Hi Steel Magnolias! Happy New Year!
Many of you have written in and expressed that you’re battling anxiety and panic attacks. I have been there girlfriend. The first time I had a panic attack about 15 years ago, I thought I was dying and it felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest. The long term physical and emotional pain we experience from anxiety will ultimately rob of us from living the healthy life we deserve! I’m excited that Ryan Rivera of The Calm Clinic reached out to share his tips with us. I thought this was the perfect reinforcement we needed as we hit the new year running….
Modern life and everyday living can be so stressful, and women often find these to be causes for anxiety. Then there is that time of the month when our estrogen levels, which affect our vulnerability and anxiousness, fall below normal. This makes us more prone to emotional roller coasters that severely affect our mood. On a normal day, we stress ourselves out over trivial matters, and then work or family-related matters add up to the pressure. The next thing you know, you’re totally dazed.
While we can’t really escape the trappings of the daily grind, we can choose to handle it better. Know which tasks to spend time on and which ones to abandon. Lighten your load and see how your world can open up and become a more vibrant, positive place. A lot of women find themselves wallowing in their woes and burdens, feeling incapable of escaping the lives they built for themselves. The truth is that you can always choose to improve your life and not waste time on the petty things that carry the most weight.
Don’t let stress and anxiety render you incapable of living the life you want. You can use both to motivate you to be the best in everything you do, but don’t let it get to you so bad that you start feeling inadequate on a regular basis. Don’t think too much about what other people might say about you, don’t pour over the littlest things, and spend too much time worrying about small issues. Anxiety can help fuel you at times, but it can also cripple your abilities and prevent you from performing when you let it get to you.
Since hormones don’t really work in our favor, women should remain headstrong and persistent. It may take more effort for us to be able to move forward and battle the anxiety which could hinder us from getting what we want, but it will be worth it! Don’t sweat the small stuff and just keep doing what you need to do in order for you to achieve your goals. Never allow anyone or anything to stop you from succeeding in life.
Here are 5 simple and doable things you can do to reduce anxiety:
- Exercise. Try signing up for a gym membership or work out on your own just to channel the negative energy that’s pent up in your system. A good workout will boost your endorphins as well.
- Get crafty. Get into a new hobby and learn new skills. Who knows? Something that starts as a hobby could end up a source of income for you. This happens to a lot of people. They earn out of something they love doing.
- Rest and relax. Unwind and don’t let yourself be bothered by stressful thoughts. You don’t have to splurge to unwind. It can be a day at the spa, lunch date with friends, or movie date with your loved one.
- Form healthy habits. Eat right and stop the vices. If you maintain a balanced and healthy lifestyle, it will allow you to perform better at work and accomplish tasks more.
- Find more things that make you happy. Open your eyes to the beauty around you. Focus on the things that make you happy and spend less time focused on the things that stress you out. Make sure to slow down as well. There’s power in the saying, “stop and smell the roses”.
Women should not become victims of feelings of anxiety. There is so much more to life than having to go through the pressure of living up to other people’s standards. Do things as you please, and live your life the way you want to. Create your own ways of fighting off anxiety and you are sure to perform beyond what is expected of you, which can help you live a fulfilled life!
ABOUT RYAN RIVERA, Publisher & Founder of http://www.calmclinic.com
Ryan Rivera has spent 7 years of his life suffering from, as he calls it, the “whole package” – panic attacks, severe anxiety, agoraphobia, social anxiety, unbearable physical symptoms, headaches, neck pains, constant tension, diarrhea, palpitations, pounding heart. After trying numerous different treatments for his anxiety (including various medication) a tipping-point in his life made him overcome his emotional problems.
Have you found a great method to reduce anxiety? Please comment and share it!
I have learned to keep my schedule light and stop putting too much on my plate. This has done wonders! I also turn my phone on silent a few times a day, take a brisk walk and run a hot bath to keep me from going coocoo for cocoa puffs!
Remember, anxiety is often caused by FEAR so by letting go of the fear, you will also let go of your anxiety. 2012 brought a ton of stress for most of us, but we can make a few small tweaks to ensure the new year will be different.
CHEERS TO FREEING YOUR SPIRIT IN 2013.
Nurture that little girl inside you. Make her happy!
Me at about 3 or 4. A toe-head, blonde tomboy who loved being outside running around in blue jeans. I plan to give her more attention this year.
SANCTUARY OF STYLE 