The music is driving you crazy, so you turn it off. A few minutes later, you put your phone face down. Then you get up and close the window because someone has been running a power saw somewhere down the street for the last half hour.
Better.
You make a cup of tea and sit down. Nobody talks to you. Nothing needs your attention for a while.
Another afternoon, you’re sitting in the same chair. You’ve been there since lunch. The room is quiet. Your phone is beside you. You don’t particularly want to do anything.
You think about taking a shower. Too much trouble. Going out for something to eat. Maybe later.
Another half hour passes.
Then you put some music on and get in the shower. Twenty minutes later, you’re outside walking toward the noodle shop.
The quiet that helped the other day wasn’t helping today.
Sometimes you need fewer things coming at you. Turn something off. Stop talking. Go somewhere quieter. Leave one thing until later.
Sometimes you need something to happen. Stand up. Put some music on. Go outside. Eat. Call someone.
If you’re getting more wound up or disappearing further into the chair, try the other direction.
Finding stability doesn’t always mean calming down.
Sometimes you need waking up.