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Anxiety
Sept 23, 2020 7:07:14 GMT -5
Post by GRWelsh on Sept 23, 2020 7:07:14 GMT -5
I don't know about you guys, but I've had more anxiety this year than ever before. And I'm not normally an anxious person. Perhaps it is everything combined: Coronavirus, civil unrest, isolated feeling, election year, work-related stress worse than usual... It's all just getting to me. Any advice? I haven't been exercising as regularly (no going to the gym since March), and I know that is a component. What else can I try? CBD-infused candles and incense, maybe?
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rredmond
Evoker
& Mag - Filling in the Gaps for Old School Gamers
Posts: 20
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Anxiety
Sept 23, 2020 7:31:28 GMT -5
Post by rredmond on Sept 23, 2020 7:31:28 GMT -5
Definitely my anxiety is up; there's to much uncertainty and most of it out of my control. Exercise is definitely proven to help, scents and stuff I've heard can help but have never tried them, I know of folks who find a good scent (of soap, or candle and the like) and use that helped. I can tell you the few things that have worked for me and for the kids who see me. My favorite, and it's harder than it seems to do, but when you get it, it almost always works - 4-7-8 breathing, it not only helps me relax, but it will help me fall asleep when I have insomnia. First, you have to exhale completely through your mouth. Next, inhale silently through your nose all the while counting to four in your head. Then, for seven seconds, hold your breath. Lastly, exhale from your mouth for eight full seconds. When you inhale again, you initiate a new cycle of breath. Repeat for four full breaths. The held breath (for seven seconds) is the most important part. You're supposed to do four, and then work your way up to eight full breaths. It's good stuff. When I'm at work, or in the middle of something and can't spend too much time. Then I do the big yawn and stretch. I put my hands over my head, force a big slow yawn and stretch real hard for maybe 10 seconds, then do a big exhale - for me it's a little noisy so I generally close the door of whatever room I'm in The last thing that works for me, but I don't do it as much, is some mindful breathing. It helps me relax, but sometimes I use it to help me focus. I close my eyes, breathe in an out and focus on one word. If I just want to relax I focus on one positive thing, if I want to focus then I concentrate (in one or two words) on the outcome I want. The trick is to spend about a minute quietly breathing, but force your mind to focus on the one or two words. Again, harder than it sounds, but it only takes a minute or two and works for me. Hope that helps! Studies have shown an increase in anxiety all over the place. I've increased my exercising, and started a 1e game on Skype with High School friends and that's helped tremendously. It also helps that I was mainly a home-body before anyways. Good luck! --Ron--
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Anxiety
Sept 23, 2020 8:49:10 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by geneweigel on Sept 23, 2020 8:49:10 GMT -5
I don't like getting "high" even though I will if it's in good company (Unfortunately, it sometimes morphs into bad company. My last reunions for example got people with problems, big junkies, etc.). My best times are staring at wildlife and letting the imagination run wild. In NYC, it's mostly squirrels. Can't wait to be in Florida for good next week. This year for me has been extra anxiety because of teen problems (I'm like a pharmacist every morning.) The effective behavior they have taught her is "mindfulness" which is essentially meditation on things with a sense of awareness. I can't really explain but I used to do shit like that when I was being used for week long child labor stints (it's cheaper with relatives,etc) by my idiotic family. Just crudely meditating though nothing major. My daughter is doing slow breathing and drinking ice water a lot when stressed.
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Anxiety
Sept 23, 2020 14:54:03 GMT -5
Post by Scott on Sept 23, 2020 14:54:03 GMT -5
Liana's a hospital nurse, she's already had two 'possible exposure' notices. My kids go to 'in person' school. My oldest is in the marching band and plays high school soccer and my youngest is on two soccer teams, I coach one of them. I wear and mask and try to distance, but I think it's just a matter of time before I get Covid, and that definitely causes a lot of anxiety. I'm doing something kid related everyday, and the lack of down time doesn't help. The state of our politics depresses me, but I don't want to get into a political discussion. Kids in general, especially high school age, is a great source of stress.
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Anxiety
Sept 23, 2020 19:22:14 GMT -5
Post by Scott on Sept 23, 2020 19:22:14 GMT -5
The no rest for the wicked schedule I have to manage this week: Sunday, 11 year old has a soccer game. Monday: Work and 14 year old has a soccer game. Tuesday: Work and 14 year old has marching band practice and 11 year old has soccer practice. Wednesday: Work, 14 year old has soccer game, 11 year old has soccer practice (I coach) Thursday: Work and 14 year old has marching band practice and 11 year old has soccer practice. Friday: Work; 14 year old has marching band for football game. Saturday: 11 year old has 2 soccer games in Erie.
