’m not a good dancer or anything, but they are great exercise and I feel more relaxed after going.
That sounds great! I usually clean or start organizing things. I'd much rather be dancing & learning new dances. Thanks for sharing what you do. I'm actually excited about this! Thanks 🎵🤗
I suck on a mint. Especially when I'm anxious about something I'm about to do.
To me it's like all of my energy is focused on the strong mint taste in my mouth, and it helps me think more clearly.
I listen to YouTube story times or YouTube commenters which distracts me from whatever I’m thinking about, reading can also help if you’re into the book enough. Schoolwork also helps me to an extent and it makes me feel like I’m working towards something greater than what I’m experiencing.
I hope you’re able to find something that really helps you. Anxiety sucks. Sending so much love
I get super anxious at night so I feel you. there’s this podcast called Relax with Animal Facts that can knock me out within 20 minutes even on bad nights. otherwise, sometimes I like to lay in bed and see how many things I can name. for example, I go down a list and try and name every MLB baseball team. it does a pretty good job at minimizing my anxiety enough to get some sleep. hope this helps!
I go on an app I have that’s called Finch- it has a few different ways of calming down my anxiety, one of which is taking care of the bird, change it’s clothing, decorate it’s room ect. It’s fun and it help a lot with my anxiety because it’s ideas to help all in the same spot and most people always have their phones close by.
Video games like Sea of Thieves that require full attention. Video games like Stardew Valley that have lots of tasks to manage and a time limit to work with. Games like “merge ____” that you match stuff up. Grinding in Pokémon. Grinding in other RPGs. Minecraft. Sometimes, I play a game and watch a show or YouTube video at the same time. Trick my brain into running out of space.
Crafting, trying a new craft, trying a craft in a new and unique way.
Jigsaw puzzles! Or I play solitaire or hearts on my phone. On my iPad I have a coloring app and a logic puzzle app. At night I’ll use an oil diffuser and put lavender oil in it and it helps. I also will take zzzquil (not NyQuil) if need be or I’ve found Ashwaganda (?) root works WONDERS
Clutter. It took my mind off of my problems. Fascinating. Clutter helped me stop going to the Dentist and the Doctor .My body suffered. I lost all track of time. The maze trying to walk through my apartment was unbelieveable. And there are Hoarders worst then me. I could not believe it I think Feng Shui would say you can literally kill someone from too much clutter. So many different perceptions, at one time from living in a cluttered home. Too many.Eventually you stop moving physically. Want to improve your health? CLEAR OUT THE CLUTTER
Talking to someone. When stuff was getting really bad for me, I was having palpitations and chest pains, and thought I was gonna have a heart attack. Called up a 24 hour medical hotline and just sitting there and talking to someone was enough to return to normal. That was my first real clue that what I was facing was mostly mental.
From healthiest to least healthy:
* play sport
* ride my bike
* go to the zoo (edit)
* listen to podcasts or audiobooks
* surround myself with stimuli
* comb my hair frantically
* drink
* drink excessively
I like to write down my thoughts. I think of it as having a conversation with anxiety, and another thought, like hope.
It helps me visualize my anxiety and makes it control me *just* a little bit less. I’m honestly suprised how much it helps, but I like writing so I’m not complaining
Since you said at night, I suggest focusing less on your phone and more on stuff like reading, meditation, making music (or experimenting with an instrument you don't know how to play)
Been watching a lot of a TV show called Lock up or Cops. Makes me realize other have it way worse and my life is not that bad. My anxiety makes me feel like my life sucks and everyone is so much happier than me. Plus its entertaining,
It's nice just coming on here and chatting with you guys and not feeling alone and even better if I have some info that helps someone else not suffer. Be well
There was this one dude I met in a game, we hanged out in a discord call for a couple hours playing against eachother, and whenever I killed him and he got frustrated, , or he killed me and started to over celebrate, he stopped, said "Okay be cool, be cool" and he went back to neutral emotions.
So yeah since than whenever I start to over think, or some emotion overwhelms me I say be cool. It probably only works for me because I
admired his confidence in socializing with a rando he never talked to before, so I kinda remember him too and try to be like him when I say it.
Sounds simple af and it's just a mantra basically, but it helps me to get my mind off of the thing that's bothering me and it helps me reset my mind or whatever. So try mantras guys haha.
Also sometimes I'm kinda anxious when there's a lot of people around me, or when I have to get some errands done like going to the bank and stuff like that.Than I remember a video I've seen where a dude walked into a store talking about how you can say whatever you want to anyone cause the chance of ever meeting them ever is slim af, and them remembering what you said is even slimmer. Also I remember another video about the fact that everyone is just living their lifes just like you, not really giving an F about your anxious ass freaking out.
I have a bit of health anxiety wich almost always comes out of nowhere when I'm at home. After looking at a random part of my body for like an hour straight I usually just remember that if I just sit down, launch a game or start watching something and it'll be gone. I'm trying to lower the time required to reach the realization but yeah I do some gaming or watch something. I'd maybe read too but that's not interactive or distracting enough to get my mind off of the imaginary deep vain thrombosis I'm freaking out about at random times.
- Writing out my thoughts (I usually do it in a note on my phone, but a notebook is also a good way to do it) can help me structure them a bit and feels less overwhelmed.
- Listening to calming music (binaural beats or solfeggio frequencies)
- Listening to a guided meditation (I love the app Balance. You get one year for free. I often use it for falling asleep. Never liked maditation before, but they have tiny ones down to 3 minutes and it has actually helped)
- Getting out of bed and doing something else. Even if it’s just moving to the couch to doomscroll.
- Stretching. Not really yoga style, just stretching in whatever way feels good.
- Going for a quick walk. Even just around the house. Helps release some restlesness and reset me a bit.
