Anxiety is the body’s natural response to stress. Stress from many moons ago has evolved from wondering if YOU are going to be the main course, to what will be YOUR main course, and everything in between. Did I pay that bill, is my kid ready for school tomorrow, where is school?, do I have enough food for the week, did I send that email, did I write the wrong thing in that email, what’s that light shining in my eyes as I try to sleep, be quiet, cat, I love you!, but be quiet, argh, Calgon, TAKE ME AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anxiety today can mean a whole host of conditions, from anxiety brought on by trauma (PTSD) or poor health, the political and social arena, from compulsive and obsessive behavior (OCD), to phobias and panic attacks. It can range from mild and intermittent stress to chronic and raging, never ending, always there. It can lead to more stress, tension headaches, digestive issues, depression, loss of work and productivity, sleep loss, and ultimately poor health, to name just a few of the possible outcomes.
Responding to stress or to any of these conditions can make or break a person. Reacting is certain to worsen things, to magnify the problem, absorbing it into every cell of the body, leading to tight muscles, tight joints, limited breathing and more panic mode. Maybe even illness or worse, cancer. The loop begins. And maybe never ends.
Today’s political and social environment in particular is causing most Americans much stress and anxiety. Uncertainties and inability to control our environment, our lives, our futures, give many pause for great concern. Add isolation to the mix from the COVID pandemic and we may find our fears overtaking us. Anxiety is in the air so thick you could cut it with a knife. We snap at each other. We ignore each other or we take out our woes on one another. We see only ourselves, when, remember, we are all in this together.
If we automatically resort to the fight or flight response, which can save a life from a threatening incident, if we consistently resort to it as a response to daily stress, like a disagreement with someone, or not getting our way, we are in the danger zone. Such a response is a reaction, putting us into overload and panic mode for something ultimately not life threatening, rather, life unsettling. This can in turn rev up our blood pressure and stoke our anxiety levels and make us ripe for chronic anxiety. We find ourselves caught up in a loop, constantly churning thoughts in our minds that turn up the anxiety volume. Turn it down, man!
Ground control to Major Tom. Breathe. Take a big breath, find your ground, your standing, your connection to earth’s energy and earth’s stability, and in turn, find your inner core, your inner strength and your energy. Connect with the earth and connect to yourself. Control your body, your breath, your energy. For you cannot control anything else, not your environment, not your surroundings, not those with whom you interact, your neighbor’s political leanings, you cannot control any of these things, you can only control you, your body, your breath, your response to life. Your happiness and your peace come from within. If you look for it in your surroundings, your immediate life, in food or drink, the political and social arena, you are barking up the wrong tree and you may be setting yourself up for disappointment. The wrong guy wins. The right guy wins. He’s not good enough. (Thank goodness for HER!!)
Breathe. Sigh. Tune in and tune out. Find your peace from within. This is anxiety’s best medicine. Ease your inner anxiety by taking control of that which you can, and letting go of that which you cannot. It’s not an easy fix. It takes time, commitment and discipline. You may need help and can’t do it alone. Get some. Do it. You’ve got it in you!!! It takes practice. The more you do, the more easily you tap into that inner peace and calm may eventually become your automatic.
Mind you, this does not mean surrendering your ideas and your principles, your voice, it’s about finding a better foundation from which to make your voice heard. Have you ever been so upset that your voice is shaky? You fumble your words? Take a breath. Find your ground. Find your connection to your earth, your body, your breath. Make your voice calm. Make your voice heard. Even if you are simply talking to yourself. It will be okay. Really. It will.