It's been a rough week, to say the least. If you saw my Election Day post, you probably know what it is that's been getting me down. I pride myself on being a positive, optimistic person, but I've really struggled in the face of everything that's been going on. Old anxieties and negative thought patterns that I'd thought were in the past have re-emerged with a vengeance, and I've had a difficult time figuring out how to address them.
While I can't turn my back on current events, I'm trying to cut myself off when I start reading article after article that confirm and heighten my fears in a way that paralyzes me. It's not much good to be well informed if you're too anxious to constructively act on that information, after all. I'm certainly not opposed to sobbing under a blanket (I'd be a hypocrite if I said I was!), but it can't be the sum total of my existence for much more than a few days. (For one thing, the post-crying headaches are monstrous.) I'm trying to find the balance that'll let me stay apprised of what needs doing and do my part, too.
For now, I'm returning to some of the habits I found most helpful when my anxiety was at its worst almost a decade ago. I talk to my family. I ask for lots of hugs. I sing songs that make me happy. I do things that require a great deal of concentration, in an effort to crowd out the anxiety by filling my head with other things.
My strangest coping mechanism, though, is one that I didn't even realize was a form of self-soothing until well into grad school. When I get really stressed or anxious, I haul all the clothes out of my closet and try them all on, then reorganize them. I have no idea how I got started on this, or why it works. At some point a few years back, I realized that I'd been doing this since high school, any time I felt great stress or uncontrollable worrying. And odd as it may sound, it helps to calm me down.
For now, I'm returning to some of the habits I found most helpful when my anxiety was at its worst almost a decade ago. I talk to my family. I ask for lots of hugs. I sing songs that make me happy. I do things that require a great deal of concentration, in an effort to crowd out the anxiety by filling my head with other things.
My strangest coping mechanism, though, is one that I didn't even realize was a form of self-soothing until well into grad school. When I get really stressed or anxious, I haul all the clothes out of my closet and try them all on, then reorganize them. I have no idea how I got started on this, or why it works. At some point a few years back, I realized that I'd been doing this since high school, any time I felt great stress or uncontrollable worrying. And odd as it may sound, it helps to calm me down.
How do you handle anxiety and stress? I'm always looking for ideas!
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LET ME SING YOU THE SONG OF MY PEOPLE! Haha I sing, too. You know where I like to most - the car or the shower! I once heard this quote: "Good, loud singing is probably better medicine than half the stuff they sell in pill bottles, and it's cheaper, too." LOL! It's so true!
ReplyDeleteWhen I am stressed, I also like to bake or read. I often come home from work, do whatever dishes and such I have to do, and if I have time before I have to start cooking dinner, I'll grab my book and read in my pajamas. I am always in my PJs by 6pm! Haha - it's just how I unwind.
It's amazing how much of an emotional release singing provides! The louder, the better.
DeleteI thought I was the only stress baker! It was a *huge* thing of mine in grad school, which meant that I was often bringing cookies, pumpkin bread, or odd concoctions to campus to share with my friends. Reading helps me, too. When I'm really and truly freaking out, it has to be a book I've read before, and preferably one of my old-friend books.
I literally do the same thing. My closet is my happy place and when I'm sad, I go straight for my collection of beautiful things and it always boosts my mood. �� Glad I'm not the only person to do that.
ReplyDeleteAww, there's nothing quite like surrounding yourself in beautiful things, is there? I'm glad I'm not the only one, too! I've never met anyone else who does it.
Delete<3!
You are not alone! There is something so soothing about tearing apart my closet and trying everything on...and creating new outfits I had never before thought of. YESSS. (I have to work on the organizing part, though. Haha.) I also really enjoy reading when I'm stressed. Getting lost in a different world to distract me never fails to help.
ReplyDeleteIt really is soothing! I don't understand why, but it works like a charm. The organizing is hard, but I've found that when I come up with new outfits, I naturally organize things a bit differently so I don't forget about things I'd just rediscovered, or ideas I'd had.
DeleteI love reading those books that are like old friends - Jane Austen, Tolkien, and even a couple of my old political theory books!
I've been having a similar problem to you at the moment, old anxiety that I used to have seems to be creeping back somehow, I honestly thought it was long gone. I'm going to try the wardrobe reorganising sounds like it could be quite soothing.
ReplyDeleteThe Velvet Black | UK Style & Beauty Blog
:( I'm sorry that anxieties you'd thought were vanquished have started creeping back up on you. I hope this idea helps you <3. Honestly, I think it's quite understandable that people on both sides of the Atlantic would be feeling rather anxious again. I've found that upheaval and scary things in the world at large often set off my personal anxiety again. Sending you lots of <3 <3 <3.
DeleteLove your coping mechanism. Sounds like a good way to do it!
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