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What do people do to relax?

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Newtothis

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Since my diagnosis I have been suffering from anxiety both physical and emotional. Sometimes I'm not conciously aware I'm anxious but I know I am at the back of my mind... I eat well; take in a lot of fresh air (alot of walking); sleep well... try to relax...

What do you do to relax?
 
Light candles and lay in a bath of tranquility,cross stitch and taking my dog for long walks at the weekend x
 
Im a pretty stressful person myself...i worry about lots of things! 😱

....However, right now im in bed with a massive duvet and a hot chocolate so im feeling pretty relaxed 🙂

Other times i just relax with a bit of me time, chilling out watching a film with a few naughty munchies hehe 😎
 
I too have found I suffer from anxiety and panic attacks since diagnosis. I worry far too much, about sometimes trivial things too. I try to set aside "me-time" every week, whether that be meeting the best friend for coffee and a catch-up, watching a film or getting into, what I call "holiday books" (really girly, easy-read fiction).

Hope that helps! Take care!

Vicki 🙂
xxx
 
When I need to relax I head off into the countryside for a very long walk with the dog to clear the mind, failing that reading a good book helps or sitting with fine bottle of red wine and watching a good film.
 
I'm learning to knit and find it relaxing. I also do tai chi and lock myself in the shower to meditate every so often.
 
I walk a lot and take photos if I'm out and see something I like. I do (and design) a fair number of different thread craft things, such as lace crochet, needlepoint and such. I have a set of exercises I do every day morning and night which are designed to relieve tension and I listen to music. I'm sitting in the office now with the radio going.

I do find I'm a more anxious person since diagnosis. Where I used to be able to shrug off stress I can no longer do that so easily. My job's a bit stressful too since the people I deal with every day are often in a worse state than I am and deeply distressed. That can be terribly hard to cope with.

I have foot massager/spa thingy which can be used wet or dry and is a wonderful way of relaxing. Ten minutes with my feet in there and a hot drink - ahhhh!
 
Chi Kung.....................


Being doing this for a few months, but totally works, not for everyone though..............:D
 
I play lots of scrabble via facebook, great if you like scrabble, message me on here if you fancy a game 🙂
 
will2016 said:
I play lots of scrabble via facebook, great if you like scrabble, message me on here if you fancy a game 🙂
Click to expand...

Can you believe I have never played a game of scrabble...how bad is that 🙄
 
well give it a go, i have played about 6000+ games so far, win some, lose some 🙂
 
Newtothis said:
Can you believe I have never played a game of scrabble...how bad is that 🙄
Click to expand...

Not bad, just thought everyone had been subjected to at least one game sometime in their life!!:D Love n hugs Katiexxxx
 
My other half has suffered from anxiety and panic attacks and found mediation helps. He sometimes listens to guided relaxion CDs.

I like to go out for walks or if it's later in the evening I like to relax on the sofa and do some reading 🙂
 
All of the above, to some extent 🙂

All in all though, counselling and psychotherapy have been the greatest supports I've ever found for dealing with anxiety. Chilling out with a nice bath and some music, which I really love, is very nice and soothing, but to get a firm handle on the causes of my anxieties and to actually tackle their roots and effects in a lasting and truly, deeply transformative way, I've found nothing better than a good psychotherapist.

I wish we all got some kind of emotional support from our diabetic clinics. As a rule of thumb, if you've been feeling upset for more than two weeks, it's worth trying to see a counsellor or therapist right now; it can take a lot longer than this on the NHS. If you look around you can sometimes find low rate ones from ?5-12 an hour if money is a concern.
 
Using my legs calms my brain down. It's rare I get the chance now, but just to walk... and walk... and walk.....

Or learning a new skill. Climbing is a great one but it costs.

Or sit down very deliberately to relax. Don't think 'I can't relax', think 'I'm going to sit in this comfortable chair until I relax', Play music (it doesn't have to be whale music if that's not your style) and concnetrate on thinking about nothing,.....

FIning it interesting that people say they are more anxious since diagnosis. I am too, much more anxious, and much more easily angry, but it had never occured to me before.
 
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