Wow, this really struck a chord with me. You’ve clearly taken steps to create a comprehensive personal toolset for managing stress and anxiety. By sharing these strategies, you’re helping others in the process, which I commend you for.
I think your advice regarding trial and error to find out what works best for you is incredibly true. Similar to you, I also find comfort in cognitive behavioral therapy and progressive muscle relaxation. However, I’ll have to give chamomile tea a try, as I haven’t tested its calming properties yet.
Something I’d like to add to the discussion is the role of physical exercise in mitigating stress and anxiety. Personally, incorporating a simple, regular exercise routine has made a visible difference stress levels. It doesn’t necessarily have to be strenuous – even a brisk walk, yoga or stretching can make a real difference. I’ve found that it not only helps me to focus on my body and space in a similar way to progressive muscle relaxation, but the endorphins released definitely boost my mood.
Maintaining social interactions (even in small amounts, for those who are introverted) is also significant. It’s easy to isolate oneself when feeling anxious or stressed, but often, engaging with others aids in putting things into perspective and freshens our viewpoint.
I think it’s important to normalize discussions about mental health and well-being, and by creating spaces like these, where we can share, learn and support each other, we’re taking tangible steps towards that goal.