the weird stuff is what actually calmed me 👇

From my own journey dealing with anxiety, I’ve found that the common advice like breathing exercises and journaling didn't fully address my needs. Instead, adopting some less typical strategies really made a difference, especially those focused on self-regulation and tolerance of discomfort. One key practice was delaying the urge to immediately fix anxious feelings. I committed to sitting with the discomfort for just ten minutes—no phone, no snacks, no distractions. At first, that felt impossible; the anxiety seemed overwhelming. But over time, I noticed my body realizing this discomfort wasn’t an emergency. Most of the urgent feelings naturally eased without my usual attempts to quell them. This delay helped retrain my nervous system to view anxiety as something manageable rather than a crisis. I also stopped over-explaining myself to others. In the past, I’d send long texts full of justifications and apologies, striving for approval or reassurance. Learning to accept quiet moments and say less helped me stop performing for others’ validation. This quietness became a source of calm rather than anxiety, reinforcing a healthier nervous system regulation. Another eye-opening shift was abandoning the romantic notion of being 'on top of things' through constant mental overdrive. My racing thoughts and late-night planning weren't signs of productivity but signs of dysregulation. Using apps designed to process emotions, like grounding techniques, helped me let my body settle. Calming down stopped feeling lazy and became something safe and steady—true grounding. Accepting unresolved issues without spiraling was another important lesson. I stopped needing immediate answers or resolutions for every worry. Letting uncertainty remain open, without treating it as danger, allowed my brain to rest more peacefully. This approach to open loops helped me build resilience. Finally, I became my own first source of reassurance during anxious moments. Instead of immediately turning to others for comfort, I learned to tell myself, “You’re safe, even if this feels big.” This internal self-soothing empowered me to manage tough moments independently, reducing reliance on external calm. These strategies, though unconventional, helped me build a sustainable, self-regulated calm and a more balanced nervous system. For anyone struggling with anxiety, delaying reaction urges, embracing silence, and self-reassurance can be game changers in managing overthinking and promoting nervous system regulation.