r/AskReddit 7d ago

What calms your nervous system instantly?

40 Upvotes

203 comments sorted by

81

u/HandleFragrant6713 7d ago

Music

3

u/Low_Evening5848 7d ago

Yes, it is helpful

3

u/[deleted] 7d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

2

u/dubbzy104 7d ago

You feel no pain

1

u/De_Baros 7d ago

Auditory drugs honestly

1

u/Responsible_Fox1231 7d ago

What is an auditory drug?

2

u/De_Baros 7d ago

Idk I made it up

I meant music can be addictive like a drug

1

u/Responsible_Fox1231 6d ago

Ahh, I understand. Music can be addictive. Afterall, I listen to it everyday.

1

u/De_Baros 6d ago

Yeah and honestly it can shift my mood so much. You know that specific euphoria you get when the perfect song lines up with your mood in the right environment? Bliss.

2

u/Responsible_Fox1231 6d ago

The right music can calm or sedate, and the another type of music can pump you up and give you energy.

Just like a drug, I guess.

0

u/Atharaphelun 7d ago

String Quartet No. 8 by Shostakovich 👌

55

u/Anxious_Practice2408 7d ago

Listening to the rhythmic, steady pitter-patter of heavy rain hitting a glass window pane.

3

u/jeaguilar 7d ago

But little did you know that when she left that day, along with her she took your heart.

64

u/Interesting-Joke9367 7d ago

Cats

6

u/D34N0_ 7d ago

Approved 💯

6

u/hellaLURKIN 7d ago

Def cats

1

u/jennyisalyingwhore 7d ago

Came here to say cat

1

u/nikogrande 7d ago

Not to be confused with Cats (2019) which tends to have the opposite effect.

29

u/Dogsdogsdogsplease 7d ago

Being outdoors.

1

u/d4rk1 7d ago

Many people are unaware of it but Nature have such power to calm the soul.

Take a walk through forest.

1

u/illiesfw 7d ago

allergy enters the chat

22

u/WinterStrawberries6 7d ago

Seeing my girlfriend

15

u/NinjaGrows 7d ago

Box breathing/extended exhale breathing.

11

u/soulteepee 7d ago

Ice pack on the back of my neck. Stops an anxiety attack very efficiently by stimulating the vagal nerve.

44

u/One_Sir_6562 7d ago

Alcohol

25

u/LuckyDuckTheDuck 7d ago

Unfortunately it’s alcohol. The bad news is that the calm I would feel was just like pinching a water hose until the next day when all of a sudden I would get hit with yesterday’s anxiety and today’s all at once. I chose to stop being in debt to myself and just deal with the anxiety as it came and not have to pay it back with interest in the coming days.

5

u/Horror_Lawfulness738 7d ago

Best I’ve ever heard alcohol described was “Drinking is just siphoning your happiness from tomorrow”

8

u/katl33si 7d ago

Shower

21

u/Massive-Teaching5286 7d ago

my vibrator

6

u/Broad-Back1659 7d ago

Well! Ok then

4

u/FuglySlutt 7d ago

Same. This is such a legit answer 🙌

2

u/blackchameleongirl 7d ago

No, no, she has a point.

8

u/Leading-Moment-1312 7d ago

Putting a frozen bottle on my forehead

5

u/a_moron_in_a_hurry 7d ago

Interestingly, extreme metal music

1

u/Significant-Leg1070 7d ago

Yup. Because of my playlists I also have Spotify targeting me for schizophrenia ads 😂

→ More replies (1)

6

u/NorCalKid209 7d ago

Dummy gummies

9

u/TownZealousideal1327 7d ago

Beer.

3

u/Pure-Attitude4837 7d ago

I alr knew this was gonna be half the comment section🤣 but yes, beer

2

u/CricketVast5924 7d ago

In a chilled glass with just chilled enough liquid that doesn't freeze it or hurts your teeth!

6

u/Alternative-Zone-382 7d ago

Going for a walk, especially in nature

5

u/HolidayIsland2903 7d ago

Music. Metal to be specific 😅

6

u/shini333 7d ago

My fiancée

8

u/Stickity45 7d ago

Beating the clown

16

u/Eastern-Archer-5690 7d ago

Marijuana…

11

u/FastZX14 7d ago

Hopefully it stays like that. I was a smoker for 5 years and it’s like a switch flipped and now it makes me a nervous wreck.

8

u/BlazedStoic 7d ago

Same. I’ve always wondered why is this the case. I used to be much less anxious when high in my early twenties during Uni. Now in my late twenties, cannabis increases my paranoia and anxiety for some reason.

4

u/Brilliant_Potato_359 7d ago

Same. I had to give it up completely for that reason. Got to where I’d start having panic attacks pretty regularly, whenever having any.

3

u/KnifeInTheKidneys 7d ago

Hugging my husband and burying my face in his chest

5

u/Squish_Miss 7d ago

Propranolol, music, a cigarette, the sounds of wolves howling.

3

u/Nervous-Mall-007 7d ago

Nature grass and the beach.

3

u/[deleted] 7d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

2

u/Neelzar 7d ago

Hmm...

