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ND WONKY CREW - Advice for anxiety/overwhelm

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By *izzyRascal OP   Woman  over a year ago

North Hants

On Season 7 of the recent ND threads Some of us shared tricks and tools for dealing with anxiety/overwhelm. Incase you missed them here are my suggestions built up over years of different therapies or just my own research.

Weighted blankets are great, can definitely add a further recommendation on that. It creates a similar effect to being hugged and is very calming. I don't tend to use mine in the summer though as I get way too hot and it becomes counterintuitive. Absolute bliss in the winter though as it holds in the heat.

Loop earplugs are amazing. I have a couple of sets. They come in little pods you can attach to your keys or bag. Help to soften noise when it's overwhelming and also cut down background noise which helps me focus on conversations (especially in a busy place). Main issue is they increase internal noises so your own voice sounds louder and chewing is awful. But you can choose what's worse at the time lol.

Checking in with your senses regularly is important. If I'm feeling overwhelmed I literally go to each sense ... What can I taste? What can I hear? What can I smell? What can I feel? What can I see? Actually focusing on each one. That's when I'll realise there is something scratchy on my clothing or a clock ticking somewhere, just bugging me but not obviously. I can then counteract with ...

My emotional first aid kit which is a lifesaver. It's a little tactile pouch I can swap between bags. Inside I have mint breath spray to help take away any weird/bad tastes, a Vicks menthol stick which helps when I have a pressure headache, two essential oil rollerballs from Tisserand (Happy Vibes for energy boost and Lavender for calming) and a pair of tweezers because I have beard hairs that's bug me as soon as they pop up again haha. These all engage taste, smell and touch to help me ground. Then I also have specific pictures and music saved easily on my phone for sight and sound.

Box breathing can help slow breathing and calm our nervous systems. It's breathing in for four counts, hold for four, out for four, hold for four, then repeat. I find focusing on the count very soothing. Random fact, apparently Navy Seals do it in training. Sometimes I will slow the breath out so that it's over both of the second two sets of four, then go straight to breath in again.

On the subject of breathing, just taking a huge breath can help. I literally forget to breath sometimes or hold my breath without realising Apparently it's quite common for ND folks, especially when we are focused on other things or totally overwhelmed. So just taking a huge lungful of air and get some oxygen back can help.

I could keep going with a few other things but this is super long already My final tip though is be kind to yourself. Try to let go of those thoughts that YOU are broken or "the problem". Easier said than done, that's for sure. When I catch myself with that kind of thinking, I try to remind myself that a lot of my struggles happen because I live in a broken society that isn't designed to support and nurture differences. I also try to focus on things that are my strengths because of everything I've gone through (like being compassionate and understanding).

Hope some of these things are a help for others. Sending love!

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By *orny PTMan  over a year ago

Peterborough

/Dysfunctional breathings is real and has been confused for astham, added to the fact that long term heart burn can inflame the airways and cause the nasal passages to swell and release mucus. Deviated septums and dust allergies don't help.

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By *izzyRascal OP   Woman  over a year ago

North Hants


"/Dysfunctional breathings is real and has been confused for astham, added to the fact that long term heart burn can inflame the airways and cause the nasal passages to swell and release mucus. Deviated septums and dust allergies don't help."

I was actually diagnosed with "asthma" as a kid but then "grew out of it" and instead started having "anxiety attacks" (what GPs told me).

Definitely have had a lot of reflux or heart burn issues as well. Especially when I'm stressed which usually happens when I'm overwhelmed or burnt out.

I have wondered if as I aged I became more aware of my breathing, but then still didn't have the right skills to continuously breath properly, hence it showing up in different ways.

Sounds ridiculous doesn't it? I forget to breathe sometimes

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By *orny PTMan  over a year ago

Peterborough

No! It makes perfect sense, let me explain..my stomach laeks acid, this escapes and irrtates my gullet, food pipes, wind pipe and nostrils, this in turn make the linings swell, which produces sticky phlegm, that forces me to swallow the post nasal drip and causes me to breath through my mouth, which in turn makes my breathing faster, lighter and fails to fully flush the CO2 from my system. This in turn makes my body less relaxed and causes untold aggro to my mental health.