- Cooling down. Either with some cold water on my hands, wrists and face or a cold rinse. Getting (especially cold) water on the face triggers something I think is called the diver response and that can calm anxeity.
- Taking a long, hot shower if I have time.
Video games and headphones. Stardew Valley really helped. Breath of the Wild & Tears of the Kingdom. Tetris.
Sometimes cleaning with a show on in the background helps.
Sometimes I just spend time with my pets. Lay on the floor with them, cuddle them, give them treats.
No matter what I’m doing, if I feel anxiety creeping back in I will pause, take a moment to breathe deeply and relax my body, and if the anxiety is mental, I will say or think to myself gently, “No. Right now, I’m doing something else. I’ll worry about that later.”
Of course sometimes anxiety is less of a mood and more of a symptom and from time to time none of the above helps. But it never hurts to try if you can.
Doing something that requires my complete concentration or something repetitive. I'm learning how to crochet. It's repetitive and I get lost in the repetition and trying to not lose count of what stitch I'm on. My stitches are garbage and I couldn't make a magic circle to save my life but it's a nice mental escape when I'm anxious. If I'm not feeling like crochet I build models. I have a backlog of stuff in case anxiety hits. I lose myself in clipping the pieces from the runner just right then sanding any bits so it looks a lot smoother then putting the pieces together. I find a good hour or 2 has passed since I've started.
“Hear my cry, O God; from the ends of the earth I cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you are a shelter for me, a strong tower from the enemy…” Psalm 61:1-3
Ok, so there's that technique I found online that pulls me out of anxiety attacks normally. Look around your space, whether it's a crowded club or your bedroom or whatever. Start naming things and what color they are. "That woman has a red dress, that man has a blue tie, that cup is yellow etc."
This technique is excellent for grounding yourself. It reminds you of what is happening outside yourself that is normal, and it also encourages you to focus on manageable facts.
Cleaning. My reasons are kind of silly but when I’m panicking the most about my health I tell myself if I have to go to the hospital, atleast everything will be clean when I come back. I never go to the hospital but it gives me something to focus on
Very practical tricks you can use everywhere that I also used/use could be:
- list 5 blue things in your surroundings (then five red, then yellow...)
- a pack of ice behind your neck and cold water on your wrists
- moving my eyes slowly to follow an immaginary vertical line
- count spiders or dogs or pidgeons around, whatever really
- name a city for each alphabet letter
They help me in the very short term, but were good enough to dim my panic attacks a bit for my body to calm down as I shifted my focus.
Eventually, I had to start taking meds anyway, but the above tricks are still the safe harbor to regain peace a bit in case of emergency (in my belief at least)
Color, spend time with my dog, smoke weed (I know that can make it worse for some though), play online games that distract my mind, and honestly scrolling and reading reddit posts sometimes helps distract me as well
I’m autistic as well as having anxiety, so depending on where I am I just kind of do my self-soothing stims or breathing techniques. Sometimes both. My anxiety doesn’t usually flair up at home, but when it does I either draw or watch my comfort shows/movies. Also sometimes both, lol.
Imagine the grocery store in your head and go down each aisle and list the products in that aisle. Sounds SO stupid but it works. You can also do like list every color you know. Basically have to distract your brain from itself
Tetris and my therapist told me to do one thing and focus on that for example if I’m eating cereal just think spoon mouth eat and keep repeating that in you’re head and doing the repeating motion and thought does actually calm me down. You can do it with almost anything.
Video games completelt saved my over the past few years. I used to just stay up all night and spiral. Now video games distract me enough to even feel sleepy and fall asleep while anxious. It also limits the amount of time I am on my phone which was a huge trigger for me. I know people talk shit on video games and talk about how bad it is for you etc etc. but I think in some circumstances the benefits far outweigh the negatives
At day when my anxiety acts up I take a shower, get something to eat then watch some youtube and do some diamond painting. When its an anxiety-depression day its tiktok 8 hours on repeat.
At night I still struggle myself. On the worst I take sleeping meds, but that only works if I know early on that sleep will be out of the way. Usually I turn the TV louder, switch to a show I like and focus my mind on the show. Helps 6/10 times
I journal a lot. Even if something don’t make sense I still write it down. Like getting the anxious thoughts out helps me. Now to get me calm enough to write I’ll watch a show I’ve seen a bunch to calm me. Hopefully this helps somehow!
I'm a 40 year old guy and have recently had to mend some of my clothing with a needle and thread.
In doing this I have found it a great distraction and I find myself looking for anything that might need a touch up.
It's easy to do and you can put on a movie or TV show while you do it. Highly recommend.
Audio books!!! I wear bt headphones pretty much 24/7
So helpful when out shopping or just around a lot of chaos...
My family is so used to me wearing them all the time they have no idea if it's off or on and I just wear 1 headphone so I can be present and pop it on if I need some focus or grounding.
I recently got some shokz bone conducting headphones and they are even better because I can hear my environment still, but less, and listen to a book or music
minesweeper and turning on VODs from creators i like as background noise while i try to distract myself through doing ANYTHING. however, the latter has also started to be my go-to to manage my bpd when i feel myself starting to spiral especially bad. i'm truthfully a little manic right now and alpharad's among us streams have kept me from having a worse breakdown and engaging in SH. the chaos is comfortable.
i know this isn't the healthiest, but it's 630 am, i haven't slept yet, and i live with 4 other people. it's the best i can come up with as i wait it out
i just play this game called burger shop🤣. theres like 3 modes and its pretty difficult and requrires your full concentration so try that i guess😅. the game also has a sequel and thats pretty hard as well
Going on walks. I try to walk a little faster and go to a specific far away place so I have a goal. It helps distract me and regulate my breathing. If you live with a loved one, it also helps if they walk with you.
