Let's Talk Anxiety

“Smile, breathe, and go slowly.” 

~Thich Nhat Hanh

I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but we are well into Month Three of a global pandemic. And I think we’ve all at least once had the thought, “What the actual fuck is happening?!?” 

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (citing the most recent National Institute of Health research), approximately 40 million American adults, roughly 18% of the population, currently have an anxiety disorder. I can only imagine this number has skyrocketed since our sense of reality blew up in our faces ten weeks ago. Facing up to all of the COVID-19 challenges—including social distancing, lockdown measures and being ordered to “stay home”—has not been easy for anyone. 

So when we catch ourselves feeling anxious, fearful or overly “concerned,” how do we get back to center? What actions can we take to simply reset ourselves and make it through the day?

No amount of prescription drugs and bottles of Merlot are going to fix the situation. But there are things we can do, starting now, to shed the stress and open the door to peace.

Certainly, picking up a spiritual practice (or rejuvenating your current one), seeing a therapist, working with a life coach, and cleaning up your diet and/or lifestyle are all ways we can come back to our “calm as a cucumber” selves.

I do think it’s a good idea to ensure the basics are running properly. Getting some blood work and food allergy tests done can help establish that your physiology is in good working order. Not only will that ease your mind (health worries are one of the leading causes of stress), but it will very likely also leave you feeling empowered. Sitting in the driver’s seat of your health journey is a solid way to move out of the unknown zone, i.e., stress city, and into a place where you feel confident about your well-being. And as we’ve learned, knowledge is power, people.

Another easy way to transform stress is to walk. Walk in nature, walk around your block, walk on a treadmill, or walk in circles around your backyard. It doesn’t matter where you step out, just get stepping. When you’re feeling anxious, you want to move that energy out of your system -- and walking your tail off is one easy way to take care of business! 

I also suggest taking some health-boosting products to dampen the fire of terror in your system.

My number one recommendation is CBD oil… and not just any CBD oil. I use Moon Mother CBD oil.

I am no stranger to anxiety and this brand of CBD oil is by far the best I’ve found. It has become a staple in my life and my nervous system thanks me every day for it.

I also swear by the product CALM. It’s a magnesium/calcium powder I mix with water every night before going to bed. It helps me sleep like a baby and it keeps my stress levels in check. 

Lastly, I drink organic chamomile tea in the evening.

It calms me down, tastes delicious and keeps me from late-night snacking. And it’s a hell of a lot better than pouring yourself an apple martini or a glass of wine, which will only make your anxiety worse the next day. 

Really taking a long, hard look at your life and understanding why you’re feeling anxious is certainly an important step in navigating your way back to a state of serenity and well-being. We want to get to the root of the problem, instead of just treating the symptoms; but in most cases, that takes time. Some days we need to just survive the chaos, and that’s where I’ve found my “stress hacks” come in real handy. 

By zeroing in on some health tips and good old-fashioned self-care (and where necessary, some help along the way), you can soothe the savage anxiety beast, naturally. Trust me, I’ve been there and have come out the other side a stronger person. It can be done and I am here to help in any way I can. 

Keep cool and stay strong, my friends.

Peace & Love,

Valerie