What helps you feel calm?

[hocus pocus]

I was thinking just now about what calms me, and it made me want to see what other people find calming. What helps you feel a sense of calm? Or safety?

• My animals are the biggest for me, but a purring cat is probably the best.
• I love certain scenery like lakes, waterfalls, mountains, color changing leaves. I like to feel the earth beneath my feet and rocks in my hands. I love the cold, but especially like crisp air during the fall or spring.
• Certain smells are pretty strong, too, like a campfire, a lavender & vanilla scent, or the scent of a perfume I associate with a loved one.
• And then there are a few people who calm me with their presence or their voice, without even having to try. Just their existence, kind of.

I think my favorite is what I call a sit-down shower. It's what it sounds like; I turn the shower on but instead of standing I sit on the floor of the tub. Then the water feels like rain. I prefer the temperature lukewarm to hot, so not exactly like rain, but it's similar enough that it's calming.

I also really like incense. My old roommate hate this rose scented one and it was always so calming. I don't have incense in my new apartment yet but maybe I will get some.

[Arabesque- golfing girl.]

• My cat helps calm me, I love her so much. She means everything to me.
• My pink headphones and music.
• Dancing
• Drawing
• Painting
• Writing

[Mallika]

I love this thread! So many lovely ideas and methods that people are using to make themselves feel calm.

Personally, these calm me:

• A good jog releases all my tension and genuinely makes me happy
• Cooking and baking
• Going solo travelling

I have ADHD and ADD, so it's really hard for me to maintain calm for more than a few seconds.

But what relaxes me is soothing music, preferably anything pertaining to the sounds of nature.

A good book relaxes me as well, as long as it isn't loaded with heavy content or anything triggering.

[hocus pocus]

The sit down shower is cool. A good book is nice also. I like all those ideas.

• I forgot that I do like to walk and hike but I guess that goes with being around nature.
  
• Reading is a good escape for me as well.
  
• Sometimes getting out of my environment helps for a little bit.
  
• Oh and baking. I like to bake all sorts of stuff but cookies are my favorite.

[Resilient]

Some times work, whenever there isn't a crisis going on, because I get to talk to my co workers and do the below. When I'm home usually I'm only sleeping and completing hygiene, sooo yep!

• Reading
• Watching TV shows/movies
• Playing Neopets
• Talking to Friends
• Online Shopping

[Rivière]

Going to the gym and exercising. Even though my muscles are tense, I feel really relaxed. I could spend hours in there if it were possible.

[Mindfulness.]

This thread is really good!

What makes me feel calm is:

• Reading
• Martial Arts
• Photography
• Spending time with my family, boyfriend and friends
• My dog
• Animals
• Music
• Watching TV
• Spending time outdoors
• Playing video games
• Travelling

[Panda Solo]

1. listening to music
2. reading a good sci-fi
3. playing my instrument
4. go out for a good walk
5. brewing and drinking some nice tea
6. taking shower
7. do homework

[Ernest432]

Alone walk in nature calms me much whenever I feel stressed and distracted from life.

[DeletedAccount53]

An afternoon on my GTFO bike whatever the weather!
A nice warm bath
Stroking a pet
Drinking tea
Drinking a cup of tea with a pet, such as our cat on my lap.
Preventing said cat from poking her paw in my tea mug!
Listen to the sea.
Using My Noise and Rain Today whose white noise will block out anxiety
A walk in gentle rain.
Playing a Chopin Sonata on our piano.
Strumming Maman's Martin and feeling its sound notes against my chest is very soothing.

[Allyson Wood]

My husky and my family. They are always my source of happiness and calm.

[DeletedAccount53]

Forgot to add: My essential oil diffuser.

[¯|_(ツ)_|¯]

I pet my guinea pigs!

[ladoglover]

when people care

[BackingErlking]

Originally Posted by cynefin

I was thinking just now about what calms me, and it made me want to see what other people find calming. What helps you feel a sense of calm? Or safety?

• My animals are the biggest for me, but a purring cat is probably the best.
• I love certain scenery like lakes, waterfalls, mountains, color changing leaves. I like to feel the earth beneath my feet and rocks in my hands. I love the cold, but especially like crisp air during the fall or spring.
• Certain smells are pretty strong, too, like a campfire, a lavender & vanilla scent, or the scent of a perfume I associate with a loved one.
• And then there are a few people who calm me with their presence or their voice, without even having to try. Just their existence, kind of.

My family, friends, this forum, and my garden

[DeletedAccount53]

Nothing beats a nice cup of tea!

[Everglow.]

• A good book
• A dark room with candles
• A long, hot shower
• Coffee or tea
• Rain

[Starseeker]

A hot bath, definitely. Some time alone too - playing video games (they're such a stress reliever), drawing/painting. Or playing cards/board games with friends.

[DeletedAccount53]

Yesterday morning before my exam I took my violin and walked down to the shoreline, and played Bach's Andante from Pablo Casals' Solo Violin Sonata #2 to the sea. Often I play alone on the shoreline, never for attention, but to calm, to ground myself.

My violin was made in Cremona two centuries ago. It's one of my most treasured possessions.

[Soda_Voxel]

Mmm...not much. But talking to my friends can calm me tremendously, especially if I'm having dark thoughts.

[hocus pocus]

Originally Posted by Everglow.

• A good book
• A dark room with candles
• A long, hot shower
• Coffee or tea
• Rain

I love the rain too! Especially the sound. I like it more than most people and will go out in it, too.

I like a room with candles too. I use the "cool white" (vs warm white) lights in my room on a timer at night and I love how they look.

Thanks for sharing everyone! I've enjoyed reading your replies.

[BackingErlking]

These work for me over time
Take a time-out
Eat well-balanced meals
Exercise daily to help you feel good and maintain your health
Take deep breaths
Count to 10 slowly

[DeletedAccount53]

Tonight, a church candle lit and glowing comfortingly in its windproof hurricane lamp. Just a single candlelight can bring immense comfort.

[JessaMay]

My emotional support dog that is now my psychiatric service dog. Also reruns of the Office.

[DeletedAccount53]

Mindfulness can be relaxing when we turn our concentration to searching on Google for your favourite food recipes. Also, you could imagine your safe space, such as being up in a tree house, or sitting in a verdant green forest glade surrounded by trees.

My Noise combined with

Rain Today

These sites are owned by the same doctor who designed them. They use pre-recorded white noise, which you either link to your phone (Android or iOs) and / or computer so those sites can gradually reduce noise distraction in your home, or even help those with Tinnitus.

Those two links will dramatically aid sleep, such as Irish Coastline, or the beach, or rain, or the sound of non-threatening distant thunder.

You could also consider buying a weighted blankets; they come in various bed sizes. My twin Julie and I have a weighted blanket.

Also, there are incredible useful for those who have ADHD. Weighted blankets are best chosen to be 10% of your body weight, but it doesn't have to be an exact science, because our bodies adjust quite effortlessly, and nighttime anxiety is amazingly reduced. Julie doesn't get nearly as many upsetting nightmares. She sleeps like a log and wakes refreshed, hardly ever moving while asleep under these blankets.

Here are 30 Grounding Techniques To Quiet Distressing Thoughts from

Heathline.com

[Sprite-1]

Tea makes me feel better. Occasionally although it's universally frowned on, a cig. I been smoking on and off since I was 10. But I never felt nicotine addiction, but smoking sometimes, really helps me get through the moment.


Tea is always good. Occasionally coffee, but I got to be careful because caffeine can make me hyper.

[HowrdJns89]

I read books