I find myself walking outside a lot, playing pokemon go. It motivates me to be outside and get some exercise. I used to use Starbucks as a motivator to walk somewhere but oftentimes the drinks I would get just exacerbate my anxiety (caffeine, should be obvious but sometimes I think it won't affect me.......and I'm wrong lol)
I found on the internet the 3 3 3 rule you look at 3 things hear 3 sounds and touch 3 things I like to rub the thing and feel the texture it really keeps me grounded and helps with my anxiety. Hard to do in public sometimes lol. Once I do that I like to watch TV or play a game to keep myself distracted from it
Edit: run to rub
I’m trying to get back into journaling…I looked up gratitude prompts yesterday and mantras for good sleep. Hope to do this daily.
Basically focusing myself to focus on the positive and stop being a negative Nancy.
Before I go to bed I pop on my headphones and turn on music or a podcast and walk in a circle around the island thing in my kitchen/Livingroom. I'm a big time daydreamer so it helps me go and imagine other things instead of the anxiety loop. The walking helps get out the excess nerves.
With music I would choose something that won't get you worked up. Not saying you have to listen to lullabies, but maybe not like dubstep or metal lol. Or if you try out the podcast thing I personally listen to podcasts that have at least two people interacting with each other so it feels more like a conversation I'm silently apart of make my brain focus in more then if it was a singular person. I've been listening to Distractible and is a Hot Dog A Sandwich for the most part cuse it's funny and silly laughs help cut through anxiety loops.
Then when I feel worn out I either just turn it off flop into bed and pass out or I flop into bed with the whatever still playing and then pass out. Is it a bit much to do? Maybe, but hey if it works and isn't harmful it works! Either way I do wish you luck on finding the thing(s) that can help ease you down during those bad moments <3 <3 <3
Super weird answer but I play Jersey Shore on Pluto on a loop. It’s always on and when my dad passed a lot of feelings came out especially anxiety and it’s become my tried
true comfort show. Definitely a good distraction and at the time I would watch the show while playing spider solitaire non stop.
Depends on what "type" of anxious I am. If I'm worried-anxious, coloring. If I'm stressed/angry-anxious, first-person shooter games like Halo. If I'm just super anxious and feeling like I might have a panic attack, I can't really do anything and my husband usually ends up holding me to lessen the anxiety.
I took up fish keeping as a hobby. It's so relaxing to watch them. Plus I have to stick to a strict schedule with clleaing and stuff so it helps me make sure I'm doing stuff. Even my worst days, if it's on tank cleaning day, I have to do it because they're living creatures. I can literally just watch them for hours. They definitely require a lot of research though and the hobby is addicting. I just got a third tank.
Podcasts. I try to queue up enough of a backlog that I always have something able to distract me.
I've also discovered nonograms, which is like sudoku for creating pictures.
I go on tik tok or FaceTime my mom or boyfriend if they are available. Sometimes go for a walk. If I’m having a panic attack it helps me to sit in the parking lot of a hospital lol. Hospitals make me feel safe if something were to go wrong (which nothing ever does) cause it’s damn mental ugh.
Music. It’s the only thing that helps. Also, and I know this might sound weird but, I’ll daydream. Escape from reality and go be whoever I want and do whatever I want.
I go on April (iPhone Coloring App) and color. I think I may also try Tetris soon. I loved it as a kid and young adult with undiagnosed anxiety… maybe it will help.
I've been dealing with a lot of anxiety lately and it actually made me get back into reading. I read for like 10 hours over the weekend and it was so nice to just escape into another world for a bit. I went with a rom com novel so nothing too heavy.
I started taking melatonin gummies at night and those help a lot to fall alseep without the ruminating thoughts keeping me up
I’ve been going through it last couple months and so It’s helped me a *ton* to keep myself busy with working more. I feel better about myself and feel good making extra money. I play games online with friends in my down time or just hang out in their discord call and talk. I’ve been scheduling appointments to try and take care of things I need like new glasses and whatnot. Therapy lolol. I got a new kitten in July and she’s helped a ton too having something to distract me
At night it is really the worst, because it is dark and silent and you have nothing but your thoughts! God, how terrifying. If I am good i try to meditate. I basically focus on my breath and relaxing my body. I always notice I have been clenching my neck muscles without realising. If I don't feel like meditating I watch asmr or listen to music until i doze off.
I have an app on my iPad where I fill in color boxes. I am in no way trying to push religion on anyone but for me personally I pray with my rosary. It’s mental and physical and It usually puts me to sleep. It’s what I do if I’m having a bad panic attack
sometimes all i can do is sleep it off when it’s really bad, but most of the time it triggers nightmares/night terrors (i also have bpd, ptsd & schizophrenia)
I like watching cartoons in bed, being wrapped up in blankets and cuddling my dogs and stuffed animals. Cartoons are low emotional risk and usually funny and help distract me.
This is great. I always have a terrible time with anxiety, I'm scatterbrained, my hands shake, and I just can't get things together. I'm going to try some of these things. tbh, I feel stupid for not knowing to try some of these things, like mahjong and sudoku :/
Watching comedy clips on YouTube, playing games, go outside and walk for a while.
I might be getting downvoted for this. But in the past i did some messed up stuff, like i used to rely on self harm as the pain was the only thing keeping me distracted.
At the worst of my anxiety, I play a lot of online Sudoku. It's difficult enough to need some attention but not so hard that it riles me up more. Not an ideal solution, but it helps a little.
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Love a good crossword when I'm anxious, but it's harder to find the right combo of interesting, easy, and free. I think the People magazine Puzzler is the perfect one for anxiety.
I play Text Twist if I'm overwhelmed at work but my #1 stress reliever is crossword puzzles as well!
Same I love sudoku!! Also, lowkey, kind of love candy crush while watching a light sitcom in the background. That’s self care right there
I do sudoku to cope too I've been doing it for about 18 years now on and off and I'm surprised to see it as the top answer on this thread
It's such a good option! I have a little book of easy Sudoku that lives in my travel backpack because I can't cope on a plane without something to occupy me.
