If You Resist It…It WILL Persist

Your heart rate increases, you notice yourself getting sweaty, it's getting hard to breathe.

Then it hits you, you are feeling anxiety.

When you notice anxiety, you have the tendency to want to run from it, to make it go away, or to pretend it is not there.

Newsflash: WHAT WE RESIST PERSISTS!

I know this sounds counterintuitive, but I dare you to try it.

In fact let's make that a double dog dare.

Instead of tensing up and distracting yourself on Instagram, with a can of Pringles, or cleaning like a whirling dervish… I want you to RELAX.

Yep, literally... relax.

Relax your forehead, drop your shoulders from your ears, loosen up your neck, let your back soften.

Keep going, friend.

Relax your core, your legs, and feet.

I like to think of letting the tension melt like an ice cube.

​Take a couple deep breaths: in through the nose out through the mouth.

Feel the breath move in and out of your body.

​Acknowledge the anxiety.

Validate your feeling by giving it a name: I am feeling anxiety.

​Stay in your body, your brain is going to want to get involved with all sorts of thoughts, sorry Brain, you are not invited to this party.

Where is the sensation located in your body?

Is it big or small?

Is it hot or cold?

Does it move or stay put?

Is it fast or slow?

Is it throbbing or is it steady?

Is it smooth or prickly?

Does it fill you with adrenaline or wear you out?

​This is the part of being a human where you experience anxiety.

It's ok that you don't like it, but can you just allow it for a few minutes while it is here?

I pinky promise it won’t last forever.

Breathe. Relax. You got this.