Three Ways to Help You Ride The Wave (…of Anxiety)

Written By Colleen Donahue

When we talk about riding the wave here, we are not about catching the surf on a nice, sunny, warm day at the beach. Sorry! Maybe head over to billabong.com if that’s what you thought this would be. We are talking about anxiety here.

Riding the wave of anxiety can feel like being caught in a relentless current, the kind that pulls you from all sides. It's not the fun rush of a beach wave; instead, it is a suffocating surge that makes everything around you fade out and the weight on your chest unbearable.

Anxiety can bring on a whirlwind of challenging emotions; in highly anxious moments, it can feel like there is nothing possible that will make things better, and I get that. But.. that’s your anxiety talking. There ARE things you can do…keep reading for three tips to ride the wave.

3 Ways you can access calm water when the waves seem endless

Mindfulness

It is so challenging to imagine that sitting in stillness will help when your body is running at 100 miles per hour without any end in sight. There are days I still struggle to believe it, trust me. Taking a moment in your day to sit, close your eyes, and take deep breaths can calm your nervous system and take it out of fight or flight. Try the square breathing technique —

Breathe in for 4 seconds

Hold for 4 seconds

Breathe out for 4 seconds

REPEAT

Exercise

Move your body! Get up, get out, and get moving. Go outside and take in the beauty of the outdoors. Fresh air can make a world of difference in highly anxious moments.

Go Back To The Basics

Did you eat today? What about water? How much caffeine did you drink? Had any alcohol? Sorry for the 20 questions but keep things simple and take care of your body. To lower our bodies' stress hormone (cortisol) levels, we need to go back to the basics and ensure our needs are met. Dehydration and low blood sugar can imitate feelings of panic, which can make the anxiety worse.

 

Please reach out if you need a therapist to help you navigate the challenging waters. You don’t have to do it alone.

Colleen Donahue