Brain Distraction Game: Interlocked

I've been meaning to share a link to this game with my readers for a while now.

Something I have found that helps me calm down when I am emotionally overwhelmed is to do something that requires brainpower and is fun.

A puzzle game that I never tire of is Interlocked. You can turn the view and pull pieces around in an attempt to free up each piece. I'm not sure if this is something that you would enjoy in particular, but if you are feeling overwhelmed with racing thoughts or mental self-bashing, please give it a try. Focus on the puzzle to block out irrational thoughts. Oh, and it's free.
(The music is calming, too.) ^_^

Link to play: Interlocked from Armor Games

Exhilaration or Accutime Watch Instructions - For Your Convenience!

This is completely random, but I have these two watches that I bought from Target that I adore, and it is surprisingly hard to find anything about them online. I noticed that there does not seem to be an easy way to get to the watch instructions online, so I decided to be helpful and write up this post. ^_^

First, a little back story...
If you don't care to hear it, just scroll down. *Wink!*

I take pride in being a nerd. I've never fit in and never tried to follow "popular fashion." I just wear what I like. Why shouldn't we just wear what makes us happy? Anyway, I've always desired a calculator watch. Back in the 80's, they were kind of a luxury item for nerdies. Many, many years later, while at Target, I spotted some sweet dual-color calculator watches on clearance. Huzzah! They don't have a brand name emblazoned across them and only come with a little instruction sheet banded to them. They are more than calculator watches, too! They have world time, a stop watch, memo mode, a scheduler, a currency converter, date countdown, and more. I bought one in sea green and lilac and one in pink and lilac.

They actually come in a variety of colors...

The sea green one I got isn't even shown above.

The painted symbols on the keys tend to wear off over time and the picture on the instructions sheet is tiny, which is why I went searching for images of the watches and learned of their internet scarcity. The only brand names that I saw that might be for these watches are either Xhilaration or Accutime.

On the back of the watches I have, there is engraved information.

The pink one says, "TGXL103PNK." After that, it says, "CHINA MODULE CR2032." (That code is the button cell battery type.) Then it says, "0712 AWC." I thought the letters might suggest "Accutime Watch Corporation," but I wasn't able to connect these watches with that company directly.

On the back of the sea green watch, it says, "TGXL103TEAL." That's not teal to me, but then I'm a color nut. :p Next is the same "CHINA MODULE CR2032" and then "F16813375 10/12 AWC." I find it interesting that the last codes are so different.

A few years after I bought my watches from Target, I saw that Avon came out with some.

(If you click on this image, you should be able to enlarge it.)

This brochure page I scanned seems to have the best clarity on the buttons. So, I super-scanned it for you. ^_^

Okay, now onto the juicy bit that many of you visitors were probably hunting for.

WATCH INSTRUCTIONS

Click on the images for the enlarged view.

Front Side

Back Side

There you go! All the information I have on these fine watches. One last thought: number 11 on the instructions sheet is "Brand/Name Mode." I have yet to figure out how to get to this feature. If anyone understands this step, please leave a comment and share your wisdom. ^_^ Happy calculating!

Adjective Focus

Last night, I felt The Sadness blooming inside of me and I needed to challenge myself to overcome it. I used a coping method that I learned while I was in treatment, which was very effective for the moment, and today I realized that I need to share it with you.

When you describe an object, your brain is searching for suitable adjectives, usually in a non-emotional way. My first instinct is to describe colors, then I go to height and shape. Do not use judgmental descriptions; choose objects that have no sentimentality to you. This technique is most useful when you are traveling or in a place with many objects.
I'll share an example of a car ride home:
"That sign is yellow. That sign is triangular. That light is red. That light post is tall. That building is gray. That car is blue. That car is silver. Those tail lights are red. That curb is yellow."
Just describe things one after another (without overwhelming yourself), breathe deeply, and focus on directing your brain to gather factual knowledge rather than running haphazardly about emotional ideas.

Look at the image below. How many (non-emotional) descriptions can you come up with?

For me, intense sadness often stems from misinterpreted incidents in my mind, so focusing on unrelated facts helps me "lasso" the emotions so that I can calm myself down to reason. Don't worry if people think you're crazy for "zoning out" or listing adjectives randomly. It's only until you can get balanced, and really--Everyone is crazy in their own way. ^_^ I hope that you find this "descriptions technique" useful for you.

ASMR: Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response

I learned about something new tonight, and I had to share it with you. 

ASMR = Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response. Peek at this: What is ASMR?

