Anxiety Higher these Days? Try these Tips.
Fall is here and for many that represents a new start to the year. School starts back up in September, lessons and routines come back into play and people are generally busier. It's also a time when anxiety rises.
While routine is good for anxiety reduction, the new start can bring on less certainty, regrets about not doing planned activities over the summer and even thoughts of the upcoming holiday season and the financial and other stresses that may come with that. It also starts to get darker and here in Nova Scotia we still deal with a time change, which can also trigger anxiety.
So, how can we head off these feelings? From the point of view of Ayurveda, the science of life, autumn is the season of vata. It's a light, dry, cooler season. It's time for warmer spices like ginger or cumin. Begin to eat a warmer diet, maybe oatmeal in the morning or soups for the evening meal.
With the dryness, we need to think about more moisture too. Creams on the body, moisturizing face masks and getting plenty f water are some ideas to counter that dryness. Also, adding healthy oils in foods can also help.
And grounding, vata season is airy and may leave us feeling ungrounded. That feeling can increase anxiety too. A grounding meditation can help. You can try this one:
Sit tall with both feet on the floor. Take several breaths in and out through the nose. As you settle feel your body relax.
Imagine roots growing from your feet down through the floor and into the earth. Use your breath to send anxiety down into the earth to be transformed. As you inhale bring up healing, grounding energy. Continue this over several minutes.
Here are a few more tips for anxiety reduction:
Square breathing: inhale for a count of three or four, and hold the breath for about the same length of time. Slowly exhale that same count of three or four and again retain the breath for that same length of time.
Distraction: Is there an activity that you enjoy that would be a good distraction for when the feelings of anxiety rise? Music, walking or, doodling could be good. If you need something more immediate try counting a particular thing- even anything in the same colour.
Get into the light: Get outside in the day when there's light out. Even a few deep breaths in the light of day can help.
Exercise: Begin or get back to exercise. The endorphin increase is very good for reducing both anxiety and depression.
Get professional help: Sometimes the anxiety is too much, or more clinical in nature. When this occurs it's helpful to talk with a professional who can explain anxiety and offer more extensive work.
If you're feeling high levels of anxiety and would like to talk, get in touch for a free 15-minute appointment to see if we can work together.
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