Managing Our Anxiety
Managing Our Anxiety
Managing Our Anxiety
Anxiety Sucks.
It’s crippling to experience it. While overwhelm can be similar or go hand in hand, anxiety is an entirely different beast that can disable you even more. It comes out of nowhere sometimes. It’s not as predictable of a fall as overwhelm is. Sometimes it can gradually show up and hang for a while, other times it’s like an unforgiving and unremorseful brick wall that jumps out in front of you with no warning.
How can you manage anxiety? A few of these things are similar to managing overwhelm, but unlike overwhelm, there are a few other tricks I have up my sleeve that I’d love to share with you.
Meet your Basic Needs
Same as overwhelm and just your every day, be sure to meet your basic needs. When our basic needs aren’t met, our brains go into fight or flight mode which is overwhelm and anxiety. Meeting these needs will give you a great head start to getting ahead of it. Get enough water, food, sleep and be sure you breathe. Which is next.
Breathe
Breathing is the fastest and easiest way to signal to your brain that you are safe and not in danger. You can do it anytime and anywhere. My favorite breathing techniques are box breathing and alternate nostril breathing.
Box Breathing: slowly breath in for four counts through your nose, deep into your belly. Hold it for four counts, then breathe out for four counts, and hold for four counts. You could also just choose to breathe out for 8 counts without a hold, which is my preference.
Alternate Nostril Breathing: take your thumb and pointer finger of one hand, hold them over your nostrils as if you were going to plug your nose. Hold the thumb down to hold one nostril closed as you breath in through the other nostril. Then, plug the alternate nostril with your pointer finger, breathing out the other nostril. Now, breathe in through that same nostril and continue alternating in this pattern. Do a few rounds until feeling calmer.
EFT Tapping
Emotional Freedom Technique is literal tapping on certain meridian points while speaking a specific dialogue around whatever you are trying to heal; in this case, anxiety. I prefer guided sessions and my favorite is the Tapping Solution. Read more about EFT and find some sessions you love.
(heading 2) Supplements
Do not take any additional supplements without talking to your doctor or a practitioner. My favorite practitioners to follow for health are Jenn Pike and Zesty Ginger. For me, I found that adding in magnesium supplements really supported my anxiety. Take time to research, talk with your practitioner and understand your own mineral and hormonal levels to find what might support your system.
Essential Oils
There is true science behind these oils. Remember that smell receptors are all over your brain. You can instantly calm your nervous system with a little lavender. My favorite is Young Living’s Valor blend. Become a Young Living Member here.
Movement
Emotion is energy. Anxiety is energy. The way to move energy is to actually move. We cannot think anxiety out of our body. Just because it dissipates doesn’t mean the energy left; it’s imperative to help move it out. Go move! Walk, dance, stretch, fun, yoga, ride a bike, play with your kids… don’t over complicate it, just move.
And remember, YOU are not your anxiety. You are a beautiful human being who experiences anxiety at times. Don’t allow it to define who you are when you are so many more amazing things.
Have you applied to LGA?? The next run is March 15th and enrollment is OPEN.