8 ways to manage anxiety around current world affairs
If you're currently feeling...
Scared, anxious, uneasy, unsettled or worried right now, I want to remind you that it's okay. It's okay to have those feelings, especially right now in a world that feels unsafe.
With all the recent news and headlines, whether you've seen it on TV, in newspapers, magazines, on social media or through conversation I feel you and I see you.
it's hard to escape, no matter how hard you try.
But if you're currently finding yourself obsessing over and ruminating about all the negative things that 'could' happen, if you feel like you can't pull yourself away from it then it's time to do something about it, before it starts to control you.
This post is designed to help you manage those feelings of uneasiness that you might be feeling right now:
Breathe I'm sure you've seen this plenty of times before 'just breathe' - but it is really beneficial when you give yourself a chance. In the past there have been times when I've found it to be more detrimental, it made me panic more, but I wasn't giving it a real chance, I was creating that panic in my own mind. I also wasn't sure how to do it 'properly' The easiest and most effective way is box breathing, and by this I mean getting yourself into a comfortable position with your back supported. - Then inhaling in through the nose for a count of 4 - Holding for a count of 4 - Then releasing (exhaling out) for a count of 4 - Holding for 4 - Breathing in through the nose for 4 - Holding for 4 and so on...
Keep repeating this until you begin to feel calmer and more relaxed. It also helps to put on some soothing music or meditation sounds to help you through it and prevent you from panicking.
Other things include...
Mindfulness What do I mean by this? Becoming aware of the present moment, especially your senses. What can you hear, smell, touch, see and taste? Can you list 3 of each in your immediate surrounding? And if the surrounding of where you are doesn't feel good, move and find somewhere that does. For example; if you wash the dishes, instead of letting your mind wander keep bringing it back to washing the dishes, feeling the warm temperature of the water, the soap bubbles, the iridescent colours in them, the feel and texture of the sponge, does the washing up liquid have a nice scent?