I haven't found a way to keep myself from worrying. It seems to be easier to stop myself from breathing. When I stop myself from breathing, I keep right on worrying while I am holding my breath.

Channeling and distraction seem to help me the most in managing my worries. If the worry is specific, like not having anything to look forward to, I channel the worry into feeding the need. Having something to look forward to is an essential nutrient in the Arf diet. When the worry is vague, like wishing I didn't have to be me, I use distraction. I find something to do. Anything.

Continued support while you find what works for you, Rizen.

DS ate my reply. Short version: Puma support.

Depends.

At night, sometimes I'll study something. Sometimes I'll count things I'm grateful for. Just depends.

Gentle hugs, Patti

this is such a good question, Rizen. i don't exactly know what i do. i sort of try to fake myself out, you know what i mean? sneak up on myself in a way. put more good thoughts in until there is not room for the worrying thoughts. counting of blessings is a good one, my best one so far. even taking the time to write them down - that makes them more concrete and stick in my subconscious.
sometimes i check back in on here and see if there is anyone i can help a little bit. maybe jsut go thru myf riends list and send out some hugs so people will find them in the morning. that makes me feel kind of good. at least, better.
i look for posts when other people write suggestions of what made them feel better.
spiral did one of inspirations recently. that is a good one to read again when i am feeling down.
little things help.
hugs, Lilly

i do have my little dog that sleeps with me, that helps me. feeling his little warm self next to me helps to relax me. knowing he trusts me to keep him safe helps too.
sometimes, well more lately since nightmares have been aproblem lately, i've been getting my big dog to sleep with us and that's even better. it helps that it has been more cold at night here.

we get all figured out, which can take some figuring, and then it would be difficult not to sleep. i imagine it may be different with your cat. but maybe having your cat on the bed and purring along all cozy might be very helpful.

I have trouble sleeping from diabetes and kidney disease as well as from PTSD. Diabetes and kidney disease cause me to have to get up to use the bathroom every 2 or 3 hours every night. There are diuretics and anti-diuretics, but I'm already taking so many meds for diabetes I'm not taking those right now.

I've posted a lot about my past year taking Prazosin for PTSD sleep and nightmare help. It's really worked for me, maybe you can try it.

As for reducing worry in general, I read a lot and write a lot. In addition to writing here, I write sermons (I'm delivering one this Sunday at a church).

The sermons aren't about doctrine or dogma, they're about things we learn here on DS PTSD. I guess that's why this church has been asking me back for 5 years now every month.

It's a good way for me to process what I learn on DS PTSD by having to report on it and put it in words people beyond our group can understand. It makes me see beyond the bad to see what good DS PTSD is for me month by month. It helps me keep tabs on my own recovery to speak of recovery to these church people.

In my classes I teach I often bring up lessons learned on DS PTSD, too. Again, that keeps me looking beyond the bad to see what good DS PTSD is week by week with students.

Speaking both to churches and speaking at school gives me a sense of momentum in my recovery, however gradual it is week by week or month by month, rather than getting stuck in one place with worry. If I don't have a sense of momentum, getting stuck in worry is too much for me.

For momentum, too, I take breaks and go out of town a lot, to concerts like this past weekend, or to baseball games, etc. I'm not that interested in sports, it's just that it gets me moving. Then being in a cheering crowd is positive and not worrying. Same for when I go to comedy clubs. The people in those crowds came to be positive and laugh, not to worry.

Those things may not apply to you and your circumstances, Rizen, I know. But the common thread is moving, momentum. I don't know if that concept can translate to your circumstances to give you a sense of moving forward or not. Me, I can't handle life without it, no matter if it's an illusion or not. I'm not the kind who can handle staying in a worrying place at all.. I'm just not built for that. Much support to you as you reflect on this topic. Thanks for bringing it up.

Thanks for all the support. Distractions and not obsessing on bad things are important. I'll ask my Dr about Prazosin.

I have a big problem with sleep as well..... I sleep for short periods of time a few times a night..... So I was up 3-5 times and it's annoying

I'm a big reader .... I lose myself in books and it's pretty much impossible to worry and read at the same time....

I cuddle with my pooch as well

My old GP used to swear by mindfulness and I've seen others swear by meditation ...... They might be worth a shot Rizen especially the mindfulness..... Big hug.......xo

I've found that distractions can really help, things that I find really interesting and that grab my attention fully,like a good tv show or doing art type things, I worry quite a lot and if its really getting to me to the point distractions don't work, I use mindfulness to ground myself in the moment, I didn't think much of mindfulness when I started it but it really helps me which I didn't think would happen.

I have never been able to keep myself from worrying. I have found that melatonin and prazosin help me sleep, and I have an oil diffuser next to my bed that I use jasmine and lavender in. Those both seem to help me feel like I actually got some rest in the morning.

Everyone is different, Personally when I start getting stressed I watch tv series or movies, or anything that can make me laugh at least a bit, and I also listen to classical music, sometimes I try yoga, and I try to write or do something that can keep my mind occupied.
Find something that can distract you and that you can enjoy.

Distractions are good. I've been low energy, depressed and lonely lately. I don't think my medicines are working as well as they used to.

TY for all the support.