Before this issue I did every kind of stress/anxiety relief in the inpatient and outpatient programs.I think they can help with focus but even these coping ways take practice. I know the first few times I did relaxation tapes it made me more anxious but in the long run it calmed me. I like guided imagery. I'm also trying to find someone to work with me with bio feedback. My current therapist helps me with stress relief but want a specialist in this area. For me things like sitting outside,journaling,crafts,reaching out to a friend help relieve stress. I think by nature some people react to things in different ways. My gramps never gets stressed. Its like what ever happens does and myself I work myself up over the smallest things. How nice it would be to not worry right?
Brian when you feel yourself tense maybe try some breathing and self talk. I'm very big on self talk. I feel my recovery in anorexia after so many years was cause every day even when I felt I couldn't do recovery I told myself I could and wrote positive affirmations and the same with my horrible ocd/anxiety. I would talk myself through to see the rational. I do credit a lot to my therapy team and still do. I often wonder on here if more people would benefit from therapy.