how to calm down

[ontology]

It's one of those days where I can't soothe myself -- I'm jumpy and panicky and close to nauseated for no apparent reason and can't concentrate. Usually this means I spent most of the day faffing around and making myself feel worse. I wouldn't say that this sort of thing happens all the time, but it happens frequently enough that I need to find a coping stratagem. So... how do you calm yourself? Especially when you're jittery and uncomfortable purely as the result of chemicals doing silly things in your head? Trying to work on something productive but low-stress, like reading some of my more interesting research books, maybe working on icons or photography, organising thoughts and/or inspiration on the Novel if I'm not in a state to actually write, tends to alleviate the urgent sense of guilt (yep, I get purely chemical guilt, too, in addition to the guilt-as-default-response I already deal with! fun stuff), but that's not much use if I can't make myself concentrate on it. Sometimes eating helps, because when I'm depressed or have a cold my eating schedule goes way off balance, but that's usually just because some of the nausea or jitters are from not having eaten properly. I have a relaxing Lush bath bomb from barefoottomboy that, um, I still haven't used, cos when I use it, it will be gone, but it's lavender-scented and if I crumble a wee bit off it's rather soothing. Actually, if I just unwrap it and inhale, it's pretty gorram soothing. (When I have money again: purchase more Lush products. This is not frivolity.) 

So I'm setting down to read London: A Biography and trying to take deep breaths, but I know this isn't going to do half as much as I'd like. Any suggestions, for now and for the future? 

Comments

[bornofstars.livejournal.com]

I personally find my "from gardens" mix very soothing, because I picked songs that are serene and detached, not emotionally or intellectually engaging. Perhaps you could make a mix like that for yourself.

I recommend baths, because hot water works like nothing else. Tea is a wonder for soothing frayed nerves, especially lemon-flavored green tea and lighter black teas like Lady Grey; coffee tends to affect my mental state badly even if does its job and keeps me awake, though I don't know if that's the case for you. Although it's less attractive, jogging or a vigorous bike ride tend to expend anxious energy too.

And of course doing something engaging but low-stress is an excellent idea too.

♥

[faeriemaiden.livejournal.com]

This is true, I keep meaning to make a soothing mix. I also keep meaning to make a sleep mix, but I only ever think about doing this when I am in bed trying to sleep. Self, getting up, turning on the bright computer, and scrolling through iTunes is not going to help you right now. :p I do listen to Linford Detweiler and the Pride & Prejudice score frequently when stressed. ^-^

Yesss, I really ought to look into more tea! And acquire a teacup or two -- actually, I believe my grandmother's wedding china is technically mine now (my mother's had it for years, but since her parents were divorced when she was a young teenager, so their wedding china has no emotional heirloom significance), and that's got teacups. Cannot drink tea from a mug; it is just wrong. We have a lot of tea knocking about.

♥!

[lady-moriel.livejournal.com]

Psssh, I and everybody I knew in England drinks tea from mugs. Well, or styrofoam/paper cups if you're in Starbucks or something, but still. Hot drinks are meant to be drunk from mugs. It is A Law or something. (Also anything else will get your fingers burnt. Did I show you the tea set I bought in Turkey? Those thin little glass cups? And they serve tea practically boiling, too. It is insanely impractical and I do not understand it.)