Wow this is such a great thread! Love it, thanks DB for starting it!
Ok here are my tips and tricks. They are pretty similar to what has been said already but hey.
1. Exercise. I used to skip this part all the time. I did not realize how important it is. Then when I relapsed, I was litterally paralized with fear. I could barely move around. My heart could not stop thumping. My muscles hurt and were like galvanised in place. It was aweful! Then I read exercise would help and figure, at this point why not. I asked my mom to help and she started taking me out for little walks in front of my house everyday. At first I had to stay in front of my house! Now, come rain or shine I go out for a little walk. And I go farther and farther! Now I can actually walk all the way to work and as I found out yesterday all the way to the public library! Yay! Moving, exercising reduces my stress so much!
2. Activities. Getting out of the house, not sitting in self pity, overcoming anxiety and obstacles helps me feel so much better. I am planning to call my friend and go to the movie theater! I went to the restaurant with my husband the other day! I still get scared but slowly I am conquering and it feels great!
3. Stay in contact with those you love. Love. Love.Love. Whether it is by e-mail, or phone or in person stay in touch. I figure at the end of my life I won't regret not having worked enough but I will regret not having loved enough! So those who live near I try to see when possible (we all have busy lives...). Those I see often I tell them I love them and am grateful to have them in my life regularly. Those who live far I write letters or e-mails to and phone when I can. It helps me feel less alomne and more connected. Also, I include pets in this. Spending time with my pets. Just petting them and being happy with them helps releive a great deal of tension for me. And anyway, who can love you more uncondoitionnally thena pet .
4. Call on your ressources when you need them! I had not done that and I relapsed! Now when I feel the need I tell people around me I am feeling off. I call my psychologist and take an appointment! I come on here and chat with you guys. I restart my program whatever. Go to your ressources when you need them before a relapse!
5. I also like to laugh! I also figure if I can still laugh I will be ok! Plus laughter is great tension release!
6. Keeping a journal, writting down my feelings. I find it incredibly helpful. It is a private place for me to express myself. I do not do it everyday but I do do it everytime I feel the need.
7. Diet. I am trying atm to change my life and eat better. But one thing I did do is cut out caffeine! Man that made a difference!
8. Herbal teas! Love them! Chammommille is great! So is linden tea! Fruity ones are grat too for those who love sweet things!
9. Spirituality. Whatever your faith is, I think a feeling of connectedness and a strong spiritual tie to your life is a great help.
10. Being. I try to be present to the present moment. I try to just be. The present moment is the only moment where I have any power over my life. The past is gone I cannot change it. The futur has not happened yet and I cannot do anything for it yet. But it is in the present moment where I have power, it is in the present moment that I can heal from the past and lay the foundation for my futur. There is no point to living either in the past or the future, one should just BE, in the Present. This lesson I learned from a very good book. I have posted about it in the mod's corner.
11. Be kind and patient and loving to yourself. When I start being too mean to myself I ask myself: " If my bestfirend whom I love greatly was in my shoes right now, would I treat her so meanly? Would I be so harsh to her?" And of course the answer is always no...Then I ask: "then what would I do for her?" And then I try to do that for myself!
12. Be creative! I find being creative helps me express myself and release tension. The beauty of it is I don't have to be good at it for it to feel good. Which is good since I am no artist! But I love colouring or painting or drawing. Singing, playing piano. Dancing. I find gardeing creative too. I am no good at it but it is great! Just be creative it helps! It is the process that counts not the result!