anxiety relief is the only thing keeping me from throwing my laptop out the window rn. im in my columbus apt, radiator banging like its mad at me, neighbor dog barking at nothing again. just opened my email and there’s like 47 new ones and i swear i checked it 10 mins ago. anyway ive been figuring out these natural ways to calm your mind that actually do something for a disaster like me, no meds no bs.
anxiety relief with breathing (even when i suck at it)
used to think breathing stuff was for people who meditate on mountains. then one day in meijer parking lot i couldnt find my keys and legit thought i was dying. standing there with a bag of frozen corn hyperventilating. remembered some tiktok about 4-7-8. sat in my car, windows all foggy, did it. in 4 hold 7 out 8. messed it up first like 5 times, kept breathing out too fast. but then? anxiety relief. like actually calm. still count wrong half the time, whatever.
- do it in gross places: meijer bathroom, elevator, once in a porta potty at the fair (gross but worked)
- dont do it eating. choked on a chip. bad times.
theres this study thing i think it says it works. idk i didnt read all of it.
anxiety relief outside (even when outside sucks)
dont got real nature here. just sad trees and the creek behind walmart. but last summer i drove to hocking hills bc my brain wouldnt shut up. found this spot water so cold it hurt. stuck my feet in. 30 seconds later anxiety relief. brain went quiet. now i got rocks in my freezer. grab one when im losing it. feels dumb. works.
that 54321 thing i do when i wanna yell in target
next time youre freaking in line do this: 5 things i see (guy with weird hat, my hands shaking) 4 touch (cold cart, phone, my neck sweaty) 3 hear (beeps, kid crying, my heart) 2 smell (popcorn, plastic) 1 taste (blood bc i bit my lip)
2 mins. calm your mind. stopped me from crying over a coupon once.
anxiety relief tea (and when i exploded chamomile everywhere)
buy the big bag chamomile bc cheap. one night ripped it too hard. flowers EVERYWHERE. looked like a fairy had a stroke. laughed so hard forgot why i was upset. now got a tin says CALM DOWN LOSER. better than the fancy tea my sister got me that tastes like lawn.
journaling like a crazy person
my journal is trash. grocery lists next to WHY DO I SUCK in sharpie. drawings of my anxiety as a little demon. but writing it all out no filter gives me anxiety relief fast. saw some study says its real. cool.
moving so my brain stops
hate gyms. smell bad. but pacing my apt listening to murder podcasts? yes. one night so wired started flailing around like an idiot. saw myself in mirror. kept going. now got playlist called freakout dance. no regrets.
- shake like wet dog
- squats while brushing teeth
- walk in circles till dizzy
ok im done typing before i hate this
anxiety relief aint perfect. some days im good some days im googling heart attack symptoms at 3am. these natural calm your mind things keep me from driving into a ditch. try one. mess it up. try again. tell me what you do i’ll probably steal it.
ps if youre in ohio and wanna breathe weird in a park together im in. we can be weirdos.
Outbound Links:
Breathing study
Journaling research