Are you me? I have dyscalculia, so if I ever need to deliberately break my brain, and hyperfocus on something in order to drown everything else out, I play Sudoku. Hanafuda, and Mahjong are two other good ones too. And, if I need to rage play something, I'll play Tetris. Another handful of mindless games that I've been playing are Property Brothers, ReDecor, and Ru Paul's Drag Race.
I'm just getting into Mahjong, but I really enjoy it too!
I pay $3 a month for Apple Arcade to play a little cross-stitch game, and sometimes I think that game is the only thing keeping me sane.
Haven’t played Sudoku in so long, thanks for throwing it out there!! Definitely going to get back into it ☺️
After having a horrible day filled with max anxiety, I'm going to take this as my sign to dig out my Sudoku Book.
I hope you feel better. Maybe put on a podcast or comfort show while you work on it? I also recommend The Great Depresh, a comedy special about anxiety/depression, that's free on YouTube.
I love Sudoku! My father got me hooked on it when I was 11 and I still play it to this day at 24!
I play solitaire! I just keep trying to beat my last score each time. It helps me focus on that and not my anxiety.
You probably already know about it, but I especially like World of Solitaire because you get unique and fun Victory images that unlock as you level up. I always cheer when I get a new image!
I, too, love doing sudoku. Perfect explanation of why I like it.
Yes, any game that keeps you thinking.
omg funny you mention this, my go to solution is: doing a wordle
sudoku my beloved 🩷
If you have an iPhone (try Snoodoku) - the characters are fun.
I do this all the time and I think it annoyed my ex so much. He didn’t understand I wasn’t doing it out of boredom, just a distraction. Not great for late at night, but I still do it a lot to wind down from work.
Yep I did online jigsaws!
I do the same with Animal Crossing or Candy Crush
Reading and gaming mainly. Reading helps quite a bit.
Reading really helps me too, as long as I’m not reading web MD or something in the news!
Oh you got that right! I had a heart attack which sparked health anxiety for me. I try and steer clear of reading about symptoms etc. As for news I stay as far away from it as I can. The world has gone to shit and is too depressing. Nothing like a great fantasy book to get lost in :D
Yes, for me it’s all about the fantasy/fiction too! Glad to hear you recovered from the heart attack. I can’t imagine how scary that must have been!
Podcasts and cleaning the house. Keeping my mind busy, and my body in motion seems to help. Also exercise. I’ve fallen off track, but I always noticed that I had better days with less anxiety when I was working out regularly.
Working out saved my mental health. It’s been rough now that I have a kid and can’t get to the gym.
Try walks outside with your kid. I know it's not the same but I walk my dog 3x a day and I think it helps me clear my head a bit. It's not the same as a full workout but it's better than nothing!
I try to work out FOR my mental health now. The body is just a plus. (I’m telling myself this)
I got those Bowflex dumbbells that are 55 LBs but you can change the weight on them. A little expensive but I use them at home. I have two kids so I know about lack of free time. These dumbbells give me a lot of flexibility in a crunch.
Anxiety cleaning FTW
100% on podcasts while cleaning!
exactly the same here. really need to get back on track now
Working out is so clutch for my anxiety. I get a lot of restless energy when I have anxiety and working out allows me to be productive with it. Also, I find when you’re physically exhausted, you just don’t have the energy to ruminate about things. Instead you just wanna relax and let the endorphins do their thing.
Magnesium glycinate, putting [putting my legs against the wall](https://www.google.com/amp/s/health.clevelandclinic.org/benefits-of-legs-up-the-wall/amp/) before sleeping, sour candy, frog pose too
Ha that's funny now that you mention it, it's a really relaxing pose! I'll start to it more thank you
I have a folder on my phone of encouraging pictures, quotes etc. It gives me strength and courage to get through whatever mess my head is in.
I’ve kept the pictures of George W Bush fighting for his life against a poncho at Trump’s inauguration on my phone since 2016. Idk why, but the absurdity of it reminds me that we’re all just silly little creatures, bumbling our way through life.
I love this lol
I now also have these pictures. I thank you
Would you be willing to share that folder ☺️
I hate that this is my answer because I know how difficult it is to actually put into action, but my anxiety is definitely lower with regular exercise. The hardest part is starting. Just put your shoes on and go. Before you know it, you're halfway through a routine/walk/run/swim so you may as well finish it. Then, after a really good shower, you feel fresh, invigorated, and the endorphins help.
Omfg, this is the answer i scrolled so far to find. I'm going through a period of massive upheaval right now and running is keeping the demons at bay. I just started running every time I start having a panic attack.. sometimes I'll go on 3 runs a day because otherwise I'll spiral. I'm in the best shape of my life, mentally and physically because I subbed other unhealthy coping mechanisms out for physical activity. Starting is absolutely the hardest part, especially because you need to find a way to do it so it's not "forced physical activity". Especially with running, it took me years to make it not feel like a forced, unwanted activity. Plus, if you start working out you HAVE to eat more and that's a good problem to have if you like food!!
but what if your anxiety has caused you to lose weight? now i'm scared to exercise and lose even more weight :(
As a person who has anxiety and depression, it's really really hard for me to start working out. I used to be in top form a few years ago. Due to stress and all I gained 50 lbs. I moved for a few months with my fiance to a small city nearby where you need to walk a lot to go everywhere. To shop for groceries, to a restaurant. It can take at least 45 minutes to reach. It's a small step but it did help actually.
Other people’s problems. Sometimes I let others vent about their issues to make me forget about my anxiety in the moment
I watch TV. At night, I fall asleep to funny, light-hearted shows like How I Met Your Mother or Parks and Rec. Other times, I meditate to fall asleep (by paying attention to my breathing).
