Can you relate?

When I’m anxious, my throat and plexus feel tight and swollen; my breathing shallow.

It’s as if disaster was bound to happen; I just can’t set a finger on where or when. All is in its place yet I know, I KNOW! that doom is on its way.

Anxiety is very skilled at pretending to be important. It’s vague and unspecific. It triggers thought loops that create more anxiety.

It works as the fire alarm in a building: shrill and extremely unpleasant. Compelling us to run outside without checking what started the alarm.

Unfortunately, we don’t have the option to jump out of our skin to wait on the parking lot until anxiety has subsided. The alarm blaring full volume prevents us to notice that this is just a fire drill.

So what to do?

We need to deactivate the alarm.

Our feelings are created by our thoughts but processed by our body.

Gently direct your attention instead to the physical sensation of anxiety. Describe it in detail. Notice that though unpleasant, it’s not even unbearable. Do this for a few minutes, until the fire alarm goes off.

Then re-enter the building. Resume your day. Knowing that no matter what is thrown your way? You can manage.

No bad horses, only untrained riders 🐴