distractions...ideas?

Michelle Holly · Post by **Michelle Holly** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 3:49 am

I was wondering what others do to distract themselves from feeling bad. Any ideas? I have a few of my own.
read, journal, watch a funny movie, listen to music. What other ideas do some of you have?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 3:58 am

If I'm at home, I try to busy myself with laundry, picking up after the kids, cleaning, etc. I also like to rollerblade around our neighborhood. I have found that nothing makes me feel better than execise. I wish they could synthesize endorphine!

I also like to get a funny show or movie on.

If I'm driving and in traffic (my most difficult scenario), I try to focus on a talk radion station or look around and people/car watch. Anything to keep my mind off what it wants to makes me feel like.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 4:09 am

I second the excercise suggestion. Just walking is enough to get me in a better mood, or at least more relaxed. Also, while I don't do it when I'm angry, kickboxing (or, since I'm on a budget, just working with a bag or "tombstone") has been a GREAT tension reliever.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 4:10 am

These are all good ways of distracting...however, if we use distraction all the time we are never going to "fix" our reactions and fears. The Six Steps in lesson 2 (IMPORTANT: Breathing!) is the number one answer.

We first have to Face and Accept the anxiety. Don't run-look at it-Challenge it. Next BREATHE!! also count - just as written on the back of the first flash card. Next: speak to yourself with kindness, Truth, and positively. Then! Distraction...and the sixth step follows naturally= Letting some time pass.

Best regards, Carolyn

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 5:09 am

Thank you Carolyn for that wonderful reminder and fact. I recently stopped distracting and started challenging the anxiety to get to the root of it...what I have found was alot of suppressed emotions that really needed to be released. Once released I no longer had to distract myself and I am able to release it and let it GO and now to the next challenge...I have found I keep myself busy to entertain the day but not to distract myself anymore...Breathing!! I have to keep remembering that and give myself enough breaths I give up after the second one....

monty'smom · Post by **monty'smom** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 4:37 am

Definately awesome advice! I'd been seeing a psychologist who kept telling me that this program wouldnt work because it is "cognative therapy" and only tells you how to stop the anxiety but not really getting to the cause of it. He wanted me to talk with one of their counselors and continue the lexapro and klonopin. I chose to stay with the program and ween off the drugs. It definately worked! I'm no longer depressed, no more panic attacks, happy, and confident! Thanks for the reminder that I have faced and accepted the anxiety, I just with I would have remembered that to tell the all knowing shrink (not that it would have mattered to him)

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 2:07 pm

I am really glad to receive all of this good advice. thank you all. I have been doing more of the breathing exercises in the past couple of days and have found that it really helps to ease my anxiety. All I have to do now is remind myself to do it whenever I need to. That's the hard part. Sometimes I get so caught up in my own thoughts and body symptoms of anxiety that I forget to breathe slowly and deeply. It's good to keep practicing everyday and remind myself to do this.

h.beth · Post by **h.beth** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 1:43 am

I happened to use a great technique to disract myself when I am flying. I pay me bills. I always had anxiety when it came to flying, but I started paying my bills & doing puzzles which require me to be focus to the point that I even forget I'm on the flight. I followed these tips from this site called <A HREF="http://www.flyinganxiety.com" TARGET=_blank>http://www.flyinganxiety.com</A> which gave a lot of good self- help tips for anxiety.