Anxiety Be Gone!

I’ve heard anxiety described in many ways - as a mental health condition, an emotion in itself, or even the result of unprocessed emotion. The philosopher Kierkegaard described it as the dizziness of freedom (as in we have too much damn choice, and it’s terrifying!).

For many, anxiety is steeped in fear or worry, lots of us associate it with stress or dread, while others experience it as their inner critic, a negative little voice that won’t go away. And if you’ve ever suffered from a panic attack, you’ll know it can be felt physically as well as emotionally. However you experience your particular flavour of anxiety, it’s everywhere, an epidemic in today’s society.

For me, when someone says they’re anxious or suffering from anxiety, I need to understand what that means from their unique perspective. Because everyone’s anxiety looks and feels a little different, I don’t think there can be a one size fits all solution to fixing it (no matter what the instagram memes tell you ).

But if you’re feeling particularly anxious in this the silliest season of all, here’s some quick tips that might help;

• Talk to someone. A problem shared and all that. Sometimes there’s nothing better than getting out of our own heads and talking to someone we trust, to help alleviate that anxiety.

• Breathe. It may sound simple, but the breath is the first go to for soothing the nervous system. Breath deeply and slowly, from the belly, and you’ll instantly notice some relief.

• Get outside. A walk or time spent in nature, away from the endless noise and screens, can be a helpful anxiety reliever.

• Get curious . If you’re plagued by anxiety, chances are there’s an emotional element there that needs to be addressed. It may be an unhealthy pattern, bad habit, or unprocessed past event, but understanding the root cause of your anxiety can bring healing, & this is where therapy can be helpful.