The last 15 months have been challenging for everyone in a myriad of ways. According to the National Institute for Health (NIH), stress, depression and anxiety have all increased in the US. This is especially concerning for those who were suffering from one or more of these conditions prior to the pandemic. If you are one of those people, I strongly encourage you to seek professional help. Finding someone you trust to help you find joy again is possible!
That said, today I am writing today to address those who are searching for holistic ways to help manage day to day stress, anxiety and/or depression. I went through a very difficult time in December of last year when a myriad of things coalesced at once: financial, medical, and the stress of worry about Covid being all around me (including losing someone I cared deeply for to this awful virus). I started to have anxiety for the first time. As I recognized the signs, I realized I needed a plan. So I want to share with you the 5 step process I took to combat the feelings of stress and anxiety. I did this for 30 days.
- Learn a breathing exercise and use it every time you are feeling stress. I recommend one from Dr Andrew Weil here. I have done this on flights for years and it always calms my mind.
- Do yoga or meditation - during my month of reclaiming my health, I did 30 minutes of yoga every day
- Read a devotional or inspirational daily reading - start each day with this step - before you look at social media! It only takes a few minutes and is very important to start your brain on a good, positive path
- Add a supplement for stress. I started taking Ashwegandha powder, but there are many other options. Please do your research as not every supplement is the right choice for everyone. You can find ideas on www.drweil.com
- Set boundaries. This could be an entire blog all unto it's own but the short of it is you likely know what your stressors are. Control them, do not let them control you! Figure out how to keep them managed. Maybe it means turning off your phone an hour before bed and not turning it back on until after you've done your morning ritual (which hopefully includes the steps above). It could be planning a specific time for a task that causes you angst...or taking a break from work calls. This step is very important, so give consideration to how you can accomplish this one!
Stress can literally exacerbate disease in your body, it's nothing to ignore. Things such as heart disease, weight gain, headaches, depression, concentration impairment. Read more here on the Mayo Clinic site.
I hope that you find this helpful in your journey for peace. If you need support, I am happy to work with you to help devise a plan, keep you accountable or employ new habits to replace old ones!
In good health,
Jackie