Anxiety is normal. It’s when it becomes pervasive to the point of needing professional intervention that we need to learn to navigate its symptoms better. I share some stories about my struggles with a general anxiety disorder and some tools I’ve been experimenting with during the pandemic that has helped me manage my issues and strive to live a wholehearted life.
Anxiety Management Resources mentioned during the recording:
I talk about finding a good therapist and how important it was for me to find a therapist who is both skilled AND culturally competent. Right now, there’s definitely a trend toward wanting trauma-informed therapists as well. Although there are many ways to locate a good therapist who will take your insurance or be willing to see you online, I’ve started an ever-evolving list of directories and tools on my Mental health Resources page.
Community is a key component in anxiety management. I mentioned one such community space where I’ve met and have come to love some really awesome folx: Mystic Soul Project: is a nonprofit centering the voices, teachings and dialogue of POC (people of color) at the intersection of spirituality, activism and healing. We celebrate POC spiritually and LGBTQIA+ expressions of the divine, centering the margins of the margins – including QTPOC (queer and trans people of color).
WRAP: The Wellness Recovery Action Plan or WRAP, is a self-designed prevention and wellness tool that you can use to get well, and stay well.
These are the Three Specific “Tools” I promised to share with you that I didn’t tap into until the Pandemic began…
1) How to use a blue light filter on your PC or Mac. Researchers are continually releasing studies on the potential harm of blue light. When you stare at a screen all day and into the evening, it can affect your sleep and disrupt your body’s natural rhythms. For these reasons, blue light filters are incredibly important.
2) What is EFT tapping? It is an alternative treatment for physical pain and emotional distress. It’s also referred to as tapping or psychological acupressure.
3) Why Meditation? One study found that 8 weeks of mindfulness meditation helped reduce anxiety symptoms in people with generalized anxiety disorder, along with increasing positive self-statements and improving stress reactivity and coping.
Smash The Stigma T-shirt I’m wearing.
Until Next Time…Peace!
Oh! By the way, if you want to learn more about the blogger of this post feel free to check out my about page.