I’ve just changed the main header of this blog to read “Deactivate Your Anxiety”. I’ve done it because I like to find terms in my life that remind me that I need to take affirmative action. Maybe the thought of deactivating your anxiety will help you. Actually switching it off forever; but how? Distraction.
Distract Your Mind
The ten tips I’ve chosen to offer below are to get you started on positive methods of distracting your mind. What we focus on grows stronger, and you need to get your focus off your anxiety and onto something that makes you happy. Yes, you can be happy.
Tip #1
Take up a sport or other physical exercise. It’s known that exercise raises the endorphins and it will help to improve your mood.
Tip #2
Take up a creative artform. Many writers, poets, artists, and musicians, begin from a place where there life is not working for them, especially a place of great sadness and loss. They channel their emotions into a piece of creativity, helping to explore them in a positive way.
Tip #3
Challenge yourself to learn something that takes your interest. Cookery, astrology, computing, Swahili. Anything that will require you to use the full force of your concentration. You may be thinking that you’re too anxious to concentrate, but you won’t be able to until you start retraining that mind.
Tip #4
If your anxiety is partly driven by your finances then you could take up something that will give you a second income. A craft or hobby where you can sell your products on line. A language so that you can offer translation skills. Astrology so that you can do birth charts. Floristry; car mechanics; learn plumbing or electrics. There are so many things that might help remove that particular anxiety.
Tip #5
Put beautiful music on as often as you can and listen to it, better still sing along, better still sing and dance at the same time. Even better still, music that brings back good memories of a time when you didn’t feel like this. Lift your vibe and your mind will ease.
Tip #6
Consider a martial art. If you’re afraid to go out martial arts training or self defence training will give you a real reason to feel less frightened. Martial arts will also increase your self-confidence in ways you cannot begin to imagine. Are you too old? I started age 39 and achieved my black belt aged 42. There were people in our club who started post-50. There are many martial arts, some requiring far less power than others. Tai Chi is always a good choice as you learn excellent self-defence techniques wrapped up in sets of calming movements. It’s a really useful calming mechanism.
Tip #7
Write about your anxiety, give it a name, make it a person, write their life story. As you write identify and seek to understand your triggers, and think about how you would help the hero of your book to move past their anxiety into a happier life. You can add a plot, characters, events. You can take your hero to countries and places you’ve always wanted to visit, they can experience things you’ve always wanted to experience. You can make their life turn out the way you want yours to turn out. It’s a crafty, creative way, to change your vibe and help you to work out what you want to do.
Tip #8
Think of something you enjoy and join a group. If you’re alone and/or don’t go out much, you could make it a dining group, theatre (visiting) group, even an amateur dramatic group. Maybe take a dance class, join a choir. I wouldn’t suggest fitness classes as people tend to go, run out of breath, and leave silently for the nearest shower. Something that puts you in touch with people who enjoy what you enjoy. From there the odd coffee and cake out and conversation might be a possibility. Small steps towards bigger changes.
Tip #9
If you’re able to be alone, take yourself away for a weekend somewhere you really love, the sea, a forest, mountains. Make sure there are plenty of opportunities for relaxation and reflection. Take a journal with you to capture any thoughts. Take a good book, become engrossed, see what surfaces whilst you’re not thinking about your life. It’s rare that people can sort out their problems when they’re surrounded by them, space offers clarity.
Tip #10
Change the things that upset you. Yes I know that sounds easier said than done, but ask yourself one important question: what happens if you don’t? Make a list, tackle the easiest thing on that list, then the next easiest, keep going. By the time you get to the big things you’ll be well prepared to cope.
You’re too tired and anxious?
Of course you are, that’s the problem, it’s always been the problem, always will be the problem, and it’s a real problem. As you know, I know, I suffered for 35 years in all. Anxiety drains your mind and your mind drains your body, and all you want to do is sleep, and stay safe at home. The trouble is that you don’t feel safe anywhere, or good anywhere.
Don’t focus on this. Don’t focus on having the energy. Try a few of the distraction techniques first to remind your mind that it can do other things than worry. Try to focus on those things, lose yourself in them, and in doing so you will give that mind a rest. That will release tension in the body, which in turn will release energy that you can use for healing.
To your happiness
Deb
Deb Hawken 