Yes, I Have Anxiety And This Is What I Do About It

I think we can all agree that 2020 feels incredibly tumultuous. It seems like every month is bringing up a new challenge that's taxing even the most grounded empath. 

To describe what's going on in the world, I use the analogy of giving birth. As a woman gives birth, she's in incredible pain. Things are ripped, broken, torn, and there's blood, sweat, and tears. It's messy. At the end, you're given this incredible gift. Most women say it was worth it. 

 Although what's going on in the world feels chaotic, revolutionary, and unpredictable, the end result will be worth it when we all come together in harmony, equality, and understanding. I look forward to that day. However, until we get to the good part, we need to navigate some really tough stuff. 

Sometimes my clients ask me if I ever get anxiety. The answer is yes!

 Just because I specialize in helping others get rid of their anxiety doesn't mean that I never have it myself. 

 Whenever I feel overwhelmed with what's going on in the world, I do a few different things to bring me back to my calm, cool, and collected self. 

Meditation

I must admit, I don't meditate every day, but I try to do it for at least 3-4x/week. Although I recommend meditation to all my clients, it's probably the number one thing they blow off. The most common excuses are they don't have enough time, or they can't clear their mind enough to relax. In my opinion, there's no right or wrong way to meditate. The most important thing is do set aside some time to relax and do what's best for you. 

Personally, I prefer to lie down and listen to instrumental music. I have an app on my phone called Insight Timer. It's a free app that has guided meditations, nature sounds, or music ranging from 2 minutes to 2 hours. I try to longer meditations when I'm extra stressed.  

Essential Oils

Whenever I'm super stressed, I often get tension headaches or migraines. I blend myself a special cocktail of oils to soothe my nerves as well as relax my body. Some of my favorite oils to use when stressed are Lavender, Peppermint, Citrus (orange, lemon, lime etc.) scents which are natural mood boosters, and I use a few blends by Young Living called Stress Away, Peace and Calming, and M-Grain. Young Living also has blends for Harmony, Joy, and Valor if you need a little courage. Although I'm most familiar with Young Living, other companies have some wonderful blends to help you with stress relief. 

Flower Essences

I'm a HUGE fan of flower essences because they're extremely gentle yet really potent. For anxiety, I use Bach Flower Essence Rescue Remedy. This is a blend of 4 different flowers designed to help with shock, trauma, and fear. I put 4 drops into a glass of water and refresh as often as needed throughout the day. Rescue Remedy helps calm you down, and gets you out of the fight/flight/freeze state. Other remedies that would be useful to empaths/HSP's with anxiety are: 

*Mimulus: Good for any kind of known fear (poverty, the dark, illness etc.)

*Aspen: Feeling afraid but you don't know why

*Red Chestnut: Worrying about the health of others

*White Chestnut: Being overwhelmed or consumed by anxious thoughts

Unplugging

Social media can trap you in a pretty vicious circle. On the one hand, it helps you stay connected to others, but it also exposes you to the ugliness and horror of the world. When I'm feeling overwhelmed, I make a special effort to limit my social media time. I also go to bed 1-2 hours early and read a book next to my Himalayan salt lamp. I try to read something fun or uplifting. The salt lamp also provides a soothing glow and gives off negative ions that help improve your mood. 

Cord Cutting

Whenever we interact with others, even online or through social media, we create cords of connection. If these aren't cleared, others can drain your energy leaving you feeling tired, depressed, or irritable. In order to stop this energy drain, you need to cut these cords. Don't worry, you can't cut cords of pure love. You're only cutting cords of lower vibrations that drain your energy or affect your mood. 

To begin, close your eyes and imagine your body. Scan your body front and back from the top of your head to your toes. Do you see any cords? They may be glowing, thick or thin, and often appear white. Once you find them, imagine cutting them off with scissors, a sword, or a knife. Scan your body again to make sure that you didn't miss any that are being sneaky. 

N.E.T./EFT

Recently, I've started to combine emotional release techniques to deal with issues from different angles. I use Neuro-Emotional Technique (N.E.T.) to help me understand the origin of problems and to eliminate triggers. I use the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT or tapping) to help give a voice to fears combined with a pattern disruptor to avoid thinking similar negative thoughts in the future. 

Fear and anxiety are a normal part of the human experience. Instead of shoving these emotions down, it's better to understand and release them in a healthy way. If you're feeling overwhelmed right now, you may find it helpful to book a 1:1 session for grounding and emotional release. 

 Dr. April Darley is an expert at resolving stuck patterns of behavior through Neuro-Emotional Technique (N.E.T.). By identifying self-sabotaging behaviors, she can help you regain confidence, improve relationships, remove blocks to health, wealth and success in any area of your life.