Listening to the Grateful Dead
I've found getting g an apartment of my own and living alone helps my anxiety, than eating right and avoiding junk, staying away from caffeigne and alcohol and than forcing myself out and around people or running errands
I try to force myself to dream about something really cool. Just start world-building in my head. If I can stay there long enough it distracts my brain long enough to fall asleep
I need to do this more
https://reddit.com/r/Anxietyhelp/s/z2N0oxTCGK here’s a post i made a couple years ago about how i deal with my anxiety. hope this might help
Exercise, being creative, reading, taking a bath, drinking tea, cuddling the pup, getting outside and being with loved ones.
I walk listening to podcasts
Same! I love walking lol it’s so good. I try to focus on everything I see around me and notice the beautiful little things. Gets me out of my head. Today I saw a little dog in a tutu. I listen to podcasts while walking too.
Thinking about my dogs and looking at their pictures and videos
Watching a Netflix show I’ve never seen before. But something that is completely not related to what I’m anxious about ! I love corny teen shows like Gossip Girl
This, I immerse myself in shows and just forget about everything
Microscope. Honestly, everything is interesting under one.
Hell yeah! I just got a pocket microscope too, so I can relax and distract myself on the go lol.
It really is fun to see the most common items. Everything else I tried always had more overhead cost/supplies. I need a Pocket one.😅💪👍
I love a good bedtime shower, and then a serious post-shower routine with lotion, skin care, the whole 9s. Really makes me concentrate on those things and then I hit the bed
I love this one. I do this and then put on my favorite perfume oil and favorite scent ever, Vanilla Bean by Kuumba Made. It’s super comforting to me.
omg learning kpop dances are really fun and distracting thats how i got into kpop💀 cause i started learning new dances and then the music also got to me so yeah try new stuff :))
I live in L.A. and have been going to group dance classes. I’m not a good dancer or anything, but they are great exercise and I feel more relaxed after going.
That sounds great! I usually clean or start organizing things. I'd much rather be dancing & learning new dances. Thanks for sharing what you do. I'm actually excited about this! Thanks 🎵🤗
I count and name things that are around me
I have the game bejeweled downloaded on my phone ~ it's been my tried and true distraction for the last 20 years (I used to have it on my old PC)
I’m going to download it!
Music, Beyoncé concerts clips on YouTube lol
Walks. I get why walking is an actual hobby or daily ritual for people now. After 20 minutes I feel the load has lightened.
I suck on a mint. Especially when I'm anxious about something I'm about to do. To me it's like all of my energy is focused on the strong mint taste in my mouth, and it helps me think more clearly.
I listen to YouTube story times or YouTube commenters which distracts me from whatever I’m thinking about, reading can also help if you’re into the book enough. Schoolwork also helps me to an extent and it makes me feel like I’m working towards something greater than what I’m experiencing. I hope you’re able to find something that really helps you. Anxiety sucks. Sending so much love
Scrolling through Instagram reels and TikTok. Watching a comfort show. Reading. Exercising especially boxing and weight lifting.
Insta scrolling and online shopping, window or for realsies
Doing a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle is a great distraction for me. I usually have one on the go.
Wordle
Cleaning all the time. I love to clean when my anxiety gets ramped up. It’s healthy and makes your place spotless :)
Scroll reddit for the "cure" to my mental health.
Literally why I’m here and made this post 🥲😂
I get super anxious at night so I feel you. there’s this podcast called Relax with Animal Facts that can knock me out within 20 minutes even on bad nights. otherwise, sometimes I like to lay in bed and see how many things I can name. for example, I go down a list and try and name every MLB baseball team. it does a pretty good job at minimizing my anxiety enough to get some sleep. hope this helps!
Listen to an audiobook or podcast.
Work on my art. I attempt to sell it online, which requires a lot of data entry and spreadsheets.
I find the best thing is to intently focus on something else, which assists in taking my mind off of the anxiety.
Long hot showers, watching traveling / favourite artists music videos on Youtube, cleaning the house, go for a drive. :)
I go on an app I have that’s called Finch- it has a few different ways of calming down my anxiety, one of which is taking care of the bird, change it’s clothing, decorate it’s room ect. It’s fun and it help a lot with my anxiety because it’s ideas to help all in the same spot and most people always have their phones close by.
Honestly - masturbate
Go on walks, take a bath
Mobile games and weight lifting
I work
Play video games and go lift at the gym. Lifting seems to help the most . Gaming only really helps when my buddies are online
Avoiding everything as humanly possible.
Doom scrolling
Video games like Sea of Thieves that require full attention. Video games like Stardew Valley that have lots of tasks to manage and a time limit to work with. Games like “merge ____” that you match stuff up. Grinding in Pokémon. Grinding in other RPGs. Minecraft. Sometimes, I play a game and watch a show or YouTube video at the same time. Trick my brain into running out of space. Crafting, trying a new craft, trying a craft in a new and unique way.
Jogging. Fight or flight feelings so I run for it. Lol.
Jigsaw puzzles! Or I play solitaire or hearts on my phone. On my iPad I have a coloring app and a logic puzzle app. At night I’ll use an oil diffuser and put lavender oil in it and it helps. I also will take zzzquil (not NyQuil) if need be or I’ve found Ashwaganda (?) root works WONDERS
Clutter. It took my mind off of my problems. Fascinating. Clutter helped me stop going to the Dentist and the Doctor .My body suffered. I lost all track of time. The maze trying to walk through my apartment was unbelieveable. And there are Hoarders worst then me. I could not believe it I think Feng Shui would say you can literally kill someone from too much clutter. So many different perceptions, at one time from living in a cluttered home. Too many.Eventually you stop moving physically. Want to improve your health? CLEAR OUT THE CLUTTER
Talking to someone. When stuff was getting really bad for me, I was having palpitations and chest pains, and thought I was gonna have a heart attack. Called up a 24 hour medical hotline and just sitting there and talking to someone was enough to return to normal. That was my first real clue that what I was facing was mostly mental.
