Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
List 1-3 ways that you calm yourself down, whether that's from being nervous, mad, sad, or scared, etc.
This post may include affiliate links.
RELATED:
#2
Listen to music
Draw
Chill out side
Final score:
13points
#3
• Make string bracelets (sounds dumb but tying the knots it’s very satisfying :)
• Listen to an audio book and cry
• Swim (being underwater is so serene)
Final score:
11points
#4
breathe in for 4 seconds. hold it for 7 seconds. exhale for 8 seconds. repeat 4x
Final score:
10points
#5
Ever hear of beer?
Final score:
10points
#7
Slipknot... and maybe a cuddle from my wife.
Final score:
9points
#8
Counting to 8 over and over. I used to be a dancer, so it's really therapeutic. I also daydream a lot.
Final score:
9points
#9
What works for me is cuddling my big goofy Great Dane. Xena is quite the lovebug.
Final score:
9points
#11
singing. I don't do it well, but the controlled breathing involved helps a ton!
Final score:
7points
#12
I consider how much it would cost me to bail myself out of jail and whether or not its worth it...that usually does the trick
Final score:
7points
#14
In difficult situations, I tell myself, “well, it’s an experience.” Sounds daft but it helps so much, maybe because it separates me from the problem and reminds me that, one day, it’ll be just a memory.
Also, when I mess up: good judgement comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgement.
Final score:
7points
#15
cry
Final score:
6points
Priscilla Reshell 3 years ago
As sad as it is crying does help a lot because it gets your emotions out
#16
Hug my dog or listen to music. But hugging my beautiful dog Shilo ALWAYS works. Even when I am away from him just thinking of him calms me. feel so lucky to have him.
Final score:
6points
#17
Learn a guitar tune. If it sounds a little bit like the original I am happy.
Final score:
5points
#18
Read, normally a book where the characters are doing a lot worse than me.
Final score:
5points
#20
I'm with #28 😉
Final score:
5points
Foodie panda 3 years ago
just a suggestion, whoever was #28 then may move up or down based on upvotes so maybe you could specify the name.
#21
I have on heck of a record collection!
I sit in my listening room, dim the lights, put on a good record, have a brandy and just chill out!
Final score:
5points
Philly Bob Squires (Submission author) 3 years ago
"ONE" heck of... I wish they'd let you edit your posts! LOL!
#22
I read a book that I've read before. It calms me that I know exactly what's going to happen, and that what happens does not affect me. It always helps me put things into perspective and calm down.
I also like making bracelets.
Final score:
5points
#23
Read, draw, breathe, think of my favorite characters/places. It usually works.
Final score:
4points
#25
Whenever I have my anxiety and panic attacks :
1. Repeat - '' I worth many things and I'm loved ''
2. Play with my dog
3. Breath and drink water
Final score:
4points
#26
Nothing. Lay down and wait
Final score:
4points
Melissa TO 3 years ago
I do the same. Then I realized that was a kind of meditation in itself. Blanking the mind, going limp in the body.
#27
1. Stress eat
2. Cry alone in the corner
3. Stress eat some more
4. Cuddle with my cat
5. Stress eat a lot more
Final score:
4points
#28
Also, listen to Heavy Metal Music at the highest volume...
Final score:
4points
Zephyr Anthem 3 years ago
Hell yeah ! Disturbed, Slipknot, Falling in reverse... the louder the better :) if there's rap/hip hop mixed in it it's even better (hollywood undead for example)
#29
Listen to music that reflects what I'm feeling. It's like I'm acknowledging what is going on in my head and allowing myself to feel that way. I remind myself that I am loved and valuable, and just an imperfect human like everyone else. I have a mentally draining job and some people I interact with try to throw power at me, making me feel tiny. I take the control back, make it clear to them that I may have a job to do but I have allowance to refuse to put up with negative behaviour. This self-advocacy always feels great.
Final score:
4points
#30
If I am nervous about something, usually a person, i think about the fun times i've had with them and how they will love me no matter what.
Final score:
3points
#31
If it's angry energy I need to calm, I workout and hit the heavy bag. If it's anxiety or nervous energy, I have a mower engine I take apart and put back together. Anything else, I run.
Final score:
3points
#32
Count to ten (in all languages I can do so in, six, at last count).
Breathe.
Have ice cream.
Final score:
3points
#33
1. Play my double bass drum kit like an octopus on a gallon of espresso
2. Target practice
3. Medicinal Weed
Final score:
3points
#34
Marijuana. I'm retired and it's legal here. These days alcohol gives me a headache before I can get tipsy and before these days, hangovers were no bueno.
Final score:
3points
#35
Generally, metal music - louder and thrashier the better. But not loud enough to bother anyone of course. For more urgent calm - high pressure warm shower, water on the top centre of my back. The only thing that can totally calm me. Like I collapse in a heap relaxing, so good.
