“The 4 P’s: A few principles to conquering anxiety”
Anxiety is something every human can relate to. Although anxiety can take many forms in many different contexts, the kind of anxiety I’ll be talking about in this series, is the kind that has stepped beyond a stressful circumstance or moment. For some, chronic anxiety seemed to have snuck up out of nowhere. For others, it came after a traumatic moment or season; and for the majority of the world, there is some level of anxiety we all are feeling in this current pandemic climate. Whatever the instigator is, anxiety leaves us feeling overwhelmed and powerless.
We try different things- staying busy, numbing it out with binging TV, food, substances, or pleasure, but if these things help at all, many of us discover they aren’t a long-term remedy. Some distractions even exacerbate the symptoms of anxiety, leaving us feeling even more powerless.
So what is the remedy? Although I cannot prescribe any one action that will magically resolve anxiety, I can give a few key principles to help create an opportunity for relief and a new journey out of chronic anxiety.
According to Kabat-Zinn, Mindfulness is “awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally”. Many people associate mindfulness with spirituality and eastern religion. Although mindfulness can be spiritual for some, it is not a religious practice. Mindfulness is simply a way of engaging the here and now, that brings us from our heads (full of fears, judgment, busyness, “what-if’s” and analyzing) to instead, being in connection with the present moment, without judgment. A simple, every day example of mindfulness, is eating lunch without multitasking, paying attention to the flavors, texture, and how we feel as we eat.
Try it today, and take note what you notice. Mindfulness can be an action, perspective, or a byproduct. No matter the vehicle, mindfulness gives us the opportunity to see and feel differently as we raise awareness to the present moment, without judgment.
Here are four key mindfulness principles to conquering anxiety:
Permission: learning to listen
Presence: how to feel the texture of every moment
Practice: learning a tool of meditation to bring relief in the here and now
People: what role do others play in my journey with anxiety? And are they necessary?
I encourage exploring these steps with a counselor, as any form of mindfulness can bring both relief and sometimes more awareness to challenging emotions. However, each of these steps are safe actions anyone can take at any time. As you take a step, I hope you find some relief and discover something new about yourself.
Be well,
Cassie
