Grounding Techniques For Anxiety & Lowering Stress
Grounding techniques for anxiety are meant to bring you back to the present moment and to help you reconnect with the here and now. We can do this by refocusing attention on our breath, on our body, or on the environment we find ourselves in. When we can reconnect to the present moment, to what is actually happening right now, our brain is reminded that in this moment we are safe. Once our brain recognizes that we are, in fact, safe in this moment, our anxiety begins to decrease.
Exercise and Mental Health: 3 Biological Benefits of Physical Activity
At some point or another, I am sure you have heard about the great benefits of exercise, especially for improving and maintaining mental health. Sometimes hearing something is beneficial isn’t enough of a reason to give it a shot, so here are 3 backed-by-research reasons why exercise improves our mental and emotional well-being.
Where Does Anxiety Come From?
When the brain perceives the body to be in danger, it sends out both physical signals and cognitive signals in an attempt to save you from whatever danger it believes you to be in. These signals can look like ‘what if…’ thoughts, rapid heart rate, sweating, shallow breathing, etc.. These signals are strong and uncomfortable…for a good reason. Your brain is doing everything in its power to get you away from the threat. If these signals were pleasant, we probably wouldn’t be as apt to get into action, right?
The Impact Of Gut Health On Mental Health
The human body is a complex machine; every organ and cell working and being impacted by all other organisms in the body. This is why the concepts of Holistic Wellness and Healing are so important – they take into consideration the entire body and how the inner workings of the body are interacting with one another.
Using the Vagus Nerve To Calm The Nervous System
Our brain is constantly observing our surroundings, making meaning and attempting to ensure our body’s safety. When our brain observes a possible threat, it immediately turns on the body’s threat response system (AKA Fight/Flight/Freeze). It doesn’t even matter if the threat is real, our brain would rather be safe than sorry.
The Secret to “Controlling” your Emotions
When we feel emotional pain and it feels like it will never end, it is not necessarily that first emotion that is causing us distress. It definitely could be, don't get me wrong. We humans certainly have the capacity to experience incredibly painful emotions, each of which are valid to experience no matter the circumstances. The aspect of this pain cycle that I want to focus on, though, is our secondary reaction.
5 Easy Ways to Practice Mindfulness
Mindfulness
Another popular term floating around these days that advertises incredible life change. But what is mindfulness and how can it really change your life? Let’s start with the basics.
Mindfulness is a state of being present and aware in the moment. With all of the chaos that life tends to bring, this idea of being still enough to even notice what’s around you may seem out of reach.