Final score:
3points
#36
Run cool water on your wrist/ hold an ice cube. Anti anxiety magic
Final score:
3points
#37
Make paper cranes
Final score:
3points
#39
Either BLAST music or play it really quietly on my headphones
Final score:
2points
#40
purposely stand in the way of small hard plastic balls flying at my face at 60+ mph
Final score:
2points
#41
purposely stand in the way of small hard plastic balls flying at my face at 60+ mph
Final score:
2points
#42
I draw. Watch movies with my husband . Pinterest with my daughter
Final score:
2points
#43
Right now I crank up the cooler and curl up with my pups and read. After work nothing is better
Final score:
2points
#44
1. Go outside & look at the sky
2. Look up "dad jokes" online
3. Breathe
Final score:
2points
#45
How I deal with anxiety:
1: Controlled breathing and blocking out all surroundings, focusing on just my thoughts
2: listen to music and/or use a fidget toy
3: Be Creative in some way e.g drawing, writing, building something out of popsicle sticks, origami ect
Final score:
2points
#47
Have a go to folder of pick me up pictures on phone.
Recall something thats makes me smile / laugh to watch.
Listen to (upbeat!) music.
Final score:
2points
#48
Listen to music, play WOW doing raids so I can work out anger. Take a nap
Final score:
2points
#49
singing my lungs out
Final score:
2points
#51
I aggressively drink water when I am stressing.It's the action of drinking that distracts me.Long cold showers and crying while the water hits your head helps.I've never learnt swimming or gone to a water body,only ever seen the sea once when I was a child,I really think any form of water can calm anyone down.I hope it helped.
Final score:
2points
#53
Listen to music and go out for a walk. Or i rage. All of them work.
Final score:
1point
#54
Play with my hair, tactile and self care
Lose myself in a book with a cat or two in my lap.
Breathe in to the count of four then breathe out to the count of four.
Final score:
1point
#55
I usually listen to lofi or enya for a bit and then I count how many things I can see in my room but sometimes I;ll just watch my comfort show to help.
Final score:
1point
#56
right now 2 things.
1.Watching my boys playing soccer give me great amount of job i wasn't able to have since last years.
2. smoking. yeah i know it's bad but apart those 2 thing nothing anymore give me some pleasure in life
Final score:
1point
kjorn (Submission author) 3 years ago
damnit... Joy, not job. of course it give me lot of job. everydays of the week we have soccer but it's worth it.
#57
Count to 10 whilst breathing slightly aggressively, then telling myself that I’ve been through worse and this situation I’m in really isn’t that bad
Final score:
1point
#58
I used to find long walks very meditative. Almost without fail they made me feel calm. But now I’ve been a full-time dog walker for seven years, and I ruined my meditation by turning it into work! Video games have become the poor substitute.
Final score:
1point
#60
Years ago, after a medical incident, I had horendous panic attacks. I couldn't eat or sleep. Barely able to walk. My doc saw me through it and told me a good thing to always remember. An actual panic attack, as opposed to general anxiety, has a shelf life of about 20 minutes at about which time those body chemicals will have worn out. It seems like a long time when you're in it. I just remind myself of that and I stop panicking about the panic attack. That's half the battle right there.
I do art in my coloring books.
Cuddle with my cat.
Final score:
1point
#61
Listen to anxiety calming music with a bag of salted chips and snickers. It always helps.
Final score:
1point
#62
clean, scrub the bath, vacuum, just keep very busy until my heart stops pounding.
Final score:
1point
#65
1. pet something fluffy and focus on the fluff. 2. turn off lights and wear blindfold. 3. shower. 4. read. for hours. and forget stuff. 5. think about colorful fish and the kind I'd want to get
Final score:
1point
#66
1. When I’m angry : look into the mirror, normally it will calm me down, I hate how ugly I am when I’m mad, punch or throw something soft like a pillow. 2. When I’m nervous : take a long and deep breath several times, listening to the comfort song/instrumental, try to see far away, green scenery or sky scrappers 3. sad : hug my cat, or if I’m away watching funny cat videos
Final score:
0points
#67
For me, when someone upsets me I find it helps to talk it through with someone. Tell them why you're upset and ask for their opinion before you act towards the other person- it's helpful to gain a different perspective, so that you don't end up making anything worse.
When I'm angry, I like to sit on my bed with a nice snack, like some strawberries or a biscuit, and listen to an album that reflects the opposite mood to what I'm feeling- basically, happy music! There are some great playlists like this on Spotify
Final score:
0points
#68
Music. Or I watch Lucifer or Brooklyn 99 with my dad
Final score:
0points
#69
When I get grazy angry I listen to Limb Bizkits Break Stuff. Somehow it calms me down quite fast.
When my dog had to be put down due kidney failure I cried. A lot. Hugging my other dog and cat helped with the pain.
Final score:
0points
What do you think ?
Maryse Faucher 3 years ago
I crochet dolly while walking it keep my brain just buzzy enough that anxiety don't paralyze me.
Improperplays 3 years ago
Listen to imagine dragons, when im down or feel like crap, i just put a playlist of all their songs on and i feel better <3
Paul Tyler 3 years ago
I punch the annoying person straight between the eyes and keep Itwalking
Maryse Faucher 3 years ago
I crochet dolly while walking it keep my brain just buzzy enough that anxiety don't paralyze me.
Improperplays 3 years ago
Listen to imagine dragons, when im down or feel like crap, i just put a playlist of all their songs on and i feel better <3
Paul Tyler 3 years ago
I punch the annoying person straight between the eyes and keep Itwalking
Related on Bored Panda
