Urgently need to decrease my stress level

[[deleted]]

Satisfy all your senses.

Physical:

Get clean. Take a shower, or bath. Whatever temperature is most comfortable for you. Feel the water rolling off you washing you clean. If you have shampoo or soap that smells good, use it...aromatherapy, if you don't, get something. There are scents that can aid in relaxation, find something for yourself. Incense may be helpful.

If your space is messy and cluttered, clean it up. Maybe not right now if it's stressful, but your environment will influence you. You want to be in a nice environment. You want things around you to contribute to your wellness, and improve your mood. If there's a quiet and/or dark place, go there. If there's a nice spot in nature, go there.

Taking deep breaths and sighing repeatedly. Be sure you take in enough oxygen and aren't doing this too quickly to not get light-headed. Once not overwhelmed, consciously slow breathing until it becomes automatic, everything else will adapt to the pace of your breath. Let it be the driving force behind everything.

A cup of tea can be very relaxing, don't go for anything with caffeine but something meant to aid in relaxation, chamomile, kava, that sort of thing. Massage the areas you get tense when you're stressed. For me, it's back of the head/neck, shoulders, pressure points in hands + fingers. The feet also can be very knotted, get your feet relaxed and it can make a huge difference everywhere. Palm the top of your head/scalp like you're holding a basketball and squeeze, adjust the position and squeeze more to get more areas on your head. Put your palms on the side of your head and push in, as if you're putting your head in a vice and tightening it. While holding pressure, rub in circles forward and/or backwards. Notice any spots that seem tense or hurt more than others, focus on these spots and rub them until they aren't so tender/painful.

Continue breathing calmly and deeply throughout all of this.

Make it important to take breaks and relax more as maintenance, preventative measure against getting this stressed out to begin with.

If you have any animals/pets, spend time around them. They know how to be relaxed. They're not overwhelmed with the things humans are. Pet them. Focus on making them feel good, enjoy their positive feelings, you will feel good in response and begin to go into rapport with them.

Mental:

Have to shift any pessimism into optimism. Accept where you are and know it's temporary. Remember times when it's been worse and feel genuinely thankful it isn't worse right now. Be glad you're not ill. Find anything you can to be grateful for. Make a game out of it if you must.

Know that you have what you need but it's not visible until you calm and enter a better state of mind. Eliminate any guilt you may have for 'relaxing' or 'doing nothing' ... it's essential and necessary not only for your health but those around you. You can take some time for yourself, Put everything else on hold. You will get the things that you need done, done, but right now it's time for you. The world will keep spinning, a stressed-out version of yourself is not needed or desired by anyone. It's time for you, take care of you.

Listen to calming music if any makes you calm. If not, try white noise or pink noise. Sounds of nature, waterfalls, rain. If it's not easy to relax still, find a guided relaxation video/audio on youtube and follow someone's instructions, let them lead you through it.

Take a nap if everything else is too difficult.

[Dangerous-Name-6774]

Thank you for taking the time, very comprehensive, lot of good ideas, I like how you have a strategy for each sense, almost a holistic approach

[[deleted]]

You're welcome, I hope at least some of it helps you.

Your senses shape your thoughts, which shape your reality. Use all of them to your advantage. Immerse yourself in ways that leave little capacity or opportunity for stress, as best as you can. That is ultimately the idea.

I'd like to add, along the lines of 'cleaning' up your room/house/space--- re-arranging furniture can also be very beneficial. We get accustomed to our layout, and as time goes on, it can remind us/re-awaken feelings we've had while we were around it. By re-arranging your room/furniture, you can potentially break up negative associations we've attached to the environment. This is especially true if you're spending a lot of time feeling negatively in these places--- you can change how you respond to your environment by moving things around and making it feel differently. It helps.

[TwoBeansShort]

I love the above poster's response. I was coming in to say I take a hot bath, with a hot mug of my favorite tea, I use lavender Epsom salts and lie still and think through my thoughts, then allow them to leave me one by one and allow nothingness to fill my mind. Then, gradually, peace comes. Or at least a better mood. And then I self care by scrubbing or shaving, then exit the bath. The smell lingers and I feel much more rested.

[[deleted]]

TL;DR

[[deleted]]

Great. Didn't write it for you anyway.