I am trying to stop looking at the news because it makes me want to SCREAM.
And, I am somewhat addicted to checking the news online at least twice a day! I am so frustrated to hear about all that is happening in Washington and our economy, and how those who need the most help will be getting less.
As you can guess, I could go on with my rant - but what good will it do? Does it help fix things in Washington? no..
Does it help those in need? no..
Does it help me feel better? no! What it does do is create unhealthy stress in my body/mind/emotions, and less than loving energy in my body and energy field, which can negatively affect anyone who is in close proximity to me.
I call it "being spikey" - when someone (or me) has an energy field that is stressed and angry..
It is not attractive! I want to stay away.
Except sometimes the "spikey" one is me.
Stress, anxiety, and upset create a release of adrenaline in our bodies - which is meant to help us get away from the Saber Tooth Tiger rather than being it's dinner.
What happens when we are stressed and anxious is that our brilliant bodies divert our blood flow to our extremities so we can fight and flee.
We don't need as much blood flow to our main organs - our immune systems, our reproductive systems - we need to save our lives! But, most of us are sitting at our computers or in our cars or in front of the television and feeling stress - we are not running and fighting for our lives.
The excess adrenaline in our systems can wreak havoc on our bodies - and can add to heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, immune and reproductive problems, and more.
I could go on about how stress and anxiety negatively affect our bodies, our emotions, our lives - but I want to offer some tips about how to deal with the stress - not stress you out more about the stress in your life.
So - here are some simple tips: 1.
BREATHE It's amazing how many of us unconsciously hold our breath - waiting for - something! Or not wanting to feel, or?? I was doing a session on a client last week and when I mentioned his father, he noticeably stopped breathing.
He said he did not want to explore that part of his past - he had it neatly tucked away because it was so painful.
Well, we did explore some of what was tucked away - and let it go!, got my client breathing and back into the flow, and he left feeling much better.
Here is a quick, easy ways to breathe to calm yourself down: "Square breathing" Breathe in to the count of 4, hold for the count of 4, breathe out for the count of 4, hold for the count of 4.
Repeat this breath 4 or more times.
2.
MOVE As I mentioned above, stress and anxiety create a release of adrenaline in our blood, which gets our hearts beating faster, maybe we perspire more, we may feel muscle tightness or our throat or jaw tightens - we are physically being prepared to fight or flee.
So, obviously, a great way to calm down our stress is to move - take a walk, so some kind of exercise to help your body burn off the excess adrenaline.
3.
GET REAL Come back to present time! When we get anxious and stressed we often spin out about the future and all the awful things that may happen.
Realize that right here, right now, you are OK - you are alive, your body is healthy and functioning, you have a home, a car, you live in the U.
S.
, you have choice about what you think and focus on.
Sometimes I have to remind myself about all I have in my life - 2 hands, 2 feet, a comfy bed, gas in my car, food in my fridge...
Right here, right now, I am safe and all is well.
4.
REMEMBER YOU HAVE FEET & A BODY When we are stressed and anxious, we get into mental spinning.
We forget we have bodies.
We forget to breathe, or move - we just keep spinning.
So, start by wiggling your toes.
Stretch your toes up and back toward your head to stretch out the arch of your foot.
Connect your feet and body to the earth.
Really feel your feet and the support from the earth and from life.
5.
CUT BACK ON CAFFEINE, SUGAR, SALT, ALCOHOL & TOBACCO! Our bodies are designed to fight or flee when presented with life-threatening events or creatures.
We create this fight or flee response - many of us on a regular basis - with our thoughts and worries.
However, we also create the adrenalized fight or flee reaction when we eat or drink caffeine, sugar, salt, and alcohol, and when we smoke.
Cutting back on coffee, tea, chocolate, sugar, etc.
can definitely calm your stress reaction.
6.
CONNECT Remember you are not alone! Call a friend.
Go somewhere to be around people.
Make eye contact and smile.
Sometimes even going to the store and saying a word or two to the check-out person can help.
7.
GET YOUR ENERGY FLOWING One of the reasons I love to teach Reiki is that it is a tool that anyone can use any time, any where.
If you know Reiki and you are stressed, you can put your hands on either side of your head to help calm down.
Or, you can put your hands on your back above your waist (near the kidneys and adrenal glands) to calm your adrenals.
Sometimes when we have been too stressed for too long we need outside help.
Get a massage or an energy balancing session.
Talk with a therapist.
We are designed to energetically flow like a healthy stream or river.
When you get your flow back, stress dissipates.
When you learn to keep yourself open and flowing, you can manage your stress much better.