Best Coping Mechanisms for Anxiety and Depression?

Def I agree! I draw my boyfriends little carton animals every night & even though they suck, he loves them lol. And yes with the shows I like reality ones as well. A nice bath/shower helps me too!!

I like to color an adult coloring book while watching or listening to adult crafting videos on youtube lol. Another good one I like is getting invested into stupid reality shows like the real housewives. It makes me feel like swirling wine in a fancy glass. I romanticize it in a way, kind of channeling an alter ego to add some fun distraction

I’ve heard biting down on a lemon or anything that kind of zaps you into a different state helps

Sensory videos on YouTube lol

for anxiety, im usually by myself when i get anxious so i will journal or go to my emotional support puppers!

I like to make lists. Sometimes it's a list of what's bothering me or making me anxious. Sometimes just getting it out on paper feels good and can even help me view it in a more manageable way. Like a list of what I need to say before a phone call has helped me a lot in the past to get through it. Other times I'll make a list of things I'm looking forward to, even the silliest, smallest things to keep me going during those tough days. I've heard that making lists can make some folks MORE anxious, so if it sounds like a bad idea, maybe skip this one 👍

Also mid anxiety attacks if you can get anything COLD it will help so much. Putting a compress against your chest or back will almost instantly snap you back or pull you down. It has helped me with both anxiety spikes and ptsd flashbacks. 🙏good luck. We are here for you.

I have been slowly chipping away at the morality or good and bad concepts for my feelings. Also reminding myself that these are illnesses. They need to be taken care of. Anxiety is: you will live and try to push myself to do the 1 thing that is causing me the highest amount of anxiety (recently had to call a court so I wouldn't get my license suspended). Doing it may take time or even feel like a car crash but once it's done I celebrate my accomplishment.

Put down/stop social media…and read a book, usually about anxiety or healthy eating…I’m trying to take control and educate myself on THINGS I CAN CONTROL! It’s hard as hell!

For me the two biggest things I use are music and the 5,4,3,2,1 method. I have a specific calm playlist I use that I'd be happy to share. If you hadn't yet heard of the 5,4,3,2,1 method it's naming 5 things you see (can be in your head), 4 things you can feel (picture them in your mid if you can't touch them, I look for at least 1 cold thing), 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell, and 1 thing you can taste (can be something you think of if not around food). I also use ASMR if it's particularly bad. I would also be happy to share the ones I've found that work best for me.

Honestly mine was drinking but plz don’t so I really don’t have one I just try and sing how I feel and cry every time

When I get anxious I use a grounding technique you visualize your safe place and the safe place has a fireplace and you go get a cup of hot chocolate or coffee and you put your feet flat on the floor meanwhile this is all in your head you don't actually have to get a cup of coffee or hot chocolate anyways and you let the heat go from your fingers to your arms to your chest then it goes to your head and it continues down your body to where you're completely relaxed

I hike. Being out in nature and realizing that I'm just a little part of the world helps.

Distraction. It sounds odd but distraction helps me way more than grounding techniques, mindfulness, deep breathing, etc. I watch youtube videos almost 24/7 so I can focus on something other than myself and it's very helpful.

I start by saying things like "I have anxiety" not "I am anxious". You are feeling this because you can recognize the symptoms. You are not your anxiety. Recognize your feelings, and feel your feelings.