How readily would you admit that you experience anxiety on a daily basis?
Probably not that easily. Anxiety is perceived as a weakness, a buckling in to pressure, a lack of coping. Yet most of us carry anxiety with us constantly whether it be consciously and unconsciously and whether it shows up as a mind ' that just doesn't stop' , a gnawing sense of unease , insomnia or full blown panic attacks. We are anxious about traffic jams, whether we might have cancer, what our bonus will be, work deadlines and where to go on holiday. We are anxious about what to eat for dinner, whether we have good enough security systems and if whether we should be looking for another job. Anxiety can become big toxic mess taking us away from who we authentically are.
And yet it is a normal natural state that is an important( and often useful) part of the human experience. A great deal of energy is depleted in the unconscious attempt to judge, deny, supress and distract ourselves from anxiety, losing the opportunity to channel and transform it into a growth opportunity.
Robert Gerzon in his book ' Finding Serenity in the Age of Anxiety' describes 3 faces of anxiety that I have found to be really helpful in make sensing of and working with anxiety in our current times.
Natural anxiety: this is the feeling that we experience from the day to day stressors of life. It is relevant to the circumstance and when it is seen for what it is, can be channelled as a force for taking action and making changes.
The anxiety usually dissipates once the appropriate action has been taken.
However, if these feelings are judged, suppressed or denied, the energy of the emotion gets driven deeper into the body and the subconscious mind, feeding toxic anxiety.
Toxic anxiety has no purpose. It is like an energy vampire, draining us of life force energy. It is fed by negative belief systems and feeds destructive behavior patterns and addictions. It creates a breeding ground for chronic illness and appears as a blaming critic in relationships. It is the lens through which the world is seen as a dangerous and threatening place. Toxic anxiety if left unchecked, may also manifest along the the spectrum of anxiety disorders.
Sacred anxiety is a more subtle form of anxiety that may be difficult to recognize. It takes the form of an existential enquiry or dark night of soul, offering the gift of deeper insight and search for greater meaning and purpose.
Dr Ela's Top Ten Tips to deal with anxiety :
1. Cultivate the skill of self awareness so you can begin to identify what kind of anxiety you are dealing with and can take appropriate action. A coach can help with this.
2. Develop the tools of self calming in time of acute anxiety. Try this breathing technique : Breathe in for a count of 4. Hold the breath( without tensing the body) for a count of 4. Exhale slowly for a count of 4 and hold the breath before taking the next inhale for another count of 4.
This is also called ' tactical breathing' .
3. Have your thyroid , glucose levels and blood pressure checked. Your anxiety may be related to a medical condition that needs to be addressed.
4. Don't skip meals. A dip in glucose levels triggers and exacerbates anxiety.
5. Cut the caffeine. It has been shown that caffeine fuels anxiety.
Limit yourself to 2 cups a day before lunch time.
6. Try to get at 6 hours of solid sleep. Good sleep is the best antidote for rattiness.
7. Avoid unnecessary exposure to news channels. When driving rather listen to your favourite music instead of the radio. Constant traffic reports and radio news is a great fodder for anxiety.
8. Soak in a bath with lavender oil at the end of the day.
9. Take the appropriate supplements that support your health and lifestyle.
Your natural health practitioner can guide you with this.
10. Release tension. Find an outlet to let go of tension. Exercise is a great way to channel and release the toxicity of anxiety.
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