5 Quick & Easy Ways to Lower Anxiety

I think most of us have had our panic moments with the coronavirus. When we consider the possibility of being stuck at home for several weeks without being able to leave. When we wonder if our elderly, sickly parent will pass away soon and, if so, will we be able to go to their funeral. Or will we be able to have a funeral. When we realize the person who sits a few desks over from us has come down with the virus – and we wonder if we’re next.

All of these are understandable reasons to panic – but I don’t recommend it. Giving way to anxiety, fear and worry only makes things worse. And if we really go into full-blown panic mode our brains stop working. They become stuck in, “oh-my-gosh-what-do-I-do-now?” mode.

So even if everyone around you appears to be giving in to fear and acting irrationally, here are some healthier alternatives for you. Trust me, you’ll think, act and feel better if you use them.

· Change the messages you give yourself. Start telling yourself that things are going to improve and that you’re feeling calmer. Even if you don’t believe it. There is a ton of research showing that our brains not only start believing the messages we give them, they actually start making them come true as well. So repeat to yourself, “I feel calm and relaxed, I feel calm and relaxed”. It works!

· Get some exercise. I realize that for many of you, this may be the last thing you feel like doing, but I promise it helps. Do some cardio exercise that gets your heart going. Things like:

o Brisk walking

o Running

o Bicycling

o Roller blading

o Swimming

o Dancing

After a good workout you’ll feel better, calmer and able to think more clearly. Totally worth a little sweat!

· Stay connected. This one can be tricky if you’re stuck at home. But if you are quarantined, connections are more important than ever. So make it a point to either get together with family and friends in person, or schedule regular Facetime or Skype calls. Just knowing people are there for you can be comforting.

· Breathe deeply. When we become anxious our breathing speeds up, and we breathe shallowly and irregularly. Because our chest cavity can only expand and contract so much, it can be difficult to get enough air in. Deep slow breathing gets more air into your body, calms your nerves, reduces anxiety and stress and even improves your attention span. It can take some practice but it’s totally worth it.

· Go outside. Yes, you can go outside even if you’re quarantined inside. In fact, it’s a good idea. Research shows that catching the virus from people you pass while walking a safe distance away is extremely unlikely. Being outside lowers anxiety and depression, improves your mood, boosts creativity and increases concentration.

You’ll notice that all the above are natural and healthy activities. No drugs, chemicals or invasive procedures are involved. Hypnosis also fits into those categories as well and can be an amazing, easy, relaxing way to deal with anxiety. It can also be done in person or online. So if you’d like to try it, give a local hypnotist a call – or contact us. We’d love to help!