What are hobbies that reduce your anxiety?

[tymommy]

Well,I am by no means a clean freak but I have come to realize that cleaning helps. I know...doesn't sound too fun right? Well, no but for some  reason it really helps! Even just rearranging...or changing the color of the curtains, decorating the house (candles flowers etc.). Concentrate on one room, focus on a goal, and finish. Another couple of things that help are shopping ( when I have $), a new haircut or color, and a stupid movie with no point (something that won't trigger anxiety). But, sometimes its bad and nothing helps..... But I get through...somehow:-)

[heartsong]

Surprisingly video games like halo, skyrim, and mass effect. My anxiety is often tied in directly with my stress level. One of the things recommended to relieve stress is watching a scary movie. However I don't like scary movies at all, they actually make my anxiety worse. I found that playing video games where things had a tendency to jump out at you, especially if you play it in a dark room, have a similar effect to watching scary movies.
I also like to loom knit or do puzzles. Here I think it's the repetitiveness of the task that has a calming effect on me. I've even worked on puzzles to keep me from trying to chew off my hands when I got heat rash in the summer. I'd use one hand to work on the puzzle and sit on the other one so I wouldn't start subconsciously scratching or chewing on my hand. That gives the medicine a chance to work in without me making things worse.

[mkeenan]

I love astronomy and  astrophotography, Its like when your doctor tells you to close your eyes and find your "happy place" like an ice cave or space only you dont have to close your eyes. its real and right above you and you can go there whenever you like. Its pulled me out of several panic attacks
 

[excusemydust]

For me, it's always been walking and writing that have helped the most. I don't suppose walking really counts as a hobby--but it does seem to take me, simultaneously, both deeper within anxious thoughts and outside of them. Very therapeutic. Also, I like to play online MMOs--takes the focus off of myself, and that helps. :)

[Ohioman1972]

Video games. The kind that take months to play.
Bible reading
Hunting & Fishing
Golf - soon I hope to be able to use less than 1 case of balls for 18 holes...

[penguin667]

I think doing yoga is the best thing, early in the morning- starts my day right for sure!
Also nothing beats a good book, a cozy chair, and a little peace and auiet( which is rare in my home, but treasured!)

[tinam7]

Yoga to music is probably number one, then QiGong, then meditation, journaling, cooking, walking, curling up with the current novel I cart around with me, crocheting.

When we can find what soothes us, gives us pleasure, that which troubles us can almost be vanquished.

[Lifeispeachy00]

Working on my drumming or going out and taking some shots on my hockey net lol 

[jessie239]

Definately drawing. It helps me relax, and it's really therapeutic for me. I've drawn all of my life, mostly cartoons. Lately I've really been getting into nail art which I really enjoy. Also, listening to music.

[Cilantro]

I love astronomy and  astrophotography, Its like when your doctor tells you to close your eyes and find your "happy place" like an ice cave or space only you dont have to close your eyes. its real and right above you and you can go there whenever you like. Its pulled me out of several panic attacks
 

I kind of get this. I used to look at some stunning online gallery of photos and be fascinated by looking at and reading about objects in space. It's like a little fantasy land full of sparkles and death.

[JP90]

Working on and modding cars, gives me that sense of accomplishment when I am done and it either fixed or performs better than stock, love that feeling, sadly I cant do that in the winter months so anxiety tends to get the best of me til spring 

[Gravitea]

I really enjoy word searches or clueless crosswords, just because they take my mind off of everything else.

[Pippy187]

I exercise, mountain bike, fly fish, hike... Just being outside makes me happy. I also play video games.