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Anxiety
Sept 23, 2020 20:26:27 GMT -5
Post by geneweigel on Sept 23, 2020 20:26:27 GMT -5
Here is some AD&D character selection economics to pep you up:
I was just down in the basement packing boxes and sorting and the 5 types of goldenrod sheets I collated and stacked:
Fighter/Paladin/Ranger Magic-User/Illusionist Cleric/Druid Thief/Assassin/Monk Multi-Classed Character
I forget how many I had ordered my uncle to "offset print" but its obvious which were most used and least used:
Fighter/Paladin/Ranger (Most used) Magic-User/Illusionist (Least used) Cleric/Druid (2nd place least used) Thief/Assassin/Monk Multi-Classed Character (2nd place most used)
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Anxiety
Sept 23, 2020 23:58:29 GMT -5
Post by grodog on Sept 23, 2020 23:58:29 GMT -5
It's all just getting to me. Any advice? If you're not already, get more sleep: as long as I'm getting more than 7 hours of sleep a night, I'm doing OK, but when I'm able to get 8-9, I'm handling the world just a bit better than on lower-sleep days. I haven't been exercising as regularly (no going to the gym since March), and I know that is a component. What else can I try? Walking is good, and you can do that with the family. Ditto bike riding. Yoga is good exercise and good for mental relaxation. So're racquetball and fencing Allan.
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Anxiety
Sept 24, 2020 6:31:38 GMT -5
Post by Scott on Sept 24, 2020 6:31:38 GMT -5
Here is some AD&D character selection economics to pep you up: I was just down in the basement packing boxes and sorting and the 5 types of goldenrod sheets I collated and stacked: Fighter/Paladin/Ranger Magic-User/Illusionist Cleric/Druid Thief/Assassin/Monk Multi-Classed Character I forget how many I had ordered my uncle to "offset print" but its obvious which were most used and least used: Fighter/Paladin/Ranger (Most used) Magic-User/Illusionist (Least used) Cleric/Druid (2nd place least used) Thief/Assassin/Monk Multi-Classed Character (2nd place most used) Yeah, any time spent fiddling over anything gaming helps. But that time is a lot harder to come bu since school started.
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Anxiety
Sept 24, 2020 8:33:55 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by geneweigel on Sept 24, 2020 8:33:55 GMT -5
Have factor in other sheet usage:
WOG leader classes
Humanoid or savage leaders usually being fighters
Non-favorite classes being made for fill in npcs out of least selected (cleric, m-u, &thief in that order of priority)
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Anxiety
Sept 25, 2020 10:06:17 GMT -5
Post by GRWelsh on Sept 25, 2020 10:06:17 GMT -5
The Mel Brooks song was exactly what I needed. I'm cured!
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Anxiety
Sept 25, 2020 12:17:52 GMT -5
Post by Scott on Sept 25, 2020 12:17:52 GMT -5
It's such a great movie. I haven't watched it in years. I might have to look it up somewhere.
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Anxiety
Sept 28, 2020 17:43:44 GMT -5
Post by davegibsongreyhawkdm on Sept 28, 2020 17:43:44 GMT -5
author Jeff Foster's mindfulness books:
"The Way of Rest" - started 2/23/2020, day after one year anniversary my wife's death (2/22/2019) traumatic car accident (saw her dying on interstate with arm severed from accident impact), with me the surviving driver...she was my college sweetheart, were married 28-1/2 years "You Were Never Broken" - recently finished "The Joy of True Meditation" - recently started
I have had survivor's guilt and post-traumatic stress since my wife's death...grief is a bitch of a mistress...did not sleep even 24 hours total (due to nightmares I was afraid of having) in a given week until Thanksgiving 2019.
Let anxiety and fear happen...notice it...be curious about it...embrace it...talk about it
Robert Frost: "The only way out is through"
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Post by GRWelsh on Sept 29, 2020 6:49:55 GMT -5
I'm very sorry to hear about your wife, Dave. My condolences.
You bring up a good point about "let anxiety and fear happen... notice it" since repressing it isn't the solution.
Thanks for all of the advice in general, guys. Much appreciated.
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