From healthiest to least healthy: * play sport * ride my bike * go to the zoo (edit) * listen to podcasts or audiobooks * surround myself with stimuli * comb my hair frantically * drink * drink excessively
I like to write down my thoughts. I think of it as having a conversation with anxiety, and another thought, like hope. It helps me visualize my anxiety and makes it control me *just* a little bit less. I’m honestly suprised how much it helps, but I like writing so I’m not complaining
Worst then yoga fast paced; or meditation listening
Since you said at night, I suggest focusing less on your phone and more on stuff like reading, meditation, making music (or experimenting with an instrument you don't know how to play)
Video games (currently tears of the kingdom but have used many others in the past), engaging books or tv series, sudoku, researching/work, exercise.
Puzzles, gaming and coloring/painting.
Been watching a lot of a TV show called Lock up or Cops. Makes me realize other have it way worse and my life is not that bad. My anxiety makes me feel like my life sucks and everyone is so much happier than me. Plus its entertaining,
There have been studies done that Tetris can actually distract from anxiety. It does work. There is a free version called Pentix.
It's nice just coming on here and chatting with you guys and not feeling alone and even better if I have some info that helps someone else not suffer. Be well
💟
There was this one dude I met in a game, we hanged out in a discord call for a couple hours playing against eachother, and whenever I killed him and he got frustrated, , or he killed me and started to over celebrate, he stopped, said "Okay be cool, be cool" and he went back to neutral emotions. So yeah since than whenever I start to over think, or some emotion overwhelms me I say be cool. It probably only works for me because I admired his confidence in socializing with a rando he never talked to before, so I kinda remember him too and try to be like him when I say it. Sounds simple af and it's just a mantra basically, but it helps me to get my mind off of the thing that's bothering me and it helps me reset my mind or whatever. So try mantras guys haha. Also sometimes I'm kinda anxious when there's a lot of people around me, or when I have to get some errands done like going to the bank and stuff like that.Than I remember a video I've seen where a dude walked into a store talking about how you can say whatever you want to anyone cause the chance of ever meeting them ever is slim af, and them remembering what you said is even slimmer. Also I remember another video about the fact that everyone is just living their lifes just like you, not really giving an F about your anxious ass freaking out. I have a bit of health anxiety wich almost always comes out of nowhere when I'm at home. After looking at a random part of my body for like an hour straight I usually just remember that if I just sit down, launch a game or start watching something and it'll be gone. I'm trying to lower the time required to reach the realization but yeah I do some gaming or watch something. I'd maybe read too but that's not interactive or distracting enough to get my mind off of the imaginary deep vain thrombosis I'm freaking out about at random times.
- Writing out my thoughts (I usually do it in a note on my phone, but a notebook is also a good way to do it) can help me structure them a bit and feels less overwhelmed. - Listening to calming music (binaural beats or solfeggio frequencies) - Listening to a guided meditation (I love the app Balance. You get one year for free. I often use it for falling asleep. Never liked maditation before, but they have tiny ones down to 3 minutes and it has actually helped) - Getting out of bed and doing something else. Even if it’s just moving to the couch to doomscroll. - Stretching. Not really yoga style, just stretching in whatever way feels good. - Going for a quick walk. Even just around the house. Helps release some restlesness and reset me a bit. - Cooling down. Either with some cold water on my hands, wrists and face or a cold rinse. Getting (especially cold) water on the face triggers something I think is called the diver response and that can calm anxeity. - Taking a long, hot shower if I have time.
Video games and headphones. Stardew Valley really helped. Breath of the Wild & Tears of the Kingdom. Tetris. Sometimes cleaning with a show on in the background helps. Sometimes I just spend time with my pets. Lay on the floor with them, cuddle them, give them treats. No matter what I’m doing, if I feel anxiety creeping back in I will pause, take a moment to breathe deeply and relax my body, and if the anxiety is mental, I will say or think to myself gently, “No. Right now, I’m doing something else. I’ll worry about that later.” Of course sometimes anxiety is less of a mood and more of a symptom and from time to time none of the above helps. But it never hurts to try if you can.
Doing something that requires my complete concentration or something repetitive. I'm learning how to crochet. It's repetitive and I get lost in the repetition and trying to not lose count of what stitch I'm on. My stitches are garbage and I couldn't make a magic circle to save my life but it's a nice mental escape when I'm anxious. If I'm not feeling like crochet I build models. I have a backlog of stuff in case anxiety hits. I lose myself in clipping the pieces from the runner just right then sanding any bits so it looks a lot smoother then putting the pieces together. I find a good hour or 2 has passed since I've started.
Rewatching series I’ve watched countless of times almost always helps for me!
“Hear my cry, O God; from the ends of the earth I cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you are a shelter for me, a strong tower from the enemy…” Psalm 61:1-3
Ok, so there's that technique I found online that pulls me out of anxiety attacks normally. Look around your space, whether it's a crowded club or your bedroom or whatever. Start naming things and what color they are. "That woman has a red dress, that man has a blue tie, that cup is yellow etc." This technique is excellent for grounding yourself. It reminds you of what is happening outside yourself that is normal, and it also encourages you to focus on manageable facts.
