I know this will sound dumb but I am facing my biggest academic/ practical exam of my life, beginning later today (4ish) and hopefully going thru the weekend. Even though I'm well prepared, as the hours/ minutes pass today, I'm becoming more and more anxious. I've been doing breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery and went for a walk. None of this is helping and I feel my anxiety is getting worse. Drugs and alcohol are currently not options, lol. So if some of you kind folks could share with me, what you do to help you relax when you're ready to fall to pieces, that'd be great! Thanks, Not so happy, Happygirl.
Walk. Just amble about the hood. No digital communications device nor music capability. Just you. Granted, it won't take your mind off of your exam, because we both know that that is what will creep into your noggin. It's like not being able to shut your brain off at bedtime. Another trick would be to go to the gym and get in a killer physical session. This is temporary...'cause nothing on the planet is gonna purge your reflection on the exam. We just ain't wired like that. Can't cure it...only treat the symptoms.
I stand, eyes closed, legs shoulder apart. I take deep slow breaths while slowly pushing my hands out, like I'm shoving someone away. But do it slowly, on the exhale, with strength in your arms, again, like you are shoving someone away. Retract your arms, take a deep breath, then do it again on the exhale. Slowly push out. Do this ten times. When you take your exam you will embrace it with peace and focus of mind, while unleashing the power and fury of a Shaolin Priest.
My wife suffers from major anxiety before and after plane rides. She says there is only one thing that has worked so far... So if you have a significant other, have him/her get to work
Good luck!! Exam prep (lucky ring, writing implement, whatever I need). I have a soothing playlist I like to play (have been building it for years). These days, a nice walk might do more for me than it did in college (as I've aged, what works to soothe has changed....I do the walks now before I have to do budget presentations at work ;-)
Sex, running, biking, full-body calisthenics (like burpees and manmakers). For lower stress levels, Pilates.
Focus on my breathing. Play hockey. Watch hockey (maybe not my favorite team if I'm stressed) This one works with breathing... I stretch.
What I found to work to help me relax is doing the adult coloring books. I have a few on my iPad and they work wonderfully well for me. After coloring a few pictures, I feel much more relaxed.
I play my guitar and try to learn a new song which I've found to be a good way of get my mind off of other things. Walking is another way of relieving stress, but it doesn't always keep my mind off of whatever might be stressing me out. LOL Getting on the PC and planning another Vegas trip can help too.
get some food delivered. nice bath. fall asleep on the couch while binge watching.... get plenty of rest. you'll do just fine. good luck on the exam(s)
I enjoy my comfy couch, a food/pantry full of food, Netflix/HULU/cable, a cozy temp, slippers and sweats, and for a mid day nap, I always put on some type of white noise. YouTube has thousands and thousands of hours of different white noise---always puts me to sleep.
Sometimes for that kind of anxiety all I can do is breathe and count. I can't do regular mindfulness breathing because my mind can be a zooming kitten on meth. I breathe in to a count of five and then count down as I exhale. If it's really bad, I count to five on the inhale, hold for 5, exhale counting down from 5 and hold out for 5. Usually 3-4 rounds of that gets me a lot calmer. If it's just a thing in the future I'm nervous about, the best thing I can do is distract myself from it. I don't know what that thing is for you. Apparently for a lot of people here, it's nookie.