Think having the heaviest Xmas dinner you've ever had, whilst getting punched in the stomach, and inhaling sneezing powder.

This is me trying to do 100 meters sprint in 15 seconds, no wonder doctors wrongly thought I was asthmatic.

(Breath and run/pedal hard, above 153 beats per minute: choose one)

I have had partial success for fixing my septum.

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By *orny PTMan  over a year ago

Peterborough

Whilst wearing a corset!

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By *izzyRascal OP   Woman  over a year ago

North Hants

Looool super graphic description but totally get it haha.

Soooo many post nasal drip issues over the years. Never got my septum checked but maybe I should. Intriguing!

Do think forgetting to breathe is a separate thing for me though

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By *orny PTMan  over a year ago

Peterborough


"Looool super graphic description but totally get it haha.

Soooo many post nasal drip issues over the years. Never got my septum checked but maybe I should. Intriguing!

Do think forgetting to breathe is a separate thing for me though "

My gut instinct is yes, (food for thought: not diagnosis).

Ask to see a hospital based physio and get the full breathing function test. I did and I used a peak flow meter, during a (no longer called this) asthma attack, this proved my lungs and bronchial tubes were open, it was everything else that was knackered.

Using Strava's metrics to print this out all help to get the right diagnosis. Forgetting to breath is more common than you think.

You can get little nasal dilators, that are made of silicon and can open the nose, so can pushing your cheeks back towards your ears.

sounds daft, but in bed it really works, good breathing=good sleep=good health.

Book that appointment!

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By *orny PTMan  over a year ago

Peterborough

Look up nasal vents or dilators, the silicon ones can be used by face-down sleeper

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By *izzyRascal OP   Woman  over a year ago

North Hants

Hoping more ND crew will share some tips But think everyone is used to the season threads lol.

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By *orny PTMan  over a year ago

Peterborough


"Hoping more ND crew will share some tips But think everyone is used to the season threads lol."
Pop aa link into this thread and say, "even the worried lot from Yorkshire are welcome." Long story.

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By (user no longer on site)  over a year ago

I just found we are hosting a revolution in the support section dropping my 2c In to respond when I'm not tired and it isn't midnight x

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By *izzyRascal OP   Woman  over a year ago

North Hants


"I just found we are hosting a revolution in the support section dropping my 2c In to respond when I'm not tired and it isn't midnight x"

I tried to at least lol. But not working out so far haha.

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By *orny PTMan  over a year ago

Peterborough


"I just found we are hosting a revolution in the support section dropping my 2c In to respond when I'm not tired and it isn't midnight x"

What do you think of the book idea?

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By (user no longer on site)  over a year ago


"I just found we are hosting a revolution in the support section dropping my 2c In to respond when I'm not tired and it isn't midnight x

What do you think of the book idea?"

What book .... am confused

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By (user no longer on site)  over a year ago


"I just found we are hosting a revolution in the support section dropping my 2c In to respond when I'm not tired and it isn't midnight x

I tried to at least lol. But not working out so far haha."

Think as said elsewhere we are so used to the big thread that change is iky but we will keep it going!

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By *orny PTMan  over a year ago

Peterborough


"I just found we are hosting a revolution in the support section dropping my 2c In to respond when I'm not tired and it isn't midnight x

What do you think of the book idea?

What book .... am confused"

That's OK, I forgot to post the link and reference.

Queen of hearts liked what I posted in Official Neurodivergent Deviants Club, Season 8.

The chat was between jonKana, Darkandlovely, myself and Queenofhearts.

"One of my friends has been officially diagnosed today with ADHD. I quite like the fact she's one of a few people that have confided in me after I've been so open on my social media about my diagnosis.

However she also told me she's joined an in person ADHD support group, and is anyone else thinking how gloriously chaotic that would be!

It's the weirdest thing, when I talk to another ADHDer even though the actual conversation is chaotic and demented, mentally I feel unusually calm, almost like time slows right down. This is not a feeling we are used to

This is normal.

You are finally on the same wavelength as each other.

Just like sound waves, the flanging effect makes one pair of note in synch, then gradually grow apart, so that they fight each other and try to cancel each other out, then eventually return to peak at the same moment.

