My strategies for coping with negative feelings have become a kind of gentle routine. When things feel heavy, I start with a long bubble bath with lavender and Epsom salt, letting the hot water loosen some of the tension out of my body.

I often make a mug of chamomile tea when I’m anxious and need to relax, or Sleepytime tea if it’s late and I really need to sleep. My doctor has also prescribed clonazepam for anxiety, and I’m allowed to take it up to three times a day if needed, but I save that as a last resort.

Before I go there, I try to listen to soft music, play a meditation, or put on a podcast or audiobook so my mind can step away from the worries of the day and be transported into another world. I also sometimes read or listen to self‑help books, on audio or on my Kindle, to get ideas for new ways to relieve stress and remind myself that I have options when my feelings get overwhelming.

On the more practical side, I use journaling to release negative emotions onto the page, and I sometimes email friends or my therapist to get support so I do not feel alone with what I am carrying.