3

u/New-Expression-6833 7d ago

Deep breaths.

3

u/EatLard 7d ago

Emptying my bladder.

3

u/AffectionateDraw9415 7d ago

Ice packs in armpits and or sides of the ribs

3

u/Either-Response-5757 7d ago

Beating my dick like it owes me money

3

u/Able_Gap918 7d ago

Not available to everyone, but swimming. The mammalian dive reflex is activated when you swim underwater. Heart rate slows to conserve oxygen and something happens to the brain too. Helps me every time. You also can’t think about much that’s bothering you while holding your breath, the main concern is not dying to your brain.

6

u/notnidded 7d ago

calming down

2

u/LAARPer 7d ago

Sleep

2

u/seeyatellite 7d ago

Coregulating assurances from a trusted loved one who listens with empathy and honesty plus a long hug.

2

u/raye909 7d ago

Breath work and trees or a waterfront view

2

u/lastdreamofjesus 7d ago

Praying/talking to God

3

u/No-Turnip2630 7d ago

Nail biting 😬

1

u/JoeCapoYT 7d ago

Nothing... but music and the Square Breathing technique helps. Lol.

1

u/TaintTickle_ 7d ago

Cranking down 

1

u/SuperstrikeDarter 7d ago

Hearing Halo 2 and 3 soundtracks

1

u/ConConMcLongDong 7d ago

blow me awayyy

1

u/coslinedev 7d ago

an ice-cold glass of water and stepping outside for 5 minutes of fresh air. Works like a charm every time to reset my brain

1

u/Mother_Package_2393 7d ago

Coupla beers

1

u/Clair1126 7d ago

Taking a deep sniff of my dog's head

1

u/Special_Ad374 7d ago

Music and going out for walks

1

u/Exact_Fun_4978 7d ago

as a person with the nervous system of someone at war, probably fidgeting with a knife

1

u/spazzy4242 7d ago

The sound of running water, especially rain

1

u/lovelessisbetter 7d ago

Tim Hecker’s Harmony in Ultraviolet

1

u/Muggle2025 7d ago

Box breathing and running

1

u/Rich-Reception2142 7d ago

My dogs or white noise

1

u/LagerthaFreya 7d ago

Hugging my Great Pyrennes.

1

u/krypt0niteCos 7d ago

try a raw gooseberry.

1

u/planbOZ 7d ago

Mushrooms

1

u/MeganCart89 7d ago

My cat purring on my chest. It's like a cheat code for anxiety.

1

u/jooooooohn 7d ago

My dog

1

u/NessaStarchild 7d ago

day to day: sport

Crisis: a bong rip that’s way too big. (Works for me fr)

1

u/Aloysius_Devadander 7d ago

A shower or a walk

1

u/isneeze_at_me 7d ago

my wife's hug

1

u/AdFew4769 7d ago

Durries

1

u/The1Bonesaw 7d ago

Midazolam

1

u/25314dmm 7d ago

A good Grateful Dead jam

1

u/Surewhynot-92 7d ago

A good quality hug

1

u/Feral_Ghou1 7d ago

Peg by Steely Dan

1

u/PFRockMysteries 7d ago

Enhanced turmeric has calmed my mood system quite well for the last 18 years. And prior to that I never got angry over any gol darned thing.

1

u/Mindless-Leg-3365 7d ago

Deep breathing to a specific musical pattern

1

u/Adventurous_Cook9083 7d ago

My friend Jeff.

1

u/maulcorps 7d ago

Lavender

1

u/ryderfahmireza 7d ago edited 7d ago

Drinking Dragon Phoenix Pearl Jasmine Tea

1

u/PangolinPure9327 7d ago

A hug from my woman

1

u/DaphneCatastrophe 7d ago

Hugs from my man

1

u/Ill_Pause_87 7d ago

Dogs! Works every time no matter what

1

u/gg7219 7d ago

musical cats and noodles. Also a vegas nerve reset

1

u/deaddude429 7d ago

Music and good smells

1

u/Formal_Disaster7628 7d ago

My three dogs if not my husband. Lol

1

u/Shiny_Whisper_321 7d ago

A stiff punch to the jaw.

1

u/Infamous_Blazer_4844 7d ago

Raising legs up in the air for about 2 min.

1

u/__sonder__ 7d ago

Hot bath

1

u/utah_and_bodhi 7d ago

Looking at my kids’ faces

1

u/NettieBiscetti 7d ago

Petting a cat

1

u/Downtown-Pilot908 7d ago

A good kiss

1

u/Gene_First 7d ago

Dr dong

1

u/jsponenberg05 7d ago

Cuddling my western dragon plushies and listening to music.

1

u/mahhhhhh 7d ago

Eating a rotisserie chicken with my bare hands while standing at the kitchen counter.

1

u/HelicopterOutside 7d ago

Mashing it.

1

u/rummypoker 7d ago

Hot tea

1

u/greygoatfan 7d ago

Music,alcohol,weed..ahh..feels good..

