Dealing With Anxious Feelings - What Could Help You

Note: There’s a difference between everyday anxiousness and clinical anxiety. I'm referring to the former. Seek professional help for the latter. 😄

Our minds are overstimulated while our bodies are under stimulated. - Naval

Feelings of anxiousness seem to be common, and bottling it up is not an option.

With the increased stimulation around us, there are multiple sources that trigger our thoughts. Instant messaging, streaming, social media, the news are common ways to set off a chain of 'unpredictable' reactions.

Learning how to respond to these situations can help us be calmer in the long run and it's a game without a down side. You don't really 'lose' from this. It's not transactional.

Unfortunately we choose to ignore these thoughts than learn to deal with them.

It's a rewarding process with benefits that compound over time and there are few ways to get started. Here are 3 personal favorites:

1. Find A Physical Activity As A Physical Outlet

As our bodies are under stimulated, it's key to get it moving.

A sport, form of martial arts or hitting the gym can do you a whole world of good. Exercise increases the production of chemicals in the body that are favorable in dealing with anxious thoughts.

It doesn't have to be intense. Even a short walk can do a whole world of difference.

2. Observing Your Thoughts

Meditation, or sitting in silence with your thoughts can help tame the monkey mind.

It's not about 'controlling' your thoughts but observing them. Meditation helps increase a sense of self awareness. Most people give up because it's not comfortable but that's the whole point.

The mind’s nature is to think. We meditate to see those thoughts more clearly.

3. Be Mindful Of What You Consume

This refers to both the source of content AND the form.

Reading and writing are more beneficial activities than mindless scrolling and pulling the refresh to view the likes on your latest post. By being mindful about the content you consume, the people you follow, the videos you watch, you can reduce the potential triggers that come your way.