methods for calming the nerves

[Guest guest]

Hello all,

I would be interested in starting a string of emails focusing on methods for calming ones nerves and obsessive thinking after getting frazzled from the sounds and/or the social aftermath of an episode.

Some things I do include:

Go for a walk

Join a friendly crowd of people--backgammon and poker for me

Take a bath

Listen to a hypnosis CD (I find this deeply relaxing)

Drink a night time tea

Cry (I sometimes find that I feel better after crying--probably because it raises my endorphin levels)

Watch a movie or TV Show (and eat some comfort food too)

Read in my Cognitive Behavior Therapy book (usually catch a few comforting phrases as opposed to reading if I am really a bundle of nerves)

Listen to nature sounds

Play with my pet birds (I have to be careful with this, because they sense my nervousness and bite me more when I am in that state--that is a good incentive to calm down!)

Surf the net for some words of comfort

Get a small task done that I can feel good about

Deep breathing/Yoga/ Meditation

Massage the back of my head

Listen to tapes/CDs on subjects such as anxiety management, motivation or spirituality

I sometimes remember to pray at 6pm--like Kathy suggested that we do a couple of weeks ago. I would like to make this into more of a spiritual practice.

Visualization--I imagine myself succeeding and overcoming obstacles

I write in my diary

So, what do you do to take it down a notch?

Thanks,

Sonya