Can anyone be completely anxiety free?
The body’s survival-driven instinct to perceive a potential threat and respond with alertness is something that all people experience, whether or not they suffer from anxiety. Many of us have felt this phenomenon before–the surprise at hearing an unexpected car horn while walking down the street, followed by feelings of unease and anxiousness until we recognize there’s no real danger present. While it may be impossible for anyone to exist without experiencing some form of anxiety in their life, as soon as we realize our safety has not been compromised these uncomfortable sensations will dissipate…which can bring a sense relief!
What is the reason that my anxiety isn't manageable?
Our brains are a remarkable organ, giving us the power to think and reason beyond what any other species can do. But our advanced intelligence also comes with an unexpected side effect: we may not be able to differentiate between real perceived events and internally imagined ones. Our inner dialogue about something that might happen in future affects how we feel now – take for example being startled by a car horn honking; your feelings of safety diminish if you start imagining all sorts of catastrophic scenarios! It’s important for humans then, as sophisticated creatures capable of complex thought processes, to manage their internal narratives wisely so that they don’t experience unnecessary fear or anxiety due negative self-talk.
5 ways of relieving stress and anxious feelings quickly
- Mindful breathing: Focusing on the breath and deepening it helps to calm the body and mind. This can be done by inhaling deeply for a count of four, holding for a count of four and then exhaling slowly for a count of six or eight. Consciously engaging with the breath can help bring the nervous system back into balance and reduce anxious feelings.
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): This is an evidence-based psychotherapy that involves tracking eye movements while focusing on specific images, memories, or thoughts associated with anxiety. The process helps desensitize individuals to their triggers, allowing them to better manage their anxiety in response to these triggers.
- Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT): EFT is an energy psychology technique designed to address negative emotions such as fear and anxiety. It involves tapping various acupressure points while focusing on something that causes distress and repeating affirmations out loud or internally in order to reduce its intensity.
- Havening: Havening is a technique developed by Dr Ronald Ruden that uses gentle touch along with imagery and relaxation techniques to help individuals process traumatic experiences so they no longer trigger anxiety or other emotional responses.
- Energy spinning: Energy spinning is a somatically-focused practice where individuals focus on circulating energy through different parts of their bodies that are associated with different emotions or sensations in order to reduce tension, pain, fear and anxiety from built up stressors.
