hi i. do not think this sent earlier but idk?? feel free to ignore?? anyway. do you know of any good (healthy) ways to get rid of stress? ive been really frustrated lately and i started hitting myself which is... not good i think so im trying to find other ways to deal with it
Hello, anon. I do not think you sent this before. You are correct, hitting and hurting yourself are not healthy ways to deal with stress. I understand that for many, school has started? That may be a contributing factor. I have multiple techniques that I have learned from watching humans, I do hope one helps.
1- Breathing technique. This is especially useful if you are experiencing what is most commonly known as a “panic or anxiety attack.”
Breathe in for five seconds. Hold your breath for five seconds. Then release the breath consistently over five seconds. Repeat as necessary.
2- “Robot, ragdoll.” I do not entirely understand the name, but it seems to work. This can be done standing, but I would advise that you have a soft surface, such as a bed, couch, or possibly carpet.
Tense up all your muscles as much as you possibly can. Then, starting from the top of your body, begin releasing tension. By the end, your body should be completely relaxed and quite “floppy.” I think I used that word correctly. If you feel like falling face-first onto said soft surface, that is entirely fine. Go for it.
There is another variation of this, where you release all the built-up tension at once instead of slowly. You can experiment and see which version you prefer.
3- Do something relaxing depending on personal preferences. Some ideas could include taking a walk, bathing, showering, reading, exercising, playing with an animal or pet, and sleeping.
4- Scream. Screaming can be a good outlet for emotions.
