What do you do? | ADHD Information
Honestly I have had so little anxiety that I can't say I've needed to chill and relax!
The biggest thing I did was realize that I didn't need to take the stressful things in my life anymore. Ex made me stress big time - off with her head! (figuratively of course). Bills made me stress - pound them down until gone! And importantly don't get back into the same situation when you do. Harder to do then it sounds.
I just got to a point in my life where I had low tolerance for letting bad things happen to me. At work if they try to heap stress on me - I get on it right away and deal with the stress maker directly.
Fight the ADHD instinct to pretend things don't exist. If something irks you aim directly at it. That was a hard lesson for me but now I have a hair trigger but only for the annoying, irritable and anxiety causing things of life.
I work myself to exhaustion almost daily :-)
I'm all toned up and my stomach is getting, gasp, flat!
I recommend it highly.
Now if my body will just keep together.....carpal tunnel, bad knees, ugh.
Hi everyone. Having anxiety as well as ADHD, I was wondering what techniques you all employ for relaxation, destressing, calming yourselves down when too excited etc?
I have read up on the subject and been taught certain breathing techniques but I thought maybe you guys may have found other ways and am asking for you to share your wisdom
I like to workout. I normally wouldn't take advantage of my gymmembership that I pay /month for, but I like to take the classes. I think
of them as another class, or a doctor's appointment, or something like that.
I admit that I don't always go, but when I do, I feel great physically and I like
the sense of accomplishment. I LOVE my cardio boxing class, pilates, and
power yoga. For that hour, all I'm focusing on is the exercise. You really
don't have a choice, because you wouldn't be able to keep up with the
choreography. It's great because all of my anxieties are gone for that hour,
and I feel proud of myself for dragging myself to the class. AND, my ass has
stopped dripping down the back of my thighs!!I've had severe anxiety attacks my whole life. I didn't know what it was or that it was not normal until year -00. At that time they were so servere that I couldn't handle them so I had to take meds. I get panicanxiety and get the feelings that I have to run, that something dangerouse will happen if I stay. Before meds I would simply drop everything and run away, not knowing where or why, simply run away.
Now when they come I try to think "I'll live, it'll past even if it doesn't feels like that" I stop, no matter what I'm doing, I also talk to mu self and keep repeating "Don't run!". I stop at the spot and breath, deep breath. I try to touch myself, like on the legs, hands, head and so on to feel that I'm still there and I'm in one piece and that help me to realize that I'll survive.
As I'm a smoker, I take one and try to slowley smoke it. If I have someone with me I try to talk to them, about anything to stay in contact with the reality. Sometimes it's just words, no really sentences but still, I hear my own voice.
I never put myself in situations where I know I might have an greater attack with someone who don't know what to do if I get one. They have to know, to not touch me, talk to me and be calm even if I'm not.
I don't know if that helps but that's how I handle it.
/Kaks
[QUOTE=Peita Pan]
Hi everyone. Having anxiety as well as ADHD, I was wondering what techniques you all employ for relaxation, destressing, calming yourselves down when too excited etc?
I have read up on the subject and been taught certain breathing techniques but I thought maybe you guys may have found other ways and am asking for you to share your wisdom 
They put me in a straight jacket.
LOL.
Naw, I jsut get more excited and freak out.
When my dd13 was in an accident, and I was the first responder, I freaked, turned to the wall for about 2 minutes, did my thing, then went back to performing professionally.
Then, when she was in an MVA, I jumped in my car and got there just as the ambulance was pulling out, and I jumped in it, too.
Two weeks ago this skibitch got all snitchy with me, and we were dropping F-bombs all over the place, and had to be pulled apart by the ref (dispatch).
I'm easily escalated.
ever notice?
I have general anxiety disorder along with my ADD. Aside from the Breathing exercises like you mentioned, and the self talk someone else mentioned, I have found that self confidence is the biggest anxiety reducer!
As I continue to work on my ADD issues, I have found confidence in myself has been creeping up and the anxiety is creeping down...
I thought that was interesting. I don't know if that would be the same for everyone, but I guess when one begins to become confident in their abilities and intelect, the stress and anxiety levels go down.
Self confidence... wow, it took me 40 years to get that feeling. I don't feel it all the time, but it gets better everyday
Sherry
Wow Sheeri, that's so good of you. I'm still working on that one, not there yet.Keep up the good work, you deserve a good selfconfidense.
/Kaks
[QUOTE=bepatient]
SEX. .
Probably my favorite, but BePatient, that is not possible when I drive across bridges so... I try to control my breathing and begin my self talk
"I can always rely on the truth"
"What is the truth in this situation"
"What is the truth, am I really in danger?"
"Is the truth that I'm dying right here right now on this bridge?"
"The truth is I can't handle this!!
Then I slam on my breaks, nearly causing accidents, encouraging people to show me their middle finger and honk.
[QUOTE=bepatient]
SEX. .
