Jim's Cafe 14th and 15th December

[Nick]

I can't believe it!!! The doors are still locked. Good thing I know where the key is hidden.
Come on in, and enjoy the cafe. Grab a drink and a pastry.

I've only got one question. I'm interested to know what you do to reduce stress? or deal with anxiety? (I'm asking this for selfish reasons)

If that's to heavy or not your speed today, how about sharing the last funny video you saw (keep it clean!!!). Or just tell us how you're doing today, how your weekend is going, or what plans you've got.

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Come on in.
@Livelife @Kikuhiko @Lux @patrick13 @Bbear82 @Gonz @Ineluki @shade @1964dodge

 

[Nick]

@sassy @Witty_Sarcasm @DowntheRabbitHole @Raven @Charlene @Macaronio @extraterrestrialone @ameliaQ @Blue Star

 

[Nick]

@Mike951 @Ivan :) @Petal @YellowHat @Dead~boy @Oookay @Nadiah @Waves @BraveFace

 

[Petal]

Thank you for opening the cafe and for the tag

To reduce extreme anxiety (this was a tip from a therapist approx a decade ago), I physically write on paper exactly how I feel, why i'm hurting, why things are stressing me out or if i'm angry write out why and place it on the bed and beat the hell out of it, I have not done it in a while but its one of the better tips I have had from a therapist

Sorry if you are struggling at the moment

 

[Ash600]

I've only got one question. I'm interested to know what you do to reduce stress? or deal with anxiety? (I'm asking this for selfish reasons)

This is something I read about years ago and have on occassion used it myself as a way to reduce stress/anxiety :

Close your eyes, hold your breath and contract all your muscles. While you eyes are closed, imagine that all your internal bodily structures are contracting as well, be it your organs, blood vessels etc. Then slowly release, stop contracting your muscles and exhale, saying the word "free." Repeat several times, focusing on that sense of tension being released as you let yourself relax from holding your breath/contracting your muscles.
Then, repeat the process but this time just mentally saying the word "free" but once again focusing on that feeling of liberation. Pretty soon, you should be able to associate that sense of liberation and so escape from that tension just by thinking that trigger word, "free."

Other ways I use would be just by slapping on some earphones, playing a few tunes and go for a walk.

 

[Kikuhiko]

Well several things I guess, when I feel somewhat social the tabletop RPG gaming group that I hang out with helps a lot, just hanging out with friends doing nothing but playing an RPG discussing silly things trying not to get too heavy, however even then there are times we get quite philosophical but it's all in good fun I guess.

Another related thing that I do to that is that I write my own material for RPGs, whether it's a story for a campaign I want to run, a character I want to play, mechanics I feel need adjustment or a poem or speech that I can use for the game, all of that can be relaxing, very related to this is research, just researching poems, stories and tons of rules relaxes me quite a bit I guess.

I'm also a huge film geek so sometimes when I want to be by myself I just start watching movies and try to analyse them and try to figure out what the creators meant or just get absorbed by it's message or the pathos of a character, all that stuff helps me personally.

I also used to be hugely into video-games it's not my main method of decompression anymore but sitting down and playing a video game can help a lot. to try to master a level by improving your twitch reflexes and memorising enemy positions, or trying to find ways to cut time of your laps in a race game, to being absorbed in a story or just zoning out while engaging with a very intense scene or something, it can be helpful.

In any case for me personally almost all the ways I relax have to do with consuming art in one way or another, whether it's just contemplating a picture or a photography, to writing a story for an RPG, to watching a movie, playing a game or listening to music, I just find that consuming and thinking about art is the best way I have to relax.

 

[dandelions]

I can't believe it!!! The doors are still locked. Good thing I know where the key is hidden.
Come on in, and enjoy the cafe. Grab a drink and a pastry.

I've only got one question. I'm interested to know what you do to reduce stress? or deal with anxiety? (I'm asking this for selfish reasons)

If that's to heavy or not your speed today, how about sharing the last funny video you saw (keep it clean!!!). Or just tell us how you're doing today, how your weekend is going, or what plans you've got.

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Come on in.
@Livelife @Kikuhiko @Lux @patrick13 @Bbear82 @Gonz @Ineluki @shade @1964dodge

a pastery and hot tea sounds very nice. thanksthanks nick. stress/anxiety i don’t think i manage those well at all. then on the other hand i do manage to get through or past those horrible things and in one condition or another keep living and being hopeful and that is how i’m doing today! but a funny video? i wonder if this qualifies...

