Hi Guest6093 / R,
Thanks for your post.
Gosh this is the question! There are whole books on different ways to relax and it's tricky because what works for one person doesn't work for another. It's cliche but it really is about finding what works for you.
I'll try and through a few ideas out there and hopefully something will click -
It's great that you've tried meditation and breathing exercises. They can be really helpful when we're in that state of anxiety; whether that's constant or rare. When it's stress though, like overthinking; I'm kind of doubtful whether this is the right one. Focusing on our breathing when we're just overthinking doesn't feel or seem helpful! Mindfulness on the other hand could be; where it's about focusing our attention on what's happening in the now.
Can you tell us a little about your job? What is it that you do or what is it that you're thinking about when you get home? It's important to find a way to 'switch off' when you come in the door at night. Sometimes that can be just thinking (or saying out loud) "okay; I'm done. I'll worry about that tomorrow", or other times it's more activity related like going for a walk or listening to music. The key part of this though is ritual; so that your brain can get used to the idea of 'letting it go'. Other people might use journalling, changing clothes, chatting about it, showers, or even writing task lists. The aim is to really battle that inner voice of "yes, thanks for reminding me. I'll do it later".
I know that it's a bit cliche but exercise. Yes yes it's very good for you - you know all that. But after a good workout (even if it's a short one) exhausts us to the point where it's harder to worry.
and finally - distraction. What happens when you get home; what's your nighttime ritual? Things like watching TV - while they feel relaxing is actually counterproductive. We can kind of escape into it which is why stress can come back with a vengeance later on. You could potentially switch that for more enjoyable activities - like watching something funny (key being laughter), reading, chatting with friends, photography, woodwork, drawing, puzzles etc
Oh - and jaw exercises! You can definately get mouth guards to protect your teeth but this is one thing that's really helped me over time.
Hope this helps!
