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Also look into meditation. Not to the degree that it causes anxiety, but just as something to play around with. Despite recent posts to the contrary, there's decent evidence that it works, and the (real) risks of it causing further problems seem to only be an issue when you get serious about the whole thing (retreats, 1h+ sessions). But even just the basic stuff like taking a walk for 30 mins and practicing the quieting of your mind, or even just five minutes of doing so, might help immensely and AFAIK carries no risks. I can highly recommend the Headspace app, but really I'd say at least at first it's pretty simple: just go for a walk, or sit somewhere, and look around. Watch the clouds or any life around you. Or something like that. When your mind goes places far away from your direct environment, acknowledge that, acknowledge where it went and, if you want, mark it as something to think, analyze, and/or obsess over at a later time (why did I go there? does it matter? am I just being anxious? I should be less anxious. what can I do to be less anxious, etc.) It's not solved my problems, in part because it's damn hard to even just do this. But it's achievable, and whenever I do I wonder why I didn't start earlier. Because even that tiny bit of time where I manage to 'just be', it's a reminder of how nice the company of my own mind can be, that it doesn't have to be a constant struggle, and that there's good stuff worth struggling for. |