 

[Bbear82]

For the most part to help reduce anxiety I play as much music that I can and watch tv with it muted just heard and seen distraction

 

[Ivan :)]

Thank you, Nick... You are very kind... I am very pleased with your invitation... Honestly...

I guess, I must leaving forum... due to my mental condition...

But I will stay here for tonight. I will make Tea and will eat some cookies...

...Thing that make me smile today is listening songs which I listened long time ago...

I'm typing very slow... So it seems that I will only reading this thread tonight...

But, thank you...

 

[Macaronio]

The biggest thing for me is cleaning, organizing, fixing- just tidying up. When I rise with that cold, empty, purposeless frightened feeling the best way out is to first bathe with a brush and washrag and insure scalp gets clean with light scrubing. This changes the brains channel and I am on course. Then I accomplish tasks and insure they vary. Accomplishing tasks brings some purpose and relief from feeling unsafe and scared. Plus, hopefully my surroundings are now more comforting to me. Changing my minds perception is the end result. If I make a change to my body, my mind follows it's lead. Hopefully! In any case, it sounds easier than it is to reliably keep on it everyday. Just the weather can put me in a funk- No sun shining seems to make me feel old. When I catch the suns rays as I awake it takes me back to my youth. It's a tingling feeling between my ears that announces the posibility of roaming the land in search of sustinence and mainly joy. This feeling of male virility and connection with life serve to flush anxiety down the "toilet/loo".

 

[Macaronio]

But for fun anxiety relief it's got to be <mod edit>s, dinner, and a film marathon. I love the art of writing and film making. Having human companionship though, seems to heal all wounds. I must be brave. To the forest I go in search of females, food and the unknown. This is joy for a male human. To find a mate and survive daily life. To be a beast in pursuit of purpose and joy. That is a life with way less anxiety.

 

[Baywasp]

Wanted to share this. It's more cute than funny, but videos like this make my day. All the cute lil animals!

 

[Sunspots]

I tend to cook when I'm stressed. Something complicated that I've not made before so that I really have to concentrate on it. With any luck by time it's finished I'm feeling better and have a lovely meal.

I also have an app on my phone with guided meditations and body scans etc. I was pretty sceptical at first but actually they're pretty good at releasing tension.

And I saw this the other day which made me giggle

Hope you're okay @Nick

 

[Charliex8]

I'm still learning ways to deal with anxiety but something I've been trying recently is to ask myself a series of questions. What am I scared of? What do I think is going to happen? What's most likely to happen? Am I overestimating the danger? Am I underestimating my ability to cope? It helps distract me and makes me realise that I don't really have anything to be scared of (If only for a few minutes)

This gave me a chuckle this morning *bleh Never gets old lol

 

[N lO b IO D Y]

Smoke a cigarette or listen to some chill music whith your eyes closed.
When its raining then go outside, sit down and just watch the rain.

 

[Ivan :)]

sit down and just watch the rain.

Now it's raining in Kyiv...

 

[EmB]

Oh, I love funny videos! These two are some of.my favourites, I've got so many though it's so hard to choose!

Sending hugs!

Em

 

[JMG]

Will answer all the q's & also tag 2 people I can think of who weren't already tagged - @Walker @Lane

what you do to reduce stress? or deal with anxiety?
I'm not very good at dealing with either of those things a lot of the time but if it's possible for me to talk to someone about whatever is stressing me out or making me anxious then that sometimes helps. Also remembering things I'm grateful for, reading affirmations, writing in my diary, reading, looking at funny pics, watching funny videos or looking at art.

how you're doing today
So-so, had yet another argument with my friend and kinda stormed out of his place which I never did before but I was pretty pissed at him & still am, trying to calm down about it though.

how your weekend is going
Would be going a lot better if I had just not gone to friends place last night I really need to stop putting myself through such misery like that. Aside from the fact that I got sucked into going over there yet again I guess it's fine.

plans you've got
Lol I rarely have plans, or when I actually do it's rarely any kind of "fun" plans, more just like "things I have to do" kind of plans but that is it, could be much worse though I know.

 

[JMG]

Oops wait forgot to tag someone who almost always tags me, would just edit above post but can't so doing another post.
@Kiwi2016

 

[Ineluki]

@Nick

Thanks for the invite.

I am really tired today so I can't offer any advice on stress, at least none that would make any sense lol. But I will get some coffee and a pastry and join you all here.

*grouphug