Anxiety affects so many people nowadays, it can be crippling to deal with in everyday life and it’s great that we have lots of alternative ways to manage this. From meditation, crystal therapy, EFT tapping, mindfulness and many more.
For me, mindfulness was the key to overcoming the anxiety which had been a weight around my neck for over 10 years. I was determined not to take any prescription medication. I wanted to deal with this in more natural way for my body and to get to the base anxiety trigger without going down the prescription medication road. I am a firm believer in that we have the power to heal ourselves, we just have to find the right tools for us and be prepared to do the inner work.
Anxiety is activated by mentally living either too much in the past, or too much in the future. Living in the “now” is where the power lies to conquer the anxiety pattern. Some people can be dragged into an anxiety thought train without really seeing it for what it is, so its power can be taken away by understanding where it comes from.
Step 1 – OBSERVE
Start to observe your anxiety pattern. What triggers it. Is it certain situations, people, your work environment or something else. Try and identify what sets off your anxiety. Be aware of what activates your anxiety, this gives you power over it.
Step 2 – BREATH
When you feel the anxious feeling growing inside you, begin to take slow deep breaths. Breathe in for 3, hold for 2, breathe out for 3. Slow, deep breaths. Feel your lungs expanding, hold and release. This will minimise the attack as well as naturally relaxing the body and mind.
Step 3 – BE PRESENT
When the anxiety shows up, bring your attention into the present moment. Shift your focus and put your attention inside of your body. Feel your feet on the ground, feel your bum on the chair, notice the energy in your hands. This may sound weird, but practice this! It is an invaluable life skill. By having your attention focused within your body, the mind can’t create as much drama as it doesn’t have your full attention. Another way to this is to focus your gaze on something. Maybe a crystal, a plant or just the pen you are holding. Now concentrate on the object, notice how it looks, feels, observe the texture, the colour. Practice doing this when the anxiety is at its maximum and you'll feel that the anxiety will subside. Anxiety and being present cannot co-exist for very long.
Step 4 – ALLOW
Allow the anxiety to be there, don’t fight it. Use Step 3 of being present during the anxiety attack, but also allow it. Let yourself feel the emotion, feel it without judgement. Try not to panic, just allow it to be there. Anxiety is magnified by our reaction to it, we get anxious about being anxious! It’s a vicious circle that can be broken. You need to allow and release any resistance to that moment.
‘What you resist persists’ – Rhonda Byrne ‘The Secret’.
STEP 5 JOURNAL
Journaling is a brilliant way to track your anxiety thought patterns. Each day take the time to journal your emotions, what triggered you today and how did you deal with it. You will begin to see patterns and by digging deeper you may be able to uncover the true cause of the anxiety. What is it that you’re afraid of happening? Journal, journal and journal some more! Every day if you can. If you can get to the bottom of that fear, then you are well on the way to slaying those anxiety attacks!
Always end each journaling session with a gratitude exercise. List 3 things that you are grateful for in your life. The little things are just as important as the big things. Being grateful for your home, your comfy bed, your full fridge, a compliment from a friend or a smile from a stranger. Ending your day with that feeling of gratitude alone can bring massive shifts in your emotional wellbeing.
Our bodies are made of energy and we attract to us more of the dominant energy that we give out.
What we give out, we receive back. So, if you are living in a high anxiety state, then you will attract to you more things to cause anxiety. This is the Law of Attraction. Our energy creates our reality.
By applying the tips above, you will begin to shift your energy into a different state. You will emanate a more harmonious vibration and your life will begin to change. The happier you begin to feel within yourself, the more you will attract to you things that make you feel good. Win win isn’t it!
So be brave, take the first step, you got this! It just takes a little practice.
