Five Ways to Relieve Anxiety You’ve Never Thought Of

It seems like every time anxiety strikes in the presence of others, helpful folks offer the same advice. Take a walk, get some fresh air, or count to 10 are quickly raised as solutions, with the person offering the advice thinking this is the first time we've ever heard that suggestion. Speaking from my own experience, I do the same things over and over. If your methods to relieve anxiety aren't boring you and are working, then there is no need to switch it up. But if you are looking for other ways to relieve anxiety, I offer five ways to relieve anxiety you've (probably) never thought of.

Five Unusual Ways to Relieve Anxiety

Suck on Ice Cubes to Relieve Anxiety

Americans have what psychologists like to call an oral fixation. Many people eat to relieve anxiety. We've discussed in this blog before why that isn't necessarily the healthiest idea. Drinking water is healthy and ice cubes are just frozen water. The physical sensations are undeniable and if mindfulness is your thing you can focus on those sensations and even expand to running ice cubes across your lips, or even legs and arms.

Say the Alphabet -- Backwards to Relieve Anxiety

We all have the alphabet memorized – even if we have to sing the song to get it right. Some might say we know it so well we know it backward and forward. Turns out, reciting the ABCs backward is quite difficult. Next time anxiety crops up, step outside and start reciting the alphabet, out loud, backward. Focusing on starting with Z and ending with A will take your mind off darn near anything.

Using Your Hands to Relieve Anxiety

Play with Play-Doh to Relieve Anxiety

Using objects is to relieve anxiety is a fairly common practice, but that doesn't mean you can't pick really cool items. Play-Doh is absolutely awesome. I love the squishy feeling between my fingers and the smell reminds me of simpler times. It is even easy to carry a small can with you. You can place it in a purse, laptop bag, or even the glove compartment of your car.

Along the same lines, you can play with sand. There is a newer product out called kinetic sand that has a unique feel to it. Frankly, it is fun to play with, regardless of your anxiety levels – but if you can have fun and relieve anxiety, that is a great bonus.

Teach Yourself to Juggle to Relieve Anxiety

Teaching yourself to juggle is no simple task. Learning to do it well is much, much harder. Start small with two balls and perhaps add a third after a lot of practice. I recommend using tennis balls so you don’t risk damaging anything. Hopefully, your anxiety disorder can be controlled enough that you don’t become a circus performer level juggler.

Play the Bongos or Other Hand Drums to Relieve Anxiety

First, my apologies to drummers everywhere. Playing an instrument to relieve anxiety is not unusual at all. This suggestion is only unusual if you aren't a percussionist. Striking the drums feels good and attempting to keep time on a bongo involves a lot of concentration. Give it a try. It really is a lot of fun and making music with your bare hands has a certain primal characteristic that connects us to the world.

There are as many different ways to relieve anxiety as there are people – some usual and many unusual. Feel free to use the comments section below to share ways you relieve anxiety that are uncommon, unusual, or even downright weird!

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