Better ways of dealing with anxiety in public

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Well, I recognise it as sarcasm, but often I say something sarcastic and it will be taken seriously, at least for a few seconds - surely it should set the sarcy alarm of straight away if done correctly. I prefer high wit anyway

Another one that just came to mind, slightly more discrete than a stressball (which really are way too big).

drum roll....

A strong rubber band - great to wrap around fingers and stretch etc - it works for me sometimes.

Under stress I find myself involuntarily tensing and relaxing my muscles. No order or anything just random tensing and relaxing in the arms or shoulders or back. Nail-biting is another one I can't shake off, and pen-chewing. I might try the rubber bands actually.....

I tense and relax my muscles a lot. Usually in my legs or shoulders. It's a good way of relieving stress. I also chew my pens but that's mainly when I'm nervous if I think people are watching me, so that's probably different with me.

Self-consciousness I find really debilitating. It ruins my day. Sometimes, walking down the street is so hard yet other days I couldn't care less. There's no rhyme or reason to it either.
And I'll wonder if its something I've eaten or if I didn't sleep well or whatever. Funnily enough I always feel weird around the time of a full moon - moreso when I don't realise its full moon.
Cue for the old joke: I used to be a werewolf but I'm alright noooooooowwwww!
But seriously, full moon time can be a strange one.

lol I like the werewolf joke
I don't know if mine has anything to do with the moon but sometimes it's ridiculously bad and other times it's a lot better. Some days I seem kind of 'hyper' like my little brother when he's had too much sugar. And I go all weird and don't feel self conscious at all. I wonder if that's something I've eaten.

You do that too! I try not to go into meltdown but I thought it was stupid of me because it's a small sound. Well huge to me. But small to NT's. My meltdowns involve screeching, which NT's perceive as anti-social. Go figure.

I always think I'm not going to be able to control it and I'll go too far and really bang my head on the desk of get up and throw something, but luckily I never have. I clench my fists and bite my teeth together and click my tongue hoping it will go away.

I only recently read about the moon acting on people, interestingly a day after the last full had occured. Interestingly, I was totally hyper the day before, almost like I had white fire inside of me, it was great - I felt so alive, sadly - I had the worst nights sleep around then as well - awful headaches and wierdo dreams. Then I read that the full moon had just occured. Maybe coincidence, but I doubt it.

I might try watching the moon now to see if it has something to do with that with me
I get hyper at really random times which I can't explain. And it's the complete opposite of how I usually am.

re grip thingamabobs: this site: http://www.ironmind.com/ seems to have some pretty intense ones. O_O
i knew i sometimes read something about these gimmicks over at rosstraining.com.

and

you do not want to know which way i misread that - and was all confused for a second as i thought to remember you writing to be female (it didnt even occur to me first hand what a strange contortionist thing to do that would have been).
silly me.

i have one class where the airconditioneer blasts the whole time(i HATE the cold)and 3 of the flouressent light flicker NON-STOP(i can not only SEE them but HEAR them as well). it's a really old air conditioneer or something so its always emitting the most horrible sounds. the think rattles,whines,groans,and makes a very irritating very high pitched whisteling noise all at once!! !! when i ask the teacher(who is actually a very nice woman)to please turn it off(ranging from"will you please" to "make that thing shut up!! !")she wont b/c the majority of the class is hot(i'm always near freezing.)so i spend the entirity of that class shivering and ready to scream from the near constant noise and those stupid lights.i've made myself bleed accidently and on purpose(as an excuse to leave)but most often im not trying to. its gotten to the point that my friend turns around every time the a/c comes one asking me if im gonn be ok and telling me to BREEEEATHE.it makes me want to screech but i dont melt down very often(in general,i've never done it in schol to my knowledge). i usually "shut down" in that class. the teacher and my friend are constantly "bringing me back" to participate in class(well the teacher does,my friend just needs answers as i go on auto pilot and do all my work super fast.)

If you can get some alone time in that room, you could remove the starter plug from the light - then the caretaker will have to come and look at it... - didn't say anything though...

You can:

Run!
It’ll feel good for a little while, but you’ll eventually run upon the same path, and you’ll realise you’re not getting anywhere other than tiredness.
Fight!
It probably won’t feel good at all, and you’ll tire quicker than if you were running.
Retreat!
Too tired too anxious too sore? Withdraw and consolidate your forces until refreshed (not “replenished”) and charge back in headlong or step like a ghost; the choice is yours. You'll find that the enemy isn't as strong as before....

CBT is good for anxiety when you know the cause; ignoring the cause doesn't work.

I'm going to see a counselor on Thursday, I might see what they think about this.

If I'm walking down a street. I take a number plate or cab number and repeat it over and over. Also I often think of some fantasy thing, though I try to do this before I would panic it can change my mood. You can follow some pattern that is around you. Also I agree with the yoga/Jacobson progressive muscular technique. There is a branch of yoga called Mindfulness meditation or Vipassana. It doesn't require you to know the lotus position or anything painful. There is a scientific reason why it works. It quite simple really it allows you to focus on just the things you need to. But in practice you need the guidance to be able to do it, unless you are really skilled. There are audio versions pm me.

It is difficult if you’re out in public. I'd usually say it is a bit crap saying twang and elastic band round you wrists so I wouldn't say that as general advice but it works for some. Better something that stays hot or cold for a long time like those chemical pads. Hold it in your hands and apply as much pressure as you need.

Thanks, I will take into account everything you've all suggested