Anxiety & Wellness
Anxiety is a term I know too well, which I believe gives me a bit of insight. First off, let’s describe the difference between the feeling of anxiety, and the medical diagnosis of anxiety. The diagnosis of anxiety means emergent. Without getting into the weeds here, the traditional medical system puts out fires, and they are particularly good at that. Most are not lifestyle oriented and are not trained in changing lifestyles, but they are successful at putting out the fire, and taking care of the condition by knocking it out at all costs. This can include the breakdown of the body somewhere else or on a different level. We are thankful for the medical system! They are great at putting out fires, but this message is about not blowing up in flames!
Focus on the people you surround yourself with:
Have you found yourself leaving a dinner date, a work meeting, a workout class, or a conversation more anxious than when you entered? Or instead of being anxious, you feel completely drained? We become who we are around, so be cautious of who you surround yourself with, especially when you are in an uncomfortable state of being. If you are unsatisfied with how you feel on a regular basis, make sure you are spending time (both online and offline) with people that balance you. Sometimes even the person you consider a best friend is not the person you should reach out to in times of anxiety, and that is ok! Take care of you first.
Cut the caffeine:
Seriously!!! This doesn’t have to mean forever but stop ramping up your over-stimulated nervous system! I know, it is super difficult to cut out the warm, nostalgic, vibrating coffee. I love the whole coffee experience, but experiencing daily anxiety is wreaking havoc on your insides. You think you need the caffeine high now, but what happens when you can’t find the energy you need to simply breathe properly or digest your food? Oh wait, you already have issues with that? Shocking;) Like I said, this doesn’t have to be forever, but for now let’s focus on healing. Be aware you will feel different right away, and possibly a little worse before you feel better, however give it time and your body will thank you.
Left versus right-brain dominance:
Anxiety is about spending time in the future. It is worrying about how life is going to pan out for you, someone else, your pet, even the world. With time or over-activity, the brain becomes out of balance, which will cause problems for the rest of the body, including symptoms of anxiety. Worrying about the past creates a right-brain dominance, while worrying about the future creates a left-brain dominance. Being a visionary, forward thinker, goal-oriented human is all awesome. Being a deep thinking, internalizing, creative is also amazing. We are all different and use different amounts of each so this is very individualized, but once you feel anxiety it means you are out of balance. Whether you are anxious about the past or the future, try some of these tactics regularly to rebalance the nervous system. These strategies are effective and rebalance globally rather than being left or right brain specific. Take notice that I said to use them regularly. This is not a quick fix, it’s a lifestyle change.
Strategies to rebalance the nervous system:
Journal on gratitude. What are you grateful for right now, in the present?
Take a cold shower. Deep belly (diaphragmatic) breathing.
Breathe in 4 seconds and out for 6 seconds. Breath this way for 1 minute multiple times a day.
Take a 30 minute leisure walk, preferably outside.
Bounce a ball against the wall and let it come back to you. Alternate hands and perform multiple repetitions.
Feel it:
Feel the anxiety. Listen to it. Ask it questions like: When did this start? Where is it showing up in my body? What does it feel like? What could have caused it? Lay down on the floor or get comfortable and if you can, put your hand over the area where you are feeling it. Lean into what it is saying. Maybe it’s saying you need hydration, maybe it’s an ergonomic position your body doesn’t like, maybe you need to breathe, maybe it’s a conversation, a person, or a feeling that seems to trigger it. If you don’t settle in and feel it, then it becomes very difficult to take care of. Get to know your body and learn to listen to the signals it is showing you.