So Much Going On
That holiday-and-end-of-year stress… I think we are all starting to feel it and the effects it can have on us. I wanted to take a moment out to talk about how we can let go of some of the anxiety, stress and perhaps weird energy we are feeling.
Now, not everything is for everyone so these are just a few ideas I have come up with as a therapist of more than 20 years, a person who has had these feelings and who has had friends with anxiety. Try them if you wish. If they work, great. If not, keep trying.
Remember, these are not substitutes for going to get professional help if you need it in the case of extreme anxiety or seasonal depression.
Here are some of the ‘traditional’ suggestions:
be physically active
Being active will get all the ‘good juices’ (endorphins) flowing and help to reduce or eliminate anxiety and depression. This can be as simple 30 minutes of movement — whether it is walking, running, dancing… whatever. Just move.
do some visualization/guided imagery
This may be something you have never heard of, but it is very easy to do. Guided imagery is simply the use of words and/or music to evoke positive imaginary scenarios in a person with a view to bringing about some beneficial effect — in this case, to reduce anxiety and stress. It can be done with a person or you can use recording. If this is something that sounds interesting, check out Headspace and start your free account.
write or journal
Maybe you are an introvert or the thought of telling someone what you think or feel freaks you out. Writing is a perfect outlet. It is your place to let the ideas, fears, thoughts and emotions flow. There is no right or wrong way to do it. It is all about you. Some people write in a book or just an online journal spot. Some people actually write on a piece of paper and once they are done, they burn it as a symbol of letting it go. It is up to you to choose.
get into your spirituality/religion
Maybe reading is the answer. Maybe it is fasting, or prayer, or meditation. Any of these practices can be a great way of taking care of you.
Now of course there are some other things we may not thing of, such as:
coloring or drawing
Get back to your childhood with some crayons or markers and color. It can be so relaxing to just color a picture of a flower or your favorite action figure. Coloring books can be as cheap as $1 so why not try it! These days you can even purchase coloring books with more detailed and intricate drawings if that’s more your thing.
singing
What could be better than rocking out to our favorite song. You don’t even have to be a great singer (just make sure your windows are closed so no one hears you!).
This is not a complete list of all the things you can do, rather it is meant to be a way to get you thinking about what works for you.
Erika Brooks, MS, LPC, CSAC Therapist/Owner Enlightenment Counseling Services, LLC