How to remain calm

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Right now I have been staying away from social networks, or at least parts of it relating to the news

People have gone on about conspiracy theories and with the statues being taken down another French Revolution

Now, fortunately, I live a small town in New York far away from the big city, it’s remote and there is no racial tension of any kind

But I have been having a hard time sleeping, having nightmares that Antifa and government agents barge down my door and execute me for whatever reason

How do you keep calm in these times?
 
Sorry to hear you’re still struggling OP. Have you tried any of the things people suggested on your previous thread?

I would also recommend, since it’s been almost a month and you still are struggling with anxiety, that you talk to your doctor. Perhaps also a counselor. Whatever you do, don’t suffer in silence. Let people know, and let them help.
 
Meditation. 30 minutes in a deep place of peace can get me through the day.
 
I concur with @Shakuhachi. Meditate.

When our mind is trapped in a delusion, it appears to be reality. Only by extracting our perception from the delusion and learning to see clearly do we see our own delusions for what they really are.

Secondly, how are these notions getting into your head to begin with? What sort stuff are you being exposed to that’s causing these thoughts to form in your mind?
 
Stop all forms of media. “Take every thought captive” for God, as the Bible tells us. Read God’s word and immerse yourself in it: it is Good News, and we need good news. Ask God to transform your mind and thoughts. It is a process, but it begins by recognizing your fears and bad thoughts and immediately turning them over to Jesus.
 
Limoncello4021 said:
Stop all forms of media. “Take every thought captive” for God, as the Bible tells us. Read God’s word and immerse yourself in it: it is Good News, and we need good news. Ask God to transform your mind and thoughts. It is a process, but it begins by recognizing your fears and bad thoughts and immediately turning them over to Jesus.
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This is some of the best advice ever written on CA and indeed it is helpful in any and all situations. There are many important scriptural instructions that if we but heed them, we’ll have much more peace of heart and mind…pray without ceasing, give thanks always, put on the mind of Christ, consider it all joy when you face trials of any kind…the wisdom of scripture is endless.
 
For me, I find some background noise to help. Not like music or audiobooks, but simple sounds.

Sometimes I really just feel like there’s too many people and things going on around me, so I find a video on Youtube of forest noises with wind in trees, birds, etc.

I find rain really calming, so I’ll play thunderstorm sounds combined with a fireplace sound because I always found both of those calming as a child and it’s followed me into adulthood.

I used to try to pray during those times to get myself to calm down but my head just wasn’t having it. I felt terrible that everyone would tell me to pray but I couldn’t finish a decade of the rosary. I thought I wasn’t trusting God enough. I’d try to double down on what I was doing and feel even worse when I just could NOT concentrate and stop thinking about what was bothering me. I’d be tossing around in bed, doing up-downs in my chair at work, walking laps around my living room, etc. until I could get my head full enough with rain noises or birds chirping to settle down and do what I needed. Eventually I’m calm enough to write it down and then find it doesn’t bother me anymore.

Edited to add that I got the advice from a therapist when I couldn’t settle down that I should find ways to distract myself to give myself time to process what was bothering me in pieces. The sounds were helping (really figured that one out by walking, but where I live I can’t get quiet walks in now), but once I added writing I found my process. You might need to find your specific quirks to help you process your thoughts and fears without being overwhelmed. I definitely recommend talking to someone to get some advice. I only had to talk to someone once and was fine on my own afterward. I just needed an outsider to give some thoughts.

Apparently my unease and distress shows itself in making me want to move. Turns out I find contemplating God’s creation in rain, birds, reminders of people doing simple work such as sweeping and cooking, etc. is better for me. No specific prayers or goal, just listening to different aspects of creation and life. No talking though. If the recording has talking and whispers it undoes everything.
 
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Have you heard of weighted blankets? I just got one and it helps me.
 
I have a couple of friends who have weighted blankets and it’s really helped them as well.
 
This is a little different, but maybe it’ll help?

About ten years ago I realized my temper was getting to a place I didn’t want it to be. I was tired of being known as “that angry guy”. So, I made a conscious choice to stop being angry. I didn’t “count to ten”, I didn’t remove myself from the situation. I just stopped letting things get to me. For me, it was that simple.
 
Retro_Ace said:
How do you keep calm in these times?
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Daily Mass, praying all the time, and having been through enough/ still going through enough in my personal life that I don’t have time to think about Antifa or whatever.

I don’t find the US goverment scary, sorry. I used to work for the government, my mom worked for the government, half the people I knew worked or still work for the government, I see some of them on TV. The government is mostly a bunch of suits going to meetings and eating donuts. It’s not some big exciting thriller, any more than the Vatican is like “Angels and Demons”. The government is mostly just boring.

Try having a loved one die, or get really sick in a hospital or hospice…you’d be surprised how much of this baloney just doesn’t matter any more. Also, as jaded as this sounds, you’ve seen one riot, you’ve seen 'em all. I’d say the latest rounds are about my 5th or 6th rodeo.
 
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Crazy as it sounds, I read history. I like Anne or Warren Carroll’s histories because they are Catholic and told like a story, so it is not like a lot of other history books which are kind of … scholarly.

Knowing that things have been crazy and the end of the world didn’t happen somehow reassured me.

FWIW, for us older people (60+), we’ve gone through this too. When I was young, my friend’s neighborhood had helicopters flying around because of the rioting. And helicopters were not a usual police thing back then by any means.
 
I like a walk, with a short spurt or two of jogging thrown in. I’m less anxious and tense afterward. I also often say the rosary during the walk, which changes my focus.

Keep in mind that people make money by trying to continuously push the strife under our noses.
 
How about the serenity prayer it gets you focused that the only thing you can change is yourself everything else is out of reach.
 
Calm…? During this time…I am in fear of contacting the virus…then, my second fear is the Hate Groups…I do Pray my Rosary daily…
 
Meditation. 30 minutes in a deep place of peace can get me through the day.

Deep dive meditation and rosary everyday. Quietest time of the day is the best time. Usually in the morning when you are alert and more open to suggestion.
 
In addition to meditation, learn to be in the present for this is where God is, and all that really exist.

When we worry about the future, or dwell on the past, we’re usually feeding our ego, which is the physic mechanism in trying to defend our true self which fears which doesn’t exist.

The present is where God is, as time is only of importance to us mortals.
 
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