Anxiety Society
Well, hi!
What a week we’ve had, huh? I am writing this under the assumption that someday a historian is going to find this blog post and include it in their studies of 2020’s, so expect BIG vocab words to impress them.
Kidding aside, truly, how is everyone doing? I am okay. I oscillate from being totally in my element staying at home (extreme introvert here) to being very scared as to what the world will look like post-covid.
I’ve seen a lot of posts popping up about immunity and the actions and supplements we can take to help boost our immune system. And I totally agree! In fact, I wrote a post on the subject (immune health, not covid immune health) that you can find here. And I stand by that info, specifically the talk about boosting your digestion. One of the most integral parts of your innate immune system (your first line of defense against an invader) is stomach acid! Plus, the more stomach acid you have, the more efficient your body is at digesting and absorbing the vitamins, minerals, and macros you ingest, giving your system even more resources to help boost cellular health.
What does immune health look like for me right now? Copious amounts of bone broth, apple cider vinegar or lemon water, daily walks, cold showers, and my immune supplements, specifically astragalus and liposomal vitamin C.
One note to make: with all newer illnesses there is a lack of information and research; there have been some speculations on whether elderberry helps or hurts when it comes, specifically, to a covid infected patient. I’ve read both sides and I am unsure as to where I stand, so I urge you to always reach out to your doctor before starting on ANY supplement!
So while the entire internet seems to be giving you all of the herbs and immune boosts, I would like to highlight another issue that is being brought to light by this epidemic: anxiety. And while it’s actually kind of weird if you haven’t felt at least a little anxious this week, I thought it would be nice to give a little toolkit of actionable ideas and practices to help manage this new normal with a bit of peace and happiness.
A very anxious GIF
Kendall’s Anxiety Toolkit also know as Operation Happiness!
(I understand that the end goal of most of these activities is not happiness per say, but the title brings me joy and that’s what counts right now!)
Rescue Remedy
This is a homeopathic, floral essence that was specifically formulated for times of high-stress. I have the dropper and the pastilles ready to go whenever I know I could be stressed, aka when traveling, during a test, giving a big presentation—you get the idea. When you hold the essence under your tongue it gives your nervous system a second to reset, regroup and focus on the task at hand.
Magnesium Baths
This is another nervous system reset, but in the form of a warm, luxurious bath. I love these flakes so much. They immediately calm my system when they’re added to a bath and have become a regular routine for me. Most of us are deficient in magnesium and our skin only absorbs what our body needs, so a magnesium bath is always a good idea. Double points for adding a few drops of lavender oil. Triple points if you watch a trashy romance while you’re in the bath.
Emotional Freedom Technique
I was introduced to this practice a few years ago and was completely turned off. It was so foreign to me and a bit jarring. Lately, however, I’ve come full circle and have been relying on EFT for a multitude of things. I’ve linked a video that demonstrates the technique for anxiety and here is a general description of the process. I have seen such an improvement in my overall mental health when I regularly include a tapping practice. There are so many variations on YouTube; I’m sure you can find one to fit your needs.
30 Minutes of House
I stole this term from Farmhouse Vernacular, who if you don’t follow on Instagram, you should (if you like historical renovations and antiques). They are currently renovating their farmhouse and have a saying “30 minutes of house” where when they’re feeling overwhelmed or tired from the day, they set a timer for 30 minutes and try to tackle one project. Once the timer is up, they’re done. I think this is a great technique for anxiety. When' you’re feeling overwhelmed and out of control, set a timer and accomplish a small task. Clean your sock drawer, empty your spice rack, put away laundry, windex your mirrors. Anything. And when the timer goes off, you’re done. Even if you’re not. But you’ve already accomplished something because you just accomplished “30 minutes of house”! It’s truly a win-win. And NOTE! it doesn’t have to be 30 minutes! Maybe it’s 20 or 10! Accomplishing something will help ground you, no matter what the timeframe is.
Wim Hof Breathwork
I am obsessed with Wim Hof, who is a person, but also a breathwork technique. I love when someone is super passionate and extremely genuine about it too—and that’s Wim! He is also known as ‘Yhe Iceman,’ because he utilizes his breathing techniques to calm the nervous system and withstand cold temperatures. All in all, a very fascinating technique and guy. But his breathing, like a lot of anxiety breathing techniques (what’s up, box breathing!) help you focus and come back down to earth when you’re having an anxious moment. If you haven’t already watched, I highly recommend the Wim Hof episode of The Goop Lab on Netflix.
Watching the sunrise
First off, it’s free, second it gets you off to an accomplished (and early) start in the morning and third it helps reset your circadian rhythm to help you have a most restful sleep! When your eyes (& brain) see the sunrise it automatically begins a “countdown” in your brain to release melatonin twelve hours later, which is around when the sun usually sets. Melatonin is not only a hormone that makes you sleepy but is starting to be considered by the scientific world as an antioxidant. (You can read more about that here.) And when your cells are less stressed by free radicals, you can bet that they’ll work in your favor, which is always a good thing. And who doesn’t feel better after a good night sleep?
Binaural Beats music
I recently discover binaural beats music and much like EFT there are hundreds of variations all over YouTube. This is a type of sound therapy that uses different frequencies to help activate and relax various parts of the brain including your subconscious. This type of music is very recognizable if you’ve ever gotten a massage or visited a kundalini yoga studio, but I have really been enjoying it as background music while I get shit done! (Currently listening to this while I write this blog post!)
Adult Coloring Books
Yes, I said it. There is something so meditative and calming about coloring within the lines. I am a creative that rarely follows the rules, but when it comes to the intricate pages of an adult coloring book I follow along. And the good news is you don’t have to purchase a thing. A quick google search reveals hundreds of pages you can print for free, but I’ve linked a personal favorite above.
Acupressure Mat
This is an ancient Chinese practices that is supposed to be a “less intense” bed of nails. It can be a bit jarring when you first step onto the mat or lay down, but it quickly becomes relaxing. The theory behind this practice is that it activates certain energy meridians within the body and also stimulates the body to release endorphins, or your body’s natural pain killer. This release gives you and your muscles a sense of calm and can help get you into a meditative state.
Self Care & Cooking
There seems to be a lot of pressure on the internet to prove that you take exceptional care of yourself at all times. This suggestion is not that. It is simply giving you the space to make time for yourself. Self care can be as simple as using that expensive face mask you’ve been saving for a rainy day or experimenting in the kitchen with a new recipe. It does not have to be glamorous. As long as you’re content—it’s self care. I personally love treating myself to floral facial steam but I’ve also been known to categorize watching 90 Day Fiance as self care too!
Accomplishing a routine during this period is such an integral part of giving your nervous system and body a sense of normalcy. With that in mind, I created a quick download with a few ideas to keep your anxiety-busting routine robust and interesting.
My hope with this list is to give all of you some ideas and tools to help navigate the coming weeks. I know this is an unprecedented situation, but we’re all in this together!
DISCLAIMER This information is intended as educational advice only and should not be used in place of a medical provider to diagnose or treat any illness.