Reddit reviews OPTP Super Pinky Ball – Massage Ball for Plantar Fasciitis and Sore Muscles

Heeeeey. I've gone through a lot of what you're describing here. I'm 27 now, and have a really, really good handle on a lot of this. i was hugely unstable and anxious for most of my college years, now i'm on track for a programming job and i routinely get compliments on how happy i seem. Here's a bunch of what i do!

//first things.

it's going to be okay. it really is. you're working at a solution, and at a much younger age than most who decide to work with these problems. I was 24 when I decided to turn it around. there will be obstacles, always. but you can be so, so much happier. and you will! though you're working to change it, it's natural and okay to feel the way you do, especially given what you've been through.

if you're feeling bad right now, here's this:

http://philome.la/jace_harr/you-feel-like-shit-an-interactive-self-care-guide/play

okay. here's my methods.

//exercise

this is the most important thing. apart from helping you relax, and giving you a tangible sense of progress in your life, exercise feels GREAT. that's important - it's easier to follow through with.

• cardio
  
  I was dealing with a lot of anxiety attacks until i found that running made them go away. go figure! get some good shoes, get a source of music, and find a place you'd like to explore. and just go! it's wonderful for us introverts - headphones on, no need to interact. make sure to stretch your IT band!
  
  
• weightlifting/bodyweight fitness
  
  again, nothing feels better than seeing your body evolve. no gym? no problem. make a cup of coffee, read through the /r/bodyweightfitness routines, and make yourself a schedule. stick to it. no excuses. you can always make excuses, the only thing that'll get results is making time for the things that are important. use good form!
  
  
• stretching
  
  apart from being a good preventative measure, you would be AMAZED at how relaxing being properly stretched is. There have actually been entire cases of clinical anxiety that stemmed from a super taught core (it can force your breathing into your lungs, which pushes you into fight or flight). /r/bodyweightfitness has good stuff on that too. also, I highly recommend one of these dudes: https://www.amazon.com/OPTP-BRXS-Super-Pinky-Ball/dp/B000T5ELEM They're incredible for relieving tension in your back.
  
  
  //meditation
  
  second to exercise is mediation. you don't need to be a buddhist or a hindu or have some specific world view for this practice to benefit you immensely - there's great science on how it reduces inflammation in the brain, reduces anxiety and encourages calm, logical responses, and promotes growth of white matter. but more practically, it helps you stop chasing those negative thoughts.
  
  it's simple too.
  
  
• set a timer for x minutes.
  
  
• sit up straight (maybe against a wall for help?)
  
  
• follow your breath. first, just notice that you're breathing in and out. then, follow the breath all the way through it. see if you can stay with each breath, from the beginning, to the end. breathe deeply w/ yr tummy.
  
  
• repeat.
  
  
• thinking is not the enemy. you're not here to squeeze every though out of your head. no, instead, let the thoughts come. just don't chase them. come back to your breathing. relax the piece of your mind that talks. settle into your body. smile.
  
  
• if you feel bored. notice it! just like the thoughts. don't chase it. it'll give way to one of the most contended, relaxed states that exist.
  
  
• if i can, i pair this with exercise. I'll work out, which engages the body and reduces thinking, as well as increases bloodflow. and then I'll meditate.
  
  
• practicing for long enough will help you recognize the role you have in orchestrating your own suffering. we dwell. we ruminate. but it's important not to exaggerate our pain with our imaginations.
  
  //diet
  
  
• check out the good folks at r/paleo
  
  
• if it's too much to implement at once, just cut out soda and candy. then add a thing. then another. etc
  
  
• check out fish oil and vitamin d3.
  
  
• this is a big shift in identity. you're not a loser. you're taking care of yourself. you can hang your hat on the good things you're doing for your body.
  
  //sleep
  
  
  • 7 - 8 hrs. no electronics or screens 30 minutes before bed.
    
    

What a great loop - I loved those Pinkys when i was a kid. This made me want to buy some in bulk -
http://www.amazon.com/OPTP-Super-Pinky-Ball/dp/B000T5ELEM