Coping Strategies

[Capt Midnight]

Just a thought. Maybe we should have a sticky for coping strategies? The deep breathing is a good one. I find going on a treadmill or walking quickly for just 10 minutes is a big help. I've cut down on sugar and fat, not cut out, just cut way down.

[Frazzle]

That's a good idea.

Consider it stuck!

[Capt Midnight]

I find sometimes my mind is a real jumble of thoughts. To slow it down and help me focus I pick up a book and just read for awhile. I do avoid reading about current events in this instance as they usually are bad news. Another good one requires the services of a significant other or your Mom or Dad. Give them a big hug. You'll both feel better.

[N8SMOM]

OMG!  I definitely need to stop reading current events.  There are some scary stories out there.

To help me through my anxiety I try to get outside and play with my son.  He likes to kick the soccer ball around our back yard, so I always do that with him.  I also think going for walks around the block help me out.  And I exercise 6 days a week, so I always feel better after exercising.  Just this week I started keeping a daily journal on the computer - mostly to remember how I was feeling on any given day so I can tell my new therapist.  I find that typing out my thoughts helps a lot.

[LezlieAugust]

I also exercise and paint.  Both are very good for my mental health.

Lezlie

[Capt Midnight]

Another thing that I find helps me, is to lay down with my three puppies and watch a bit of quiet television, something like "All Creatures Great and Small", the British show about the country vet that plays on PBS. I like it so much I bought the DVDs and save them for whenever I feel particularly crappy. (actually, I don't get to actually see all of the show, because the dogs tend to get in the way, tumbling over each other.)

Compared to this time last week, I feel amazingly normal today. And I even had a piece of someone's birthday cake....

[LezlieAugust]

Good for you...birthday cake is yummy!!  : )

Lezlie

[Betty4]

I cope by keeping real busy. If I'm laying around to much relaxing, I'm in trouble. Great idea for a sticky!

[xtinkx16]

I like doing puzzles, that helps me focus on something other than the anxiety. I think reading helps a lot too but I agree no current events! Watching stand-up or a sitcom just something that makes me laugh seems to help also.

[MagicOPromotion]

Were not going back to Disney World until this kids 2nd birthday.  I think Im going to go nuts 

What coping strategies do you use when its going to be waaaaay too long til you can go to WDW?

[Robin]

I watch a lot of comedy movies and I just started going over to my neighbor's house, on fri and sat nights they play rock band.
At my age I thought it was silly to play, but I am having fun.  The more things I do that are fun and enjoyable, it lowers my anxiety
level. Also for me, being creative, whether it be painting or working on a project.  I make a list of things I would like to work on, and
focus on completing it. It not only helps with dealing with the anxiety, I feel I have accomplished a goal.
Music and sounds of water in the house also create calmness.

[Danny]

When I'm really anxious, I watch a lot of comedies. Sometimes it's hard to get in the groove of really watching them, but once I do I notice my anxiety is nearly gone. I also listen to my favorite music, Killswitch Engage, All Shall Perish, stuff probably none of you like. And I like to do something really engaging with family or friends, just to get my mind off of my anxiety and my heart.

[paradoxos]

I turn to comedy films & TV shows when my anxiety flares up. Better still: animation. I like to escape into a totally made up world of bright colors and fantastic situations.

Danny - I think the guitar pyrotechnics are impressive in those bands you mentioned, but I just can't stomach that kind of singing. It always amazes me a person can sing like that and not end up rupturing a blood vessel or two..!

[Danny]

I turn to comedy films & TV shows when my anxiety flares up. Better still: animation. I like to escape into a totally made up world of bright colors and fantastic situations.

Danny - I think the guitar pyrotechnics are impressive in those bands you mentioned, but I just can't stomach that kind of singing. It always amazes me a person can sing like that and not end up rupturing a blood vessel or two..!

Aaaaah, the common misconception of screaming. While A LOT of people that use to vocalization technique of "screaming" do it horribly wrong and seriously damage their vocal chords, there are a few people that have found out the secret to actually using screaming as a vocalization technique... and not mindless wailing. I used to damage my vocal chords by screaming badly, but now I learned to do it properly, and I have no more problems. It's very hard to scream in fact, and make it sound good. But anyway again with the rambling.

My band a lot like Killswitch Engage, but a little bit more singing, as my vocal chords are damaged beyond repair(I still scream though). I don't have any recordings or anything, but once I do I'll be glad to give everyone the myspace and you can listen to it :D. It's pretty emotional, fast paced, the lyrics are true from my heart, and I have a few songs about my Mom in there.

[paradoxos]

Does your band have a name? There's another guy who posts here (Iamanis) who is in a band.