Managing Stress and Anxiety
How do you feel when you are stressed or anxious?
Tense, confused, overwhelmed, physically sick with stomach pains, headaches, back, shoulder, neck pain, pessimistic, the glass is half empty or totally empty, unloved, tired…you can add a few descriptors. I am sure there are some others.
How do you manage your stress?
Avoid it by watching TV, read, drink alcohol, take drugs, eat, lash out at others, self-harm, exercise, meditate, pray…. Again, there are several ways that people have adapted and survived anxiety and depression. Some are healthy and others are not so much.
Here is a meditation you can use to help yourself to calm and cleanse your body, mind, and spirit.
Start with some soft music, relax on a bed, couch, or mat in a quiet area. Start some deep long breathing. Close your eyes and imagine that you are at a seashore, and you are laying at the edge of the water. Each of your feet are in the water and the sun is shining softly, with a beautiful breeze. It feels like heaven. Now imagine that you have a hole on the bottom of both feet and as the waves come in the water enters the bottom of your right foot and starts to move thru your body (imagine this water moving slowly). It goes up into your right foot, slowly up your leg, into the right hip and pelvic area, then into the abdomen, up into the right chest, moves around the shoulder and down your right arm and fingers, then back up to your shoulder, into the right side of your neck and into your head, around your brain two times, then slowly down the other side of your body in the same fashion. Eventually, the water will release at the bottom of your left foot. As it exits the left foot, image yourself looking at the water and you see black sludge coming out.
Once the water has cleansed itself out with a wave or two, start over. Continue this exercise until the water comes out clear and sparkling. Sometimes, it takes quite a few times, so be patient with yourself.
Another Quick Method:
If you are in a situation where you need immediate relief, you can do Dr. Andrew Weil’s 4-7-8 breath. You can look this up on the internet or read below.
Briefly, you bring yourself to a comfortable seated position, with your feet flat on the floor. Inhale for 4 counts, hold the breath for 7 counts, and exhale for 8 counts. Do this 4 times. Then return to your normal breath. Do this practice twice a day, every day, and you will notice a difference in your demeanor. It is a wonderful way to take you from the sympathetic nervous system to the parasympathetic nervous system. From Fight or Flight to CALM. Once the water has cleansed itself out with a wave or two, start over. Continue this exercise until the water comes out clear and sparkling. Sometimes, it takes quite a few times, so be patient with yourself.
Please comment any other suggestions you’ve used to help yourself or others to relieve stress and anxiety.
Happy Strawberry Moon night!
