Alternative Ways to Calm Acute Anxiety Symptoms

Passionflower is a really great herb for anxiety! It takes a bit longer to with than a benzo, and you don't get a high necessarily, but it does work!

If I find myself becoming especially anxious or stressed, I’ll start saying everything I’m thankful for. It sounds cheesy but you start to realize everything you have and it can help distract from the situation

If it's legal where you are you could use marijuana 👍

Sounds ridiculous but I found essentially a giant swaddle- I think it’s called a moon sack but it has been one thing I like to use when I don’t want to take a rescue med for my anxiety- it’s great because it holds you but you are still able to move in it and (for me more importantly) I don’t get over heated in it. It also comes in multiple sizes so if you are like me and like to have a pillow between your legs (sensory issues of my legs touching eachother) you can get a bigger size that will allow you to have a pillow in there with you

ASMR has helped me a lot.

What I do is step-by-step: take a deep breath, stretch your arms, take another deep breath with eyes closed, cry, put on a comfort tv show, go outside and walk around, and usually by then im calmed down :)

I also find a lot of comfort with my anxiety with a warm bath. It’s a private and safe place to cry or have any kind of response you need to have. The warmth is therapeutic to your muscles that might be holding tension due to the anxiety. Adding special salts, bubbles, soaps, oils etc can give a sense of self-care while also having a aromatherapy element. Look for the products with lavender or advertised for “relaxing” qualities. There are also shower steamers if showers are more your thing.

CBD gummies have helped me a lot. I used to basically micro-dose a Xanax tablet or two a day (Doctor advised.) Xanax always left me feeling like a zombie though. The CBD helps much like the Xanax did but there’s zero after effects for me. Like sometimes it makes me sleepy but not in the heavy-headed, feel the next morning, comatose way Xanax did. If you look into it, I recommend staying only to CBD at first. There’s a lot of gummies on the market with Delta 8 and other federally legal THCs added but it can have give a “high” effect that might have the opposite effect on your anxiety.

I use lavender essential oils or any others that I love.

Find where the anxiety is located physically in your body and stretch and move that part of your body to release the energy.

I’d suggest trying Dialectal Behavior Therapy, it’s really helpful. You can find a book on it online and give it a read. It Really helps.

I use white noise and cbd gummies to help during the night. I have a lot more night time anxiety so it helps

I like to snuggle up with a cozy blanket, cry, talk to friends, listen to an audio book, eat chocolate, sit in my swing, pray, or take a walk. Anything that makes me feel good that can redirect my thoughts away from what my anxiety is centered on. I often use the scripture, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, let your requests be made known to God." So I do, I ask for whatever it is that I want, and then I work consciously to let go of it and leave it up to God. The next verse says, "And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will fill your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord." I've experienced many, many times that this is true. 💕💕

for me there are some songs that i feel very deeply (im not sure how to explain it they’re relaxing in a way but not like sleep songs, they have a good bass to them) so i started a small playlist for when i’m feeling a panic attack coming on and they always distract me or make me feel what i need to feel

Podcasts help me focus my mind away from the anxiety very well

I set up a cd player by my bed...went to goodwill and bought relaxation cds to play at night. I apply lavender essential oils to my pulse points and I try deep breathing through my nose.

I found (by mistake) that the app “I AM” which is supposed to be an affirmation app is good to look at and read when I feel a panic attack coming on as well because then I just focus on that. And no, I’m not sponsored in anyway, but yes, I should be. Lol