How do you relax?

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I like to watch netflix, I also like cooking

I relax by watching TV, I love watching older shows, I watch TV shows from the 80s. I also play games on my iPad.

I know what it's like to feel tense pretty much all the time. I often feel keyed-up for no particular reason, but I find it helps to be mindful of that and focus on what I can do, what I can't do, and how I have time to relax and not worry before it builds up too much. I think I worry without even thinking about it, maybe because I'm so used to having things to worry about and thinking it needs to be taken care of immediately.

If all else fails, take a hot bath and stay off the Internet.

I relaxe by doing things relating to my Special Interest (Pokemon) like Playing Pokemon Yellow.

I relax by listening to ASMR videos or the sounds of rain while dragging a wet cloth across my skin very lightly.

Yes, I know how weird that sounds.

Hmmm, here's some of the things I do:

Watch TV/Movies
Read a book
Play a video game
Play with my animals
Write fan fiction
Brainstorm ideas for my campaign world
Just sit and let my mind wander for a bit, never know what I'll come up with
Go onto the forums and vent
Exercise with my toy lightsabers, good way to build up arm muscles

I watch animal videos, videos that remind me of when I was younger, listen to music, play games, spend time with my dog and spend time with my mom.

I use a range of approaches. The thing I would stress though is that you need to achieve a baseline level of physical and mental stress that is more manageable than what you describe you have now.

Things that work for me, in combination, and in no particular order: pets; hugs from loved ones; friend time; video games; television; yoga; meditation; massage (but expensive); aromatherapy - lavender is particularly calming; listening to music; physical exercise; warm baths; warm showers; regular bedtimes and mealtimes.

I also have worked out a meds regimen over many years that seems optimal for me. Because it's mostly trial-and-error along with some skill on the doctors' part, it can take a long time to get the right drugs and the right doses. If you are constantly feeling physical pain, you may benefit from Lyrica or Cymbalta, which seem to have the dual effects of treating chronic pain and also antidepressant effects.

Again, I really appreciate all the responses. You folks are great and really making me feel welcome.

The interesting thing I'm noticing replies is a lot of references to negative thoughts. Those are actually easier to manage a lot of the time. What really gets me is when a thought that isn't really negative, even one that's pleasant, seems to force its way into my mind at times when I really need to be focused on something else. I can either allow this, which makes it hard to get anything done (so, that's stressful) or try to push it away, which requires a lot of mental energy (so that's stressful).

While I haven't had time to do much about any new techniques I'm trying a bit of a new approach that would probably seem a bit out there for some people; when I'm stressed over something, I do it. No regard for how miserable it may be to do so. No consideration to how distressing it may be. Just... do it anyway. Just little things so far since that's what I have time for, but once a task has been conquered or a goal accomplished it does not weigh on me.

The trick is getting enough done to actually make progress, which at times feels like trying to bail out a sinking ship with a coffee cup; but I feel more relaxed since I started doing that.

That should seem obvious and isn't actually news to me, but it goes against a lot of deeply-ingrained habits. On some level I'd been encouraged by people in my past to take an avoidance strategy. "Don't push yourself too hard, you'll burn out." I think that's done me a lot of harm.

(In my best Star Trek, "Backwards Alien" voice)
Tell me this strange word..."relax".

I'm either balls to the walls or just crashed. Even when I sleep, I usually dream about work, things to do or problems that need to be solved. At least the work related problems. But, every once in a while, I just turn into a puddle of goo. It resembles depression in its appearance, but it's not. I just tend to push until I collapse, and then need to recharge.

I think if I were in a place more conducive to my predilections of solitude and quiet, I may not push myself so hard. I really think I'm just blowing off steam and work is the best outlet for that.

three words; DEEP PRESSURE THERAPY.

I feel the same way you do, i cant calm down, sometimes breathing tecniques work but not all the time, I trained my dog to lay on me and it makes me feel SO relaxed, that with some good music or a movie and all my troubles melt away. Its like temple grandins squeeze machine.