Tools For Daily Anxiety Relief
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Before diving into the rest of this post, take a moment to reflect on a recent time when anxiety took over while you were away from the comfort of your home. Pretty scary right? Whether it comes on gradually or hits us out of the blue, anxiety can quickly overwhelm our system if we don’t have go-to strategies to use in the moment.
But as many of you know, even when you know all of the skills to use, it feels nearly impossible to think of them in that moment you need them.This is because when our brain detects a threat and activates our anxiety (A.K.A our body’s innate protective response), we no longer have access to the logical part of our brain (A.K.A The Cortex). So here we are, super activated and in high alert mode, without any real ability to recall what can help us out.
Or so we thought…
Really there are two parts to this equation
1) Relaxation Training
( I am not going to go too deep into this practice in here, but you can learn more about that in this video. )
&
2) Helpful Coping Strategies
Number two is where we will be focusing today. More specifically, we are going to be looking at 4 different types of coping products which we can turn to in times of anxiety and stress. Think of these as in-the-moment products to help you to manage your anxiety while calming your nervous system.
Essential Oils
Essential oils provide grounding feelings while calming busy thoughts
There are so many essential oils out there which can calm those buzzing, anxious thoughts, while regulating our nervous system and even improving well-being in general. Many essential oil brands also produce pre-diluted roll-on sticks which you can carry around with you wherever you go.
Another way to utilize the calming benefits of essential oils is through the use of pillow sprays. Pillow sprays are formulated with calming essential oils and essential oil blends designed to promote a state of deep relaxation. You can simply spray it on your pillow before bed, and smell the calming scent throughout the night. These have been know to help you beat insomnia so you can fall asleep and stay asleep.
Fidgets
Fidgets accommodate your stress response in environments where it’s expected to remain still
Fidgets have become wildly popular in recent years - and for good reason. When we are feeling anxious, we naturally have this drive to move. That’s why we get fidgety, crave running or even leaving our environment. This is basically our body saying, “This doesn’t feel safe and I want to leave.” By using fidgets, we can meet our need to move without disrupting the environment or situation we find ourselves in. These can be especially helpful in situations where it may not be appropriate to physically leave (Classrooms, work meetings, Presentations, etc.).
Personally I think it’s great to have these as a resource regardless of the environment you are in. So long as they aren’t disruptive to others, being able to utilize a fidget, or something similar to a fidget, can help you out with focus and staying grounded in the present moment.
CALMIGO
CALMIGO is essentially an all-natural device to regulate your breathing.
As we all know, remembering to utilize calming techniques while in the throws of anxiety or panic takes a lot of work in the beginning. We basically have to teach our brain what to do in those moments by engaging in planned relaxation strategies through the day( something called Relaxation Training) While this can be an effective route to feeling calm, it does take a bit of time to really feel the results simply because it takes time for our brain and our body to learn that regulating our breathing helps us to feel calm and safe.
This is where CALMIGO comes into play. CALMIGO is a portable device which helps you to regulate your breathing in times of anxiety or panic. Not only does it help you to slow your breathing down which turns off your protective response, it also offers additional means of grounding through your choice of essential oil, visual cues, as well as vibration cues. As long as this little device is within arms reach, you have access to calm.
CALMIGO has graciously offered my audience $30 off your purchase of one of these devices. Simply use the code katiemclaughlin_lpcc at checkout to receive your discounted rate.
Weighted Blankets
Weighted Blankets help you beat insomnia, while calming your nervous system and improving your mood
Weighted Blankets can be especially helpful for night-time anxiety and insomnia. because they are designed to mimic something called Deep Pressure Stimulation. Simply put, when a consistent amount of weight is placed over your whole body, your Parasympathetic Nervous system gets activated. This is the branch of our nervous system which helps us feel calm, safe and secure. It is also called the rest and digest system because when we are in this state, our body finally feels safe enough to rest and to process our nutrients.
Not only that, but research is also indicating that using weighted blankets leads to increased serotonin production and decreased cortisol. This means that using a weighted blanket in daily life can improve our mood and decrease the amount of stress and anxiety we experience. Of course, it also assists with improving the quality of our sleep.
You can purchase these types of blankets in different sizes, as well as different weights, to match the needs of your body. Most companies who sell weighted blankets will guide you through some type of size and weight chart to ensure you are getting the best one for you.
While there are many brands out there NUZZIE offers FREE shipping in the US for all orders over $50. Just use the code FREESHIPPING at checkout to receive this discount.
