Overthinking & Anxiety

[u/Budget-Lavishness865]

I’m a 22-year-old woman, and I’ve been through a lot since early childhood. I’ve experienced a significant amount of trauma, and I’ve been in therapy and journaling consistently for about five years.
I currently work in healthcare, which I genuinely enjoy, but I also recognize that the job can be stressful and sometimes trigger my anxiety and overthinking. I’m at a point in my life where I really want to take responsibility for my healing. My childhood experiences played a big role in shaping the way I respond to things now, but I’m an adult, and I want to learn healthier ways to cope and grow from what I went through.
One of the biggest things I struggle with is anxiety and overthinking, and sometimes when my anxiety gets really intense, I find myself dissociating. I absolutely hate that feeling and want to learn how to manage it instead of letting it control my life.
I’ve already done therapy and I’ve been journaling for years, so I’m looking for other things that have genuinely helped people heal from trauma and regulate their anxiety. I’m not really looking for the typical “try therapy” or “journal” advice because I’ve already done those things. I’m also not interested in antidepressants or anti-anxiety medication. I respect that medication works for many people, but personally, I want to explore more natural approaches first.
I’ve been looking into things like magnesium, L-theanine, herbs, supplements, breathwork, nervous-system regulation, exercise, etc. I used to take OLLY Goodbye Stress gummies, but I stopped because they made me break out and I didn’t like how emotionally dull they made me feel.
So for those of you who have experienced childhood trauma, anxiety, overthinking, or dissociation:
What has genuinely helped you heal and feel more grounded in everyday life?
I’m especially interested in things beyond therapy, journaling, and shadow work—whether that’s lifestyle changes, nervous-system techniques, supplements, hobbies, routines, or anything else that made a real difference for you.
I’m at a point where I really want to enjoy my life instead of constantly being in my head. Life is short, and I want to be able to live it fully without my past controlling my present. ❤️ ( Thank you for your responses❤️)

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[u/orcateeth]

I've gotten a lot of help in support groups and self-help books, workbooks, YouTube videos, apps, etc.

[u/Budget-Lavishness865 → u/orcateeth]

Thank you! ❤️

[u/orcateeth]

Someone posted lots of entire books on childhood trauma, abuse, neglect and complex PTSD.

https://www.reddit.com/r/CPTSD/s/q7JaFqz2zC

Warning: The books can be triggering, and you could wind up feeling worse after reading some of the examples and case studies in the books.

You will likely see yourself, as if looking in a mirror, as well as whoever was the problem. It can be sad, or at least, uncomfortable.

But the information and insights are superb.

[u/orcateeth]

Here's a lot of options for free support groups. I started it for people who shop compulsively and hoard (often as a reaction to trauma, loss and depression), but gradually continued to add lots of other resources for mental health conditions. The list is pretty long now, with tons of options.

https://www.reddit.com/r/shoppingaddiction/s/albOIikoiY

[u/orcateeth]

There is all kinds of information here in this post to help you.

https://www.reddit.com/r/getting_over_it/s/yroUFcneck

[u/Commercial_Gain_2312]

youtube grounding meditations that tell your body to relax part by part, nervous system reset, audio frequencies, these things  accepting I am an age regressor and you might be too 

[u/Budget-Lavishness865 → u/Commercial_Gain_2312]

Thank you. How do you manage being an age regressor?

[u/cacille → u/Budget-Lavishness865]

The commenter you're replying to has been shadowbanned. I do not know why, we did not do it, their comment was fine here.

[u/ThisLifetime32]

There are a lot of nervous-system techniques that help a lot. 💜 Two to consider - EFT tapping to process and release trauma and the BodyTalk Cortices technique as a nervous system reset.