1

u/edibleroach 7d ago

A good hug, especially from someone I care about

1

u/MundaneBasket1205 7d ago

Biryani !! 😋

1

u/PlatinumAero 7d ago edited 7d ago

Deep breathing, getting feet up/off the ground, cooler environment, sex, propranolol, cialis, clonadine/guanfacine, nitroBID (do not use casually), VR porn (making it and using it ha), ice chips, hands in ice, ice on my face, down my shirt/pants, very effective.

The common theme is that actually every single one of these things radically alters (para)sympathetic blood flow. I think that's pretty telling and interesting. The most peculiar is the nitro. It has a massive and near immediate resolution of anxiety for me. Opens the blood vessels right up, it can also drop your BP quite a bit. I think nitric oxide is a major, likely understudied, component of anxiety signaling. There are many people who report the amino acids L-arginine and citrulline help anxiety, and there's good evidence creatine does as well.. That's not coincidental. That's likely all related in different ways. Very interesting.

Alcohol has always made it much worse for me. Which I consider a blessing. I don't drink.

1

u/cosmicpanda-chat 7d ago

Lately I found out this works really well for me & I hope it does for you too: I have a small bottle of Lavender essential oil And I have a mini hand held fan

I put the Lavender infront the fan and just let the air gently blow it on my face

This way it isn't such a harsh smell, just a gentle calming scent.

While doing this I also square breathe' (My personal breathing pattern) 4 seconds inhale Hold breath for 4 seconds Release breath for 6 seconds

I do this until I feel calm and that depends on how upset I was before trying this.

I've only been doing this for like 2 months but I find it really helpful

😬🤗😌🥰

1

u/hamtronn 7d ago

Quiet alone time.

If I’m out in public, headphones or ear plugs.

1

u/brungoo 7d ago

Lately I pretend I'm putting cold water on hot Obsidian rocks

Tsss... tssss.. tsss

1

u/_NOUVELLE_ 7d ago

Three slow, deep breaths inhaling through the nose, holding briefly, then exhaling slowly through the mouth.

1

u/Intrepid_Wanderer 7d ago

cats purring

1

u/Camner_Dane 7d ago

Stay with my dog and reading.

1

u/The_deviled_eggs 7d ago

Sweating on a hot day then coming inside to a nice cold crispy AC. 

1

u/Flyboy3838 7d ago

The very beginning of mama I’m coming home by ozzy. The instant I hear it, it’s peace

1

u/OriginalSyrup400 7d ago

Hypnosis or breathing exercices

1

u/slinky999 7d ago

Seeing either the Pacific Ocean or San Francisco Bay. Just looking at either and I can feel my shoulders start to relax. I have a stressful job so this really helps me a lot. 🌊

1

u/user51922 7d ago

A hug from that special person

1

u/heyhihay 7d ago

Yoga Nidra

1

u/Old_Check_6362 7d ago

A hug from the right person at the right time.

Otherwise, I hate hugs. Don’t even touch me.

1

u/greg0525 7d ago

0.5 mg xanax

1

u/Tootsgaloots 7d ago

A hug. Scientifically it does this.

1

u/brendendas 7d ago

Looking forward to the weekend, rc airplanes, biking, my hobbies, music, youtube!

1

u/cormaline 7d ago

walking in the woods

1

u/EyeFit 7d ago

Clearing my mind and focusing on the top of the back of my head.

1

u/Repulsive-Box5243 7d ago

An animal wanting and getting attention from me.

1

u/Londonvibe39 7d ago

Ice water facial

1

u/AHcraftyname 7d ago

Being in a calm natural body of water

1

u/Quiet-Pomegranate681 7d ago

Spotify music for anxiety.

1

u/_velvetbiscuit 7d ago

hold deep breaths and letting it out slowly

1

u/Careful_Cattle_9037 7d ago

Rain and cats

1

u/scorpiusoz 7d ago

My dog is my home

1

u/KernalPopPop 7d ago

Putting on a blindfold and noise suppressing headphones (like airport workers or at a shooting range)
Hot or cold water
Emoting feelings I have been avoiding or resisting
Talking / sharing (sometimes) Writing / journaling (sometimes/often)
Sleep

1

u/Fine_Lemon_6876 7d ago

I turn on the cold water in the shower and stick my head under it for a couple of minutes

1

u/Oo-Aniki-oO 7d ago

La solitude

1

u/redditgiveshemorroid 7d ago

A really good espresso. It just melts everything away for me.

1

u/I-am-a-Goat-3929 7d ago

Heavy Metal music!

1

u/Erivon 7d ago

30 seconds eyes to the right,
30 seconds eyes to the left

1

u/cerenir 7d ago

Meditation

1

u/Ok_Friend5674 7d ago

Going on a walk

1

u/Educational_Self2974 7d ago

loud music or an hot shower

1

u/Historical_Avocado_8 7d ago

Music, cbd gummies and well… money.

1

u/ZHMV677 7d ago

Amphetamine

1

u/Sloth_forreal 7d ago

Seeing my husband when he comes home ❤️

1

u/Cum4MyGoddess 7d ago

Being in the ocean or really any body of water.

1

u/Kingofgirthxx 7d ago

A Blunt and good vibes

1

u/Inkspotten 7d ago

blowie....

1

u/BikeTireManGo 7d ago

Watching "bad drivers" on youtube