From what I understand thus far, it is a pleasurable, calming, tingly feeling you get in your scalp/head/etc. when you listen to certain quiet soothing sounds (or from close personal touching). Some examples are soft whispering, package crinkling, stirring sand, and gentle tinkling of glass. My first reaction to learning about it was a sense of bafflement, but as I watched a few videos on it, it made perfect sense.

I have a Tazo jar filled with acrylic seashells and water that I like to tip up and down to listen to the delicate chiming sounds it makes. I love quiet wind chimes, the sound of rain, the sound of an object sliding smoothly across a flat surface, my sweetheart speaking softly in my ear, and being gently petted (cats have it made!).

Something odd that I really enjoy is watching videos of people completing adorable candy kits from Japan (or other Asian countries, of course). My favorite ones have no talking and show lots of steps to create very detailed candy creations that usually look like mini versions of real foods. I could watch videos of this all day. (I don't, but I could!) As I searched for more information about ASMR, I saw that some people recommended these very same videos. (Ah! I get it!) ^o^ The following video has slower, exaggerated motions to emphasize the sounds made by the packaging and stirring.

What do you think? Did you enjoy watching it or did it bore you or irritate you? If you liked it, you might find that ASMR videos can help you feel calmer when you are feeling anxious. I am happy to have learned of this soothing phenomenon (and am curious about the tingly feeling that can be achieved) and will continue to research more about ASMR.

Do you have certain sounds or sensations that calm you? Leave a comment to share your suggestions! ^_^

Today's technique: The Robot!

Today's activity is for dealing with anxiety and fear while driving!

There are times when I feel really nervous and scared driving. Sometimes it is icy or wet roads or it might be people driving recklessly (or both). My heart races, my muscles tense up, and sometimes I forget to breathe! I needed to come up with some ways to remind myself to calm down and deal with the commute rationally and safely.

One process that I figured out that works for me is The Robot. When I notice myself feeling afraid and tense, I take a deep breath and imagine that I am a robot. As an android, I have no emotions and it is my job to observe others and arrive at my destination intact.

If someone changes lanes suddenly in front of me, I tilt my head and think, "that was an unexpected action for that human to take. They must be running late. They should have planned ahead more wisely. It would be helpful if they made smarter choices in the future." By using this thought pattern, I detach myself emotionally from the shock of what the other person did. 

If someone is following me closely, I think, "the human behind me needs to go faster. It is in my best interest to remain at the speed I am already going. Police officers frown upon speeding. The human behind me may change lanes and go around me when it is safe to do so." By using the word "human" frequently, it helps me keep emotions at bay -- a reminder that robots do not feel (well, most of them anyway. ^_~). Just remember to "become a human again" once you reach your destination.

I hope this technique works for you!


Bonus tip: When someone is driving carelessly/dangerously, instead of getting upset, I take a deep breath and say, "Be safe" to them. They cannot hear me, but I put intention out there, and hope that they will be more careful. (It's a much more effective 2-word combo than some others! Ha!)

New Blog Series: (Da-dada-dah!) How ZoZo deals with Depression & Anxiety!

Old picture of me having a rough day.

Inspired by dear friends of mine who struggle with emotions and situations similar to mine, I decided to start making blog posts that describe activities and ideas that help me.

Some background info: I have always experienced random moments of depression. Most people are shocked when they hear this. They think I am happy-go-lucky because I am always smiling and trying to cheer people up. I am a firm believer in emotions being contagious, so I always try to share positive, encouraging feelings. (Often, helping others can help me feel better, too.)

 It wasn't until I was having suicidal thoughts after a failed relationship (among other things) and finally sought professional help that I was informed that the thoughts and emotions that I had always felt were NOT common. That's right, toots: Feeling miserable for no reason is not something that so-called "normal" people experience.

I was in treatment for several months and was taking medication that, at the time, was a huge help. (I was taking Celexa/Citalopram.) Over time, I started to want to be able to control the intensity of my emotions without needing to take drugs. 

This is what these blog posts will be about. All the quirky and useful things that I do to help keep my brain from being an emo drama queen. (No offense, emo darlings.)

I'm not going to say that I am "cured" or have total control over my emotions. I don't. (Yet.) I also think it would be smart to say that if you are feeling suicidal, you SHOULD seek professional help. I am not an expert or licensed in anything. I'm simply offering advice. 

Depression and anxiety aren't cured overnight. I might always struggle with them, but at least I have an artillery of things to work with to help me win that day's battle and save the princess. :)

I hope you find some of my suggestions useful! 

Let's start with an inspiring video. You might have seen this before, but it's probably been a while, so watch it again! :)