Comfort, Relaxing and Winding down

[ASHEd]

I am plagued by my anxiety and depression. I get wound up about people talking nonsence. I just have to comment back. If I can't it stresses me out. Even though science and history is on my side if my non-belief is challenged or if I get told I'm going to hell, I get so distressed and upset. Being depressed means I have constant doubt in certain areas if they are challenged even if the challenge is pathetic, I feel so bad that I can't laugh it off like so many people. It happens with a lot of my opinions, on gender, sexuality, politics...etc.

But tell me as Humanists, atheists and agnostics, how do you calm down or relax, just in general.

I could really do with some pointers. I can't do much. I don't have any money. And we have no food in the house because money is tight on my girlfriend's end. It's just so ugh...But I don't feel suicidal which is a step.

Anyway. What relaxes you lot?

[Alicja]

I play the piano. It takes me into a parallel mind zone (probably and alpha wave?). If I didn't have a piano I'd play a guitar. I play the Classical Guitar - which is like a piano in that you use all your fingers. They don't cost much. But probably too much for you if you don't have food in the house. I'm sorry to read that.

[Alan C.]

ASHEd
Anyway. What relaxes you lot?

Through the day; growing stuff, (at least between March and October) walking the dog, and cooking/baking, in the evenings communicating with friends via the interwebs, oh and a glass or two of wine I find helps me relax.

[Carja]

One thing that might help you is the acceptance of the fact that not everyone thinks the same as you do. They never have, they never will. Once you realize that there are others with different beliefs than you, and that there are many with the same beliefs as you, there is some peace in that finding. There is only one person on this earth who can make you happy, and that person is you.

I find a lot of peace of mind when I work at improving myself. If others don't want to improve their lives, that's their problem. Not mine. I practice Tai Chi. (Get a DVD and give it a try. The late David Carradine's Tai Chi workout for beginners is excellant.) I take walks when the weather is nice.

But the key for me for peace of mind comes from a part of the "Serenity Prayer". Even though I am an atheist, the part of that prayer about having the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference, is a good message. I can't tell you how many times I've walked away from a conversation with someone thinking,"Oh well. They're going to think what they're going to think". And then just went on with my life without giving it a second thought. Learn to let it go.

[ASHEd]

That sounds an awful lot like Mindfulness, Carja. I do like the sound of mindfulness, a friend of mine, an unbeliever, she does mindfulness.

Oh, I know others think differently. I actually have cried myself to sleep when I was a Christian for under a year. I know there are majorities who are different t the way I think considering politics too. I know, just sometimes their ignorance can get to me. I don't mind if they're just being stupid. Things that are said don't shock me but I just want others to be better as people. I've carried the weight of the world on my shoulders for too long. It's easing off now, and my depression is less.

I'd love to give Tai Chi a go and I should take more walks thanks.

I play the piano. It takes me into a parallel mind zone (probably and alpha wave?). If I didn't have a piano I'd play a guitar. I play the Classical Guitar - which is like a piano in that you use all your fingers. They don't cost much. But probably too much for you if you don't have food in the house. I'm sorry to read that.

That sounds lovely, it's ok I have a classical guitar, bass and erhu from past buys. And the money thing, it's ok, I have a plan. The higher paid jobs are somewhere close and my favourite place - Cardiff. I'm trying to relocate.

Through the day; growing stuff, (at least between March and October) walking the dog, and cooking/baking, in the evenings communicating with friends via the interwebs, oh and a glass or two of wine I find helps me relax.

Sounds like a wonderful little life you have there, Alan C. I tried the communicating with friends. It worked very well when they had come online. We have some alcohol but I'm on Mirtazapine, I'm meant to avoid it :S

[Tetenterre]

Anyway. What relaxes you lot?

By far the most relaxing thing I do is flying kites, anything from large display kites, through 2-line trick kites, to little tissue-paper and bamboo Indian fighters. It takes my mind entirely off anything else.

Other things I do that I find relaxing include sitting out under a starry sky (with or without optical aids, but the relaxation goes if I start imaging, which is why I do mostly visual nowadays), playing my guitar or melodeon, doing some sort of out-of breath-making exercise.

[ludite]

To relax when I am wound up I take a walk along the coastal path even in winter. If there is a wind blowing so mutch the better I find the gales blowing of the Atlantic clears the cobwebs. I usually end up in a pub for a descent pint of ale.

[Alicja]

Being depressed means I have constant doubt in certain areas if they are challenged even if the challenge is pathetic, I feel so bad that I can't laugh it off like so many people. It happens with a lot of my opinions, on gender, sexuality, politics...etc.

It might help to develop a stronger sense of your own identity. Knowing who you are is a foothold against those who try to sway you with weak/nonsense arguments. Identity is important to me and is why the first thing I did here was to create an avatar. Choose a persona for yourself - here and in real life too.