Living in the present and actions to reduce anxiety

Another thought. Those salt crystal lamps change the energy in the room. Very inexpensive. I have one in each dark corner of my house. Soft glow. Check the web. I've used them for years. They help me a lot and I have very severe depression. Blessings.

@parus Like you, I struggle with the "what-if"s. It might be tied to my being on the autism spectrum, not sure, and my feelings that I need to be aware, to be prepared for anything that might come along. I am sure the defensiveness and hyper-vigilance has a root somewhere. You're right, it is energy-stealing.
Ginger

it is part of how we operate when we get a raw deal and or ripped off .we all do this program of would of or if only this person said this and i could have said this when I didn't have the words to say at the exact moment when I get bullied or hassled or dumped or sad. then the response is they should have said this and then it becomes a rolling internal argument .rathets up our levels of anxieties and ends up in a meltdown or crying. I have learned to deny by saying based on previous experience of doing this about people then discovering they hadn't cared or didn't give a rats arse if they had hurt me. Then turned around like a narcissist and denied saying it

Hello I suffer from anxiety and I have anger issues I but I punish myself. I like what you write about living “the day” and not worrying so much about the future. I worry about the future and what “might” happen. It can be disabling. I had a cancer diagnosis May 2019 and I find I am anxious and angry all the time now. Thank you for your post!

@hopeful33250 Then the check is in the mail??? Grin. I still stop in from time to time. Need to distribute my energy if this makes sense. @gingerw Always appreciate your input as well. I have not forgotten about joining you for a cup of tea. Will let you know. @georgette12 Creativity keeps me going. Have to take it slow but it is well worth it.

So good to hear from you, @parus, whenever you can check in with Connect! Distribute your energy wisely. We are always here and listening.

@parus When we or someone we love is dealing with a chronic issue, be it pain or disorder of some type, we hopefully learn that there is only so much energy in the well each day. We cannot always "borrow" against tomorrow's quota, nor can we always "bank" it for future use. It's like the slate gets wiped clean each night. We're happy to see you here when you can spare time and energy to visit!
Ginger

Grounding is recommended by many.

The naming 5 things I sense for each of the 5 senses did not work for me.

I read that naming all of the things I see, hear, smell, taste and feel on my skin would help me be in the here and now. It is the only strategy that has helped me be in the here and now.

Have a great day!

A great idea, @healingone. I had not heard of that technique before.
Can you give some examples of how you might name the five senses?

I might get a glass of tea, sit on the porch and mentally name:
•everything I see,
•everything I hear,
•everything I smell,
•everything I taste,
•everything I feel on my skin (touch).

If I just name 5 things I see, 5 things I hear, 5 things I smell, 5 things I taste, and 5 things I feel touching me, (as most recommend) I cannot ground myself and have my thoughts in the present. (My stressful thoughts would nonstop loop.)

PM me if you'd like the book name and author that I learned this strategy from.

Have a great day!