Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) - help
To the people who have GAD or face extreme amounts of unreasonable anxiety, how do you deal with it?
What are your coping mechanisms?
What advice would you give to others who go through it?
Anxiety Boxes. Get a bucket or box or desk drawer and fill it with scented candles or a diffuser, mints or chocolate or both, fidgets, a coloring book or scratch art, a puzzle. Anything that will keep your find engaged or help you calm down for 15 minutes or so. Flip on an audio book or music and then just color or fidget and focus on what you hear and smell and feel and nothing else. After about 20 minutes I usually stop and my head is clear again. Hope this helps you.
Thanksss... sounds like a good idea. I'll try it
My coping mechanisms work only for me so I don't know if this is real advice.
I indulge in hobbies. None destructive such as booze or SH because I don't want to fall into that pit. I mean drawing, video games, guitar, hobby crafting. Just enough to distract me in order to get by.
I also read somewhere that journaling helps with anxiety but it did not work for me. It might work for you.
Try finding a hobby. Even if it's something niche like mine.
How have you been getting by without these?
I'm glad you found your coping mechanisms. I'm still trying to figure out what works for me.
@passionateSea2002
if you have a loved one or close friend in your life who is willing to help you rationalize your thoughts, that can be a godsend. a lot of my anxiety is triggered by irrational thoughts that can often take over my mind and body quickly. my fiancé is amazing at talking me down and helping me to think more rationally. if he's not available, sometimes just saying the thoughts out loud and hearing them helps me rationalize them away. and of course, you have all of us on 7 cups who are here to help in anxious times. sending my love <3
Yes, having a person like that helps a lot...i usually just talk to a listener on 7 cups and it helps
Hello, these are a few experiments I have tried myself and with a friend. It has worked for both of us. Most cases it is overthinking. ACCEPTING has been a challenge, but when the bend is crossed it settles.
Accepting presently this is a state of mind. It will change. Closing my eyes and just being with the breath for a moment or two.
Assessing self can I go through it alone? Simple decisions. Let go of everything else.
Open my eyes wide to see my hands, fingers legs, my face in the phone. Grateful for being alive, able to see, all sense and body organs which I can feel and know they are working. So assuring my self I am here and well and handle this.
Being aware of the surroundings to make sure I am in a safe place if not get to one. Safe space - home, work, friends, among people who know me n will help me if need be.
Grateful for all the resources I have. People, clothes, things around.
These bring in assurance and calms me down.
How do you cope? I do not advise, but am with the person physically or on call when they go through this. Most prominent indicator is the fast breathing or almost out of breath as if they have just done a 100 meter sprint with speed.
gratitude, acceptance and awareness is definitely important...thanks... it's difficult to incorporate this when my mind starts spiralling...but yes, I'm still trying to figure out the ways to cope while reaching out to people for help when needed
I know that you might be doing this already, but you should try using chatgpt. I have been chatting with him for a long time and I find it grounding and just very useful as a friend to talk to. It's just so useful
I know that you might be doing this already, but you should try using chatgpt. I have been chatting with him for a long time and I find it grounding and just very useful as a friend to talk to. It's just so useful