7 Tips for Calming Down When Things Feel Intense
Key Highlights :
Life can be incredibly overwhelming at times, and if you're someone who tends to struggle with feelings of anxiety or worry, you may find yourself in situations where it feels difficult to calm down. While we're certainly not psychologists, we have come across some useful tools for managing stressful situations and calming one's mind over the years. Here are some of our favourites.
The Butterfly Hug
Using a technique known as bilateral stimulation, the butterfly hug asks you to link your thumbs and create a butterfly shape with your hands. Take this butterfly to your chest and tap your fingertips along your collarbones to create a butterfly flap. This can have a soothing effect when you need to calm yourself down. You can read more about it here.
Breathing Exercises
Breathing through uncomfortable feelings can really help settle an anxious mind. This one takes a few minutes, and it’s super simple, which is what you want when you’re needing to calm yourself down a little. More examples can be found here.
Positive Self-Talk Phrases
If you’re someone who struggles with negative self-talk, you can use certain phrases to break the habit somewhat. Here, we asked a psychologist to share a list of phrases you can tell yourself when your mind is being unkind. Read about this calming tool here.
Masturbation
Believe it or not, there are signs that a little self-love can be good for your headspace. It’s relaxing, it’ll boost your mood, and it’s a fun time. Read our chat with an expert about why it helps.
Tools for Overthinkers
We spoke with a psychologist about overthinking situations and the stress that can bring on. From the 54321 practice to allocated ‘worry time’, here is a list of seven ways to break that tricky thought process and calm the mind. Read on here.
Dance it Out
Want to distract your mind from negative thoughts? Try a dance class. We’ve written about the benefits a couple of times, and it can be an incredibly effective way to boost your mood. Read more about dancing to calm the mind here.
Write a Love Letter
Studies suggest that writing love letters can have a hugely positive effect on your headspace. It’s linked to gratitude practices which we know can help boost your mood. Read more about why it’s so great for you here.
If you’re struggling with anxiety and depression, know that help is available. Contact BeyondBlue on 1300 22 4636 or Lifeline on 13 11 14. The 7 tips discussed in this article are great tools to help you calm down when things feel intense, but they should not be used as a substitute for professional help.
When life feels overwhelming, it’s important to remember that you are not alone. There are plenty of resources and tools available to help you manage your stress and anxiety. With the right strategies, you can learn to cope with difficult emotions and find ways to calm down when things feel intense.
