Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Dealing with Anxiety


It seems like most of my clients are bringing up the word anxiety or anxiousness during our initial sessions when we cover their overall health history.

I was talking to a client this week about the word anxiety and how I never identified with it. We discussed how it seems so clinical and not very personable. Anxiety sounds like it fits better on someone else. Doesn't it?

However, the more I discuss anxiety with my clients the more I relate to it and I realized I have had my fair share of it. Anxiety has the ability to affect our entire body and mind. When you struggle with anxiety it changes the way you feel, how you behave, and even affects your physical well being.


Are you experiencing any of these symptoms?

   Muscle tension
   Shaking
   Upset stomach
   "Butterflies"
   Headache
   Backache
   Rapid heart rate
   Numbness
   Increased perspiration



Here are a few ways you can start to reduce your anxiety/stress levels:

1. Talk to someone
2. Journal
3. Add some perspective on your perceived/real worries
4. Change up your day to day
5. Seek Advice from a professional
6. Try to look at things with a positive eye

PS - Check out the details on my upcoming Virtual Group Program and join me - Happy, Healthy Holidays without Losing your Mind or your Waistline

4 comments:

  1. Interesting that you bring this up now. I'm a pretty laid-back, casual person, yet just this week I (actually, my boss) identified that I demonstrate a lot of anxiety when it comes to a particular co-worker. Rapid heart beat, shortness of breath, panicky, ect...in the moment, these reactions can be rather difficult and embarrassing. Why can't I just get a grip?

    Still trying to find a solution that works...#4 would be ideal.

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  3. Jill - You are so kind that this person must really send you over the edge. I have a person like that in my life - it is very recent and every time that person calls me or even sends me an email I am irritated. What I am trying to ask myself are what qualities does this person possess that I do not care for and why do I find it so offensive? According to some Buddhist philosophy it seems as though I dislike the very thing that I am. I guess I see some qualities in this person that I do not like and they are the icky bits of me I try my best to cover up. Not sure this is true, but it certainly has given me a lot to think about...My solution has been to journal and take more walks. Taking the time to be quiet and relax.

    ~M

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  4. While the inner-work has helped me to some degree, it wasn't until I went grain-free and on the GAPS diet that my anxiety ceased to be a major problem for me.
    I think if we just look at the food that is available today, it is no wonder that people are plagued with stress, anxiety and diseases. It is really amazing what wholesome and simple food can do for your health.

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