Today is the first day of mental health month, so I just wanted to share some things that calm me down when I’m having a panic/anxiety attack. Enjoy~
• Drawing. I know it seem hard when you’re all shaky and worried, but this is one of the things that keeps me going when I’m panicked. Just a little doodle is better than hyperventilating, trust me.
•Breathing deeply. It helps a little bit for me, but it could do wonders for you, so please try and breathe and remember everything’s going to be alright.
•Playing with a fidget toy. I have a fidget cube because playing with it helps me calm down, but you could buy tangles, fidget spinners, or other things. Whatever suits you best!
•Writing down my thoughts. I bought a special notebook just for this, and I recommend you do too. It helps me by organizing my thoughts and stabilizing my breathing because when you write, you calm down a bit more (at least for me).
•Just talking to a friend, family member, counselor, or anyone you deeply trust. I say ‘deeply trust’ because they’ll actually care what’s going on with you and they will want to help you through this time of anxiety.
•Pet your animal of choice. When I’m panicked (if I’m at home), I pet my cat and snuggle up with her on my bed. She’s usually pretty chill and doesn’t mind. If you prefer dogs, hamsters, or even a turtle, those can also work, as long as you’re getting comfort from it.
I hope you enjoyed my tips on how I calm myself down, but I want you to go with a piece of advice. Please don’t be afraid to get help. It does not make you weak. You are a strong human and you deserve to be happy. I know it doesn’t mean much coming from a stranger on Tumblr, but if this even helps one person in the entire world, it was worth it. Your brain is an important organ. Please take care of it.