OMG!! I just had an idea of how to accomplish this on the bridge!
Pm'd ya
Really fast loud aggressive music! When i'm stuck in a fear rut--overwellmed by anxiety, my only route is to turn on some music and work myself up into a "f**k it" mentality. A couple of jack and cokes help too!C.G. ,,,could ya pm us all?
!! NEXT, I need a partner, willing to have a bridge fettish, not cards, and no partners!!
).I just turn the music up past 10(for all you marshall amp lovers), put on the loudest metal bands I can find, and scream at the top of my vioce! Singing!(it's what its called today) David Dramond is really hard tto imitate but I do a mean Metallica!Hypnotherapy really worked well for me. - And of course the crawling exercises I've been doing, but they take a while to see the affect. Hypnotherapy is really nice.That sounds like my 20's
I cant find anything on the crawling exercises.
[QUOTE=psychgirl]When i'm stuck in a fear rut--overwellmed by anxiety, my only route is to turn on some music and work myself up into a "f**k it" mentality.[/QUOTE]
I hear ya! When my kids are at school I have the music blaring at home. It definitely relieves anxiety. Can't clean without it!
Well come on then, tell usThat's the same for me. Most of the time it just comes, it throws
itself over me and I'm suddenly frozen with anxeity. I could be walking
in town/woods, I could be sitting in my kitchen/on the bus or where
ever and when ever.But I think that there is always a cause, it could be something you were thinking of, passing by, seeing etc But in those more oconsciouse moments it's harder to find the reason and urge for a deeper dive inside our selfs.
/Kaks
[QUOTE=Peita Pan] <FONT face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"
color=#6600cc size=4>Thanks everyone. I'll have to go all your ideas a
try. Its just finding something to occupy my mind while I wait for the
anxiety to pass.[/QUOTE]
OR, instead of waiting for the anxiety to pass, you can acknowledge the
situation that is causing you anxiety. Another exercise I learned in the
support group is to think of the anxiety and the situation in terms of A, B,
C, D, E:
A=the situation (I did poorly on a test)
B=your emotions about the situation (disappointed, sad, frustrated, etc.)
C=your *beliefs* about the situation, likely the irrational ones causing
you the above emotions (I am stupid and I'm not good enough to be a
part of my academic program)
D=the rational *truths* about the situation (though I didn't do well on the
test, this one test doesn't define my intelligence nor will it determine
whether or not I get through my academic program)
E=your emotions about the situation if you subscribed to the truth rather
than the irrational beliefs (hopeful, determined, motivated)
going through this exercise will help you to identify your irrational beliefs
about the situation and consider the truth about the situation, which will
likely make you conscious about the way your reaction to the sitation is
based on irrational beliefs and that *you yourself can choose your
beliefs*. And if you choose to believe the rational truths, you might be
able to alleviate your anxiety.
It takes practice, but I find that it helps sometimes.
I hope I made sense.
I do believe I shall try bepatient's technique first off
tl-c, most of the time I have no idea what sets off my anxiety, there is usually no reason. If I start trying to figure out what I'm anxious about I make it worse by thinking up additional things
start talking to yourself out loud, but it really worked for me in the past.
Here are examples:
Say aloud to yourself three times while breathing deeply in-between...
"Whatever I decide to do, I can do."
"All of my actions are a response to a personal need."
"I am as human as every other person; no better or worse than how I
choose to see myself."
"I need no external validation to prove my worth as a human being; only
my internal awareness that I am worthwhile and unique."
You can make up your own that apply to you and your situation. I got
these from a support group for women called Insight. It's worth a
try...and it's free!Thanks everyone. I'll have to go all your ideas a try. Its just finding something to occupy my mind while I wait for the anxiety to pass.
SEX. . I'm being serious. After love making I feel totally relaxed and calm for the rest of the day..and the whole next day. That intimacy and loving affection in unmatched in relieving anxiety.
bepatient38785.8039467593I do breathing exercises but most of the time singing relaxes me. I sit in a dark room and put my favorite CD and I sing. Even if I don't know the words...lalalalaaaa lallalaaa....It's like meditating and repeating that one word. when anxiety hits i need to refocuse, a lot of times i do what I need to for me,work in my flower gardens, scrapebook, or tackle a closet and clean it. sometimes i go for a walk, or run around the yard with the dog and sometimes i yell at my kids and dh till i feel better. but I mostly have to remove from situatin till i gain control.
I tend to use music too to get me out of it at times. It really works well most of the time.
[QUOTE=repairman]C.G. ,,,could ya pm us all?!! NEXT, I need a partner, willing to have a bridge fettish, not cards, and no partners!!
- Gee, Dan, If I had wanted everyone to know, I would have posted!Sat am?
for anxiety i used to smoke pot, but in social situations it made it worse so i stoppedjerbear38789.8667361111Pieta, So far you've got exercise, breathing, sex, music and pot. Maybe if you really want to relieve stress you could combine these?
Dang! you're moodier than me!