Three Mindfulness Tips for Anxiety
Struggling with anxiety can be a scary and lonely experience. It’s easy to withdraw from life and try to avoid the anxiety rather than face it head-on. Unfortunately, when you try to avoid the feeling and symptoms associated with your anxiety you can actually make things worse. Not until you accept your anxiety - and find a healthy way to live with it - will you begin to see improvement. Anxiety’s tendency to make staying in the moment difficult is why mindfulness is such a useful tool. By allowing yourself to focus on your present thoughts, feelings, and senses, you can draw yourself out of toxic thought patterns and relieve stress.
Below are three useful tips for those looking to incorporate mindfulness into their lives:
Movement
Movement is medicine for the body - when you find yourself entangled in your worries, try reconnecting with your body. You might do this with some mindful walking - focusing on every step you take, from the motion of lifting your foot to the feeling of the ground beneath your feet as you move forward - or by taking up a new activity (i.e. joining a recreational sports team). Many people who suffer from anxiety find that Yoga can be a powerful remedy as it focuses on deep breathing and intentional movement. Alternatively, you might find it helpful to start working out more regularly whether that be at the gym, in a class or at home. No matter what you do, make sure that you are carving out time in your day to get on your feet and move your body.
2. Meditation
For many who suffer from anxiety, stillness can be a trigger, as it gives ample time to focus on your worries. Despite this, the act of slowing down and being present can help teach you how to overcome your anxiety. Your meditation practice can take whichever shape serves you best - whether that be a more active, tapping meditation, practising deep breathing and focusing on your senses, or using a guided meditation app. The important thing is to slow down, check in with yourself, and check out of reality for a few minutes to focus solely on your body and how you feel.
3. Writing
It feels easier to bottle up our feelings than to face them head on but in reality, this only leads to large bumps down the road. It’s important to listen to your body and acknowledge your feelings when they show up. When you begin to feel your anxiety rise, try setting aside five minutes to put your pen to paper and journal how you are feeling. This looks different for everyone - you can write about how you feel, ask yourself questions to get to the root cause of your stress, or simply express yourself in whatever form feels best (prose, poetry, lyrics, etc). The important thing is that you are carving out time to sit with yourself and explore your feelings.
Anxiety is not linear - there will always be highs and lows - but it’s important to make sure you have the tools and support needed to get you through the tough times. Sometimes, we need a helping hand - that’s what our Anxiety Coach, Eryl, is here for. Whether you’re struggling to manage your anxiety, looking for some new tools or in need of a compassionate ear, Eryl is here to help. Available for in-person and virtual appointments at BOTH locations.