[Flashback]

I used to enjoy writing poems and stories, But my anxiety has gotten worse these last few months, That I can't finish anything I start writing..
Now I tend to put my speakers up full blast and sing at the top of my lungs to my favourite songs..
 I find Oblivion by Funeral For A Friend or Turbulence by Bowling For Soup really work to calm me down.. :) 

[melbonia]

I find that reading a good, not to heavy book helps relieve my anxiety. I also find drawing to be largely helpful as it gives my hands something to do rather than fidget. Knitting is great for this same reason, and one can make gifts for others at the same time. :)

[Mr. Rager]

I find excersize has a tremendous impact on my anxiety. I felt kinda worse at first but now I feel crappy when I don't do it. Its a great reliever ! I also play a lot of video games that require direct attention and I'm learning how to play my guitar. Hearing a good song amps me up too lol.

[Engineerwhisp]

Video games help for me too. Anything to keep my mind completely focused on something other than how I feel. In the spring months storm chasing is a great help. Constantly checking and watching forecasts, radar, and the skies always helps. Nothing like watching a lighting storm in the distance in the middle of no where with nothing but the crickets chirping and the smell of rain to just relax you.

[sassparella]

reading, watching TV, painting, video games all help a bit. The more absorbing the better. I've also done some knitting but don't find it as absorbing so it's not as good.

[shakymcgee]

I found archery to be a great distraction from my anxiety because it required me to focus intently on something outside of myself, I got to spend time outdoors and any kind of physical activity helps reduce my anxiety. I'm also an avid reader so as long as i'm not so anxious that I cannot concentrate at all, reading is a great escape for me.

[LivingLife]

For me it would be power walking while listening to music, running sometimes makes me anxious cause physical the physical exertion feels like a panic attack, other times it's the best thing in the world. Hanging out with close friends, and curling up in my bed with a hugeee bowl of blue berries and watching my entourage dvds.

[raggamuffin]

Gaming always helps. Driving sometimes, if i'm driving far from home sometimes the anxiety kicks off a bit.

Ed

[Paws]

Hmm....writing was, until I started being stupid and overworrying about the quality. Nothing pleased me about my works, and I got used to it that way. It's one huge boulder to get rid off, but I've armed myself with crackers. In due time, that annoying thing will crack too.... or at least I hope so.

Drawing wasn't. From the moment I started, I had these crazy fears of being caught drawing....by my own family. Call me stupid, if you please. I know I was ( and still am ) for worrying about this. This fear makes me quit before I get started, and that crumbles my cookie before I bake it. Not good.

I also had these weird thoughts flying around my head. They're mainly negative stuff meant to suck the will to do that certain thing. ( I'll fail, it will be bad, I'm not in the mood for it, drawing/writing will trigger my anxiety again, etc).

So, solutions. Is there anything to do beside being more stubborn than your anxiety? :D

[mintymint]

Playing music usually makes me feel better. I like to play the piano or guitar and sing along. The lyrics to the song don't really seem to matter. Just doing so can usually bring a smile to my face somehow. I wish I did it more often, but sometimes I feel too depressed or distracted. I think if I put in some solid time every day my life would be a little better overall. My mood certainly would be. Oh, and I really like when the weather is nice and I can strum my guitar and sing out in the back yard.

[Jason1905]

Football, when mine flares up, i play football!

ive HA and as anyone who has it knows, when its bad, its really bad, so, ive developed two key tests to check any new symptom i get, i play football, if i can play football as normal and the symptom doesnt show up or stop me playing then i know its my anxiety (im sure cancer fatigue would stop me playing football, not go totally away as soon as i take my mind off it and kick a ball :D)

My other test is when out with friends, if i can enjoy a night out and not feel any symptoms, then i know its my mind and not real.

Weird, but football (as a test) really does help control my HA.  My biggest enemy seems to be ''free time'' so currently, i play football for 1.30hrs a day after work 5 days a week. If nothing else, it keeps me fit :)

[bittersweetlife]

I think having a girlfriend/boyfriend would be great to completely undo my anxiety or at least reduce it!

I am having difficulty managing my Anxiety. worrying about such a ridiculous thoughts! i am Hypochondriac 
Why am i even saying this??
Sorry for posting this but i just wanna share my feelings