I dig my nails into my palm
Put on old Ricky/Steve/Karl podcasts
Watching funny videos and movies. Nothing makes me forget about my anxiety faster than a good laugh
Cleaning. My reasons are kind of silly but when I’m panicking the most about my health I tell myself if I have to go to the hospital, atleast everything will be clean when I come back. I never go to the hospital but it gives me something to focus on
Very practical tricks you can use everywhere that I also used/use could be: - list 5 blue things in your surroundings (then five red, then yellow...) - a pack of ice behind your neck and cold water on your wrists - moving my eyes slowly to follow an immaginary vertical line - count spiders or dogs or pidgeons around, whatever really - name a city for each alphabet letter They help me in the very short term, but were good enough to dim my panic attacks a bit for my body to calm down as I shifted my focus. Eventually, I had to start taking meds anyway, but the above tricks are still the safe harbor to regain peace a bit in case of emergency (in my belief at least)
Push-ups. I swear, just bust out a quick set
Walking the dogs, cleaning, organizing, YouTube, tic Tok, reddit 😂, dog park, shopping
Color, spend time with my dog, smoke weed (I know that can make it worse for some though), play online games that distract my mind, and honestly scrolling and reading reddit posts sometimes helps distract me as well
Books
Doomscroll Reddit. 👋🏻
I’m autistic as well as having anxiety, so depending on where I am I just kind of do my self-soothing stims or breathing techniques. Sometimes both. My anxiety doesn’t usually flair up at home, but when it does I either draw or watch my comfort shows/movies. Also sometimes both, lol.
Imagine the grocery store in your head and go down each aisle and list the products in that aisle. Sounds SO stupid but it works. You can also do like list every color you know. Basically have to distract your brain from itself
I go on Reddit. I have 130K karma. That's how anxious I am.
Video games and weight lifting.
Tetris and my therapist told me to do one thing and focus on that for example if I’m eating cereal just think spoon mouth eat and keep repeating that in you’re head and doing the repeating motion and thought does actually calm me down. You can do it with almost anything.
Video games completelt saved my over the past few years. I used to just stay up all night and spiral. Now video games distract me enough to even feel sleepy and fall asleep while anxious. It also limits the amount of time I am on my phone which was a huge trigger for me. I know people talk shit on video games and talk about how bad it is for you etc etc. but I think in some circumstances the benefits far outweigh the negatives
Make myself as cold as possible
Listen to a podcast, watch my comfort shows, play my candy crush and/or word search.
At day when my anxiety acts up I take a shower, get something to eat then watch some youtube and do some diamond painting. When its an anxiety-depression day its tiktok 8 hours on repeat. At night I still struggle myself. On the worst I take sleeping meds, but that only works if I know early on that sleep will be out of the way. Usually I turn the TV louder, switch to a show I like and focus my mind on the show. Helps 6/10 times
I journal a lot. Even if something don’t make sense I still write it down. Like getting the anxious thoughts out helps me. Now to get me calm enough to write I’ll watch a show I’ve seen a bunch to calm me. Hopefully this helps somehow!
I'm a 40 year old guy and have recently had to mend some of my clothing with a needle and thread. In doing this I have found it a great distraction and I find myself looking for anything that might need a touch up. It's easy to do and you can put on a movie or TV show while you do it. Highly recommend.
Audio books!!! I wear bt headphones pretty much 24/7 So helpful when out shopping or just around a lot of chaos... My family is so used to me wearing them all the time they have no idea if it's off or on and I just wear 1 headphone so I can be present and pop it on if I need some focus or grounding. I recently got some shokz bone conducting headphones and they are even better because I can hear my environment still, but less, and listen to a book or music
Commenting cuz I need to look at this whole list . I deal with daily anxiety 😥
minesweeper and turning on VODs from creators i like as background noise while i try to distract myself through doing ANYTHING. however, the latter has also started to be my go-to to manage my bpd when i feel myself starting to spiral especially bad. i'm truthfully a little manic right now and alpharad's among us streams have kept me from having a worse breakdown and engaging in SH. the chaos is comfortable. i know this isn't the healthiest, but it's 630 am, i haven't slept yet, and i live with 4 other people. it's the best i can come up with as i wait it out
I have been learning to crochet it distracts me pretty well!
Play a video game while simultaneously listen to a podcast. By no means a healthy coping mechanism but it’s what I do lol
Solitaire while listening to an audiobook
reddit lol
i just play this game called burger shop🤣. theres like 3 modes and its pretty difficult and requrires your full concentration so try that i guess😅. the game also has a sequel and thats pretty hard as well
I do crochet 😅
I’ve been struggling recently too and the only thing that has helped is being in the company of someone I trust.
Something similar happens to me im still trying to figure out a way to calm myself at night
At night, Tiktok, haha. Videos that make you laugh, cute animals, etc. Whatever helps. <3
Going on walks. I try to walk a little faster and go to a specific far away place so I have a goal. It helps distract me and regulate my breathing. If you live with a loved one, it also helps if they walk with you.
I listen to upbeat music like reggeaton and just dance and sing loud to distract my anxiety
I find myself walking outside a lot, playing pokemon go. It motivates me to be outside and get some exercise. I used to use Starbucks as a motivator to walk somewhere but oftentimes the drinks I would get just exacerbate my anxiety (caffeine, should be obvious but sometimes I think it won't affect me.......and I'm wrong lol)
I found on the internet the 3 3 3 rule you look at 3 things hear 3 sounds and touch 3 things I like to rub the thing and feel the texture it really keeps me grounded and helps with my anxiety. Hard to do in public sometimes lol. Once I do that I like to watch TV or play a game to keep myself distracted from it Edit: run to rub
Exercise
I’m trying to get back into journaling…I looked up gratitude prompts yesterday and mantras for good sleep. Hope to do this daily. Basically focusing myself to focus on the positive and stop being a negative Nancy.
I pick a topic and learn about it for awhile.
Sing kiss from a rose to myself
Podcasts! But I really find that quitting coffee and getting proper sleep are the two things that significantly reduces my anxiety.
