build your beautiful self

“There is only one way to happiness and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will”

Epictetus

Do you wake up with anxious feelings? I do sometimes
Do you get through a few hours of your day then something happens and your anxiety spikes and you feel the rush of adrenaline coming on? For sure, me too
Do you lie awake in bed and your mind will not shut up and totally throws you into a tailspin? Of course, we all have that.

I was told once that if you have anxiety, you are focusing too much on the future and not on the present. I figured there had to be techniques to stopping the tailspin before it crashes into the depths of a full on freak out. Here is what I found:
1. Take 7 intentional deep breaths when you start to feel yourself spinning out.
Start sitting in an upright, straight body position so your chest space is open. pull your shoulders down, away from your ears and back like you are trying to touch your shoulder blades together. Pull the air in through your nose as deeply and slowly as you can go. Once you reach your max intake, hold it for 20-30 seconds then release slowly through your mouth. Repeat 6 more times. When you focus on keeping the breathing slow and steady in and out and count at the peak inspiration, you are focusing on the present and your body and won’t have the ability to focus on your freak out thoughts.

2. Limit your caffeine intake.
Caffeine is a stimulant. It is in its’ nature to perk you up and ramp up the body. Too much can cause irregular heartbeat, high anxious energy and irritability. If you seem to be consuming multiple doses of caffeine throughout the morning and the day and find that by the afternoon you are a mess, it may be the caffeine. Try boosting your energy with more natural items. B complex vitamins are great for sustainable energy. Taking NAD and Nootropic supplements are also great for brain function and can boost energy. I recommend These as a good start. https://getstarted.isagenix.com/MZVRXFYNV001

3. Get your exercise on!!
Nothing beats the boost you get from moving your body. Exercise is anything from walking briskly, to dancing, weight lifting, doing cartwheels, running around with your kids, to doing yoga poses. Speaking of Yoga, your anxiety can benefit greatly from this practice too! You are focusing on the poses and not the thoughts in your head. FYI you may cry during the session…or is that just me? haha. If you don’t have a gym membership, that is ok! Just go to good ol’ YouTube and find yourself some workout videos to get you going. Or you can throw a dance party in your living room and it would be just as effective.

4. Try drinking an herbal tea. (NO caffeine here)
My dad was in Vietnam during the war and one of the things he said his leaders told him was to drink WARM tea when he was feeling nervous or anxious. The warm liquid has a calming effect and focusing on the warmth, how it feels in your hands, how the steam hits your nose, how it feels when you follow the drink down into your belly takes the focus off the stressors and again, places you in the present moment. Chamomile is great because it helps to calm you, it induces sleep, and relaxes irritability. I don’t recommend drinking this one in the middle of your day however. You may fall asleep at your desk!

5. Eat Better
Poor diet deprives your body of essential nutrients that it needs to keep your mind functioning at optimal levels. I start my day out with a smoothie that contains a nutrient dense shake mix, and I add Chia seeds, a juice that is 100% natural (not over-processed sugar filled ones), and a cup of frozen berries or other frozen fruit that I am feeling that day. It helps prime my body for what it endures on the daily and keeps the brain goblins away. Then instead of grabbing the chips or candy or other nasty things that lay around waiting to make you fatter and more self loathing, you should have fruits and veggies to snack on. I promise you will feel better all over with proper nutrition.

6. Call your best positive friend!
I am stressing the POSITIVE part here because calling someone who you just complain about life with will NOT make you feel better. You should call someone that loves you and wants to hear from you. Someone you know who will actually listen to you and say things that actually make you feel better. Sometime that person is your mommy! (heart) If you have that go to person that can really pick you up when you are feeling down, then you should absolutely give them a call when you are feeling down. They will get so much joy from helping to pick you up, but you have to allow them to serve you in that way. Allow the picking up!

Living with anxiety is no joke. I have had massive panic attacks (which for most of my life I had no idea what those felt like until I had one) and have mornings that I wake from sleep and I feel awful. I choose to workout in the morning and that really helps set my day up properly and eliminates any anxious feelings I wake up with.
My hope is that you find one or two of these suggestions helpful. If you need someone positive to talk to, message me! I am happy to help anyone in need