🤔​​Anxiety and What To Do With It

Anxious Woman

Anxiety has become a common place word in our society to describe the overwhelming feeling life tends to stimulate. First lets look at where anxiety comes from. When you feel anxious about something, pause, breath and say "hummmm". Get curious about it. Ask yourself what am I thinking about? What you are thinking about may be "what if"..... something happens. This is where your imagination runs a story that isn't even real at this moment in time.

Another might be you are thinking of " what if " what happened last time happens again? Yes you have experienced something you know could occur. It is happening right now? Probably not. 

The first place to start in helping to give anxiety a rest and return to a feeling of calmness is in your thinking. I know that sounds a little too easy but that is where everything starts to spiral. You have a thought, this thought sends messages to your brain which then stimulates chemical which surge throughout your body and this creates a feeling. A feeling of anxiousness. When this feeling comes about we often use words like; scared, overwhelm, frustration, hopeless, worry, fear, and so on. Each of these words then reinforces the feeling and the brain takes this as happening now. Then chemicals go to work in your body to protect you from a precieved danger. 

Your brain has an amygdala which is where emotions circle through. When something feels like danger, it signals your body to tell adrenaline to up your heartrate, up your respirations and could even make you shake or sweat. 

So what to do? Happy to asked. 

First step is to push the pause button. Yep did you know you have a pause button in you. Well it's is your best friend in this case. 

*Push the pause button. This stops the chain of events and stops the flow of chemicals for a moment. 

*Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth like a straw. Do this 3-5 times. 

*​Now say "HUMMMMMM" Get curious about it. Am I safe right now? Is this only a "What if". What have I been thinking about? 

*Now ask yourself " is this what I want to happen?" if not  ask a new questions.

" what DO I want to happen"?

Use positive language avoiding the words-cant, don't, shouldn't, won't, not, and so forth. Using words such as I am, It is, gratiful, happy, joyful, kindness, willing, welcoming, peace, joy and so on. 

​Then once you have made an affirmative statement the next step is super important or your body and nervous system will just revert back to what was causing you discomfort. TAKE AN ACTION STEP in the direction of the affirmative statement. 

Ask yourself "what action can I take right now or with the day to move me toward my affirmative desire?"

Here is a recap: Notice its happening, pause, breath, get curious, ask if this is what you desire, create an affirmative statement and then TAKE ACTION. When you do this you are now at the helm of your ship steering the boat. No longer are you at the mercy of the sea and wind taking you off course. 

Remember you are capable, strong and amazing.

 With love and deep belief in you,

Kaleem Joy

Licensed Midwife | Educator | Transformational CoachFounder of Natural Childbirth 101

If you have questions, be sure to reach out🤗. 

natural childbirth, birth education, pregnancy classes, pregnancy coach, life coach, postpartum classes, breastfeeding classes, non-medicated birth, anxiety, midwife, midwifery care, homebirth, birth center, california birth center, mother support, newborn care