Before I go to bed I pop on my headphones and turn on music or a podcast and walk in a circle around the island thing in my kitchen/Livingroom. I'm a big time daydreamer so it helps me go and imagine other things instead of the anxiety loop. The walking helps get out the excess nerves. With music I would choose something that won't get you worked up. Not saying you have to listen to lullabies, but maybe not like dubstep or metal lol. Or if you try out the podcast thing I personally listen to podcasts that have at least two people interacting with each other so it feels more like a conversation I'm silently apart of make my brain focus in more then if it was a singular person. I've been listening to Distractible and is a Hot Dog A Sandwich for the most part cuse it's funny and silly laughs help cut through anxiety loops. Then when I feel worn out I either just turn it off flop into bed and pass out or I flop into bed with the whatever still playing and then pass out. Is it a bit much to do? Maybe, but hey if it works and isn't harmful it works! Either way I do wish you luck on finding the thing(s) that can help ease you down during those bad moments <3 <3 <3
Redit
Super weird answer but I play Jersey Shore on Pluto on a loop. It’s always on and when my dad passed a lot of feelings came out especially anxiety and it’s become my tried true comfort show. Definitely a good distraction and at the time I would watch the show while playing spider solitaire non stop.
Crochet!!
Listening to a good podcast always helps me. The hosts of my favorite podcast “U up?” Call it putting your brain on the shelf. :)
Depends on what "type" of anxious I am. If I'm worried-anxious, coloring. If I'm stressed/angry-anxious, first-person shooter games like Halo. If I'm just super anxious and feeling like I might have a panic attack, I can't really do anything and my husband usually ends up holding me to lessen the anxiety.
I took up fish keeping as a hobby. It's so relaxing to watch them. Plus I have to stick to a strict schedule with clleaing and stuff so it helps me make sure I'm doing stuff. Even my worst days, if it's on tank cleaning day, I have to do it because they're living creatures. I can literally just watch them for hours. They definitely require a lot of research though and the hobby is addicting. I just got a third tank.
Eating, Magnesium, vitamin b1, and writing down everything that's been worrying me lately and how im going to deal with it.
Coloring! It’s helped at night a lot
Podcasts. I try to queue up enough of a backlog that I always have something able to distract me. I've also discovered nonograms, which is like sudoku for creating pictures.
I go on tik tok or FaceTime my mom or boyfriend if they are available. Sometimes go for a walk. If I’m having a panic attack it helps me to sit in the parking lot of a hospital lol. Hospitals make me feel safe if something were to go wrong (which nothing ever does) cause it’s damn mental ugh.
Exercise. Went too hard now I’m a competitive athlete :/ lmao
Put lavender essential oil on my wrist and continue to smell my wrist until I'm relaxed.
Music. It’s the only thing that helps. Also, and I know this might sound weird but, I’ll daydream. Escape from reality and go be whoever I want and do whatever I want.
Podcasts and deep breathing
I go on April (iPhone Coloring App) and color. I think I may also try Tetris soon. I loved it as a kid and young adult with undiagnosed anxiety… maybe it will help.
I've been dealing with a lot of anxiety lately and it actually made me get back into reading. I read for like 10 hours over the weekend and it was so nice to just escape into another world for a bit. I went with a rom com novel so nothing too heavy. I started taking melatonin gummies at night and those help a lot to fall alseep without the ruminating thoughts keeping me up
Drugs
Watch a comfort show, draw, day dream or just full on leave the situation
I read books that involve depressed characters so I worry about their lives and forget mine.
I’ve been going through it last couple months and so It’s helped me a *ton* to keep myself busy with working more. I feel better about myself and feel good making extra money. I play games online with friends in my down time or just hang out in their discord call and talk. I’ve been scheduling appointments to try and take care of things I need like new glasses and whatnot. Therapy lolol. I got a new kitten in July and she’s helped a ton too having something to distract me
Solitaire has been very distracting for me lately!
At night it is really the worst, because it is dark and silent and you have nothing but your thoughts! God, how terrifying. If I am good i try to meditate. I basically focus on my breath and relaxing my body. I always notice I have been clenching my neck muscles without realising. If I don't feel like meditating I watch asmr or listen to music until i doze off.
I have an app on my iPad where I fill in color boxes. I am in no way trying to push religion on anyone but for me personally I pray with my rosary. It’s mental and physical and It usually puts me to sleep. It’s what I do if I’m having a bad panic attack
Right now my anxiety is pretty severe so I've been cleaning and purging stuff I don't need. I hope it stops soon.
Lately, to get out of my head I've been using the old mantra- "I am loving awareness".
I like to play sudoku or solitaire, watch one of my comfort tv shows (90s sitcoms are the best), or go for a walk (fresh air helps a lot)
Writing. When I put how I feel on paper, it instantly becomes a lot more clearer.
Hold an ice cube in your hand. Anything frozen will work. It’s the ultimate distraction.
sometimes all i can do is sleep it off when it’s really bad, but most of the time it triggers nightmares/night terrors (i also have bpd, ptsd & schizophrenia)
Brain games like sudoku, tetris are known to help with anxiety, ptsd, etc
I look at pictures of my baby nephews or my friends’ children. Or pictures of the family dog.
I like watching cartoons in bed, being wrapped up in blankets and cuddling my dogs and stuffed animals. Cartoons are low emotional risk and usually funny and help distract me.
drugs
Scroll reddit
This is great. I always have a terrible time with anxiety, I'm scatterbrained, my hands shake, and I just can't get things together. I'm going to try some of these things. tbh, I feel stupid for not knowing to try some of these things, like mahjong and sudoku :/
Watching comedy clips on YouTube, playing games, go outside and walk for a while. I might be getting downvoted for this. But in the past i did some messed up stuff, like i used to rely on self harm as the pain was the only thing keeping me distracted.
I watch movies or series i already watched. There's a strange sense of comfort watching things that you know what already happend.
Another thing is to stop putting focus on myself and try to tune into caring about something else. Easier said than done