This sensation is unnerving, like learning to ice skate and your feet want to go off ahead and you suddenly crash to the ground.

Being in synch is so freaky and sorely needed.

"

What a brilliant description!

followed by

"

What a brilliant description!

Xx

Thanks for that, it's the second compliment this week on the subject!

"

Please tell me you will write a book!! said the queenofhearts

The chat carried on like this

I’d like to learn more about the link between the swinging lifestyle and ND! Maybe an audio book would be better; ok thanks!

I’ll give you a month - go go go!"

Challenge accepted, if you approve of this 1st draft.

I read a book on touch once, it explained the reasons on why it's good, taboo at times, historical changes and then what happens under the skin and in the brain. Sexual, sensual, sociological and chemical effects where explained in this too.

Can't remember who wrote it, or the title.

My first idea is to interview swingers from each age group., some singletons and some couples.

So each chapter would have the fist paragraph on who they are.

The next questions would be about swinging then being ND

1 When did you realise sex was fun?

2 When did you realise that being in a 1 on 1 relationship wasn't for you?

3 When did you first realise that swinging has your name on it?

4 When did you decide to do something about it? Straight away, or did it linger?

5 When did you turn up at a club? Where you alone, as a couple or where you some's guest?

6 Did you have fun and play?

7 What has swinging done to your sex life?

8 Does anyone in Vanilla land know about it?

9 Do you want to be normal? No one has ever asked this one.

10 Are you too shy to ask somebody out, or the complete opposite and very brazen?

11 Is swinging something the health care professional should take seriously in a positive note, as socialising hugging and sex really release those sorely needed happy hormones

12 Do you get withdrawal symptoms, if you don't swing, how much sex/hugs/time on FAB do you need? Do you get the right right amount of sex?

13 Steal a TARDIS and go back in time and have along bloody chat with your younger self: what would that chat be like?

14 Would you be in a better place after that chat?

Now about ND

1 When did you realise that your had different software in your head? What is your diagnosis?

2 What are those differences? Advantages and disadvantages?

3 Did your school/employers pick up on this?

4 Did you get any help? Then, now and in the future, list any treatments, good bad and ugly.

5 How much heartache has been caused?

6 Do you have any abilities that no one can keep up with, ie wordplay, humour, organisational skills.

7 Does social anxiety/shyness get in your way in Vanilla and

8 What sets you off and can it be reigned in, or does it require the help of others, or do you have to ride through 72 hours of major mood drops, for example?

9 Has this destroyed your life in anyway, bulling, relationship break up or a general feeling of being a wallflower and really needing to switch of and hide some where?

10 Do certain places/towns/situations/weather drain you?

11 Do certain places recharge your batteries?

12 Pets, how important are they to you? Do they help? if so how?

13 Steal a TARDIS and go back in time and have along bloody chat with your younger self: what would that chat be like?

14 Would you be in a better place after that chat?

It's a lot to read, but I went into overdrive and did this little challenge in next to no time.

It would be good to hear your input, seeing how much you've put into these chapters.

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By *orny PTMan  over a year ago

Peterborough

click here and the find it halfway down the page.

https://www.fabswingers.com/forum/support/1385017

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By *rontier PsychiatristMan  over a year ago

Coventry

In regards to tackling anxiety when meeting people/parties/clubs I find exposure and experience of these situations has helped me loads (although it's been a brutal process and you take a fair few hits along the way). But practise makes perfect (well better anyways) and it helps you to become a bit more familiar and settled.

Not that spanners don't still get thrown in works. For me personally I risk melt down if things/conversations don't follow any of the many pre plans divergences I've planned for. Even if that divergence is a posative one. Then this really unsettles me. However this is were we all have our immediate action drills. Personally if feel it badly I will take a little time out. Make a polite excuse and go find a quiet space (even if I have to make do with the toilet). Then calm down, process what's going on, make new plans and then re-enter the situation in a better space. I also use this if I'm simply overwhelmed by the noise, chaos and activity in a space.

I think as time goes on we all find our own ways of dealing with things. What I do know is however hard and crippling anxiety is nothing comes of giving into it and sitting quietly in the corner (as comforting as that sounds). If we want to share the world with others we have to put ourselves out there as rarely people will just pick us up off the shelf.

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