Checking in here, and just feeling like I’d like to share.
I’m traveling right now. With my husband in NYC and enjoying it very much. We’ve had quite a lot of great Opera to see and the weather has been terrific, and it’s been a wonderful change of scenery to be in the big city.
No real worries about “Swine Flu” or airplanes or anything. But I have noticed a little worry, buzzing around my head like a gnat. Nothing I could name or anything, just the awareness that Worry/Anxiety/Panic or whatever had ‘found’ me here… in my anonymity in The Big Apple.
So, I paused. Simply stood still. Breathed deeply. And refused to go down the road with it. Yes, I may drop dead. Sure. But that’s not going to take me out of my present moment, nor is it going to interrupt my last two days here.
It’s a kind of reaction that has grown out of years of practicing thought-interruption, and so far it has worked. Gently, but it has worked.
It’s my new mantra. Pause. Breathe. Pause.
Carry on.
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May 3, 2009 at 5:48 pm
sandy
Excellent stuff. Especially for NYC. The last time I was there I felt a lot of stress and anxiety. So big, so many people, so many unusual, daunting and, at times, threatening types of people and situations. Just getting around in a timely manner, figuring out all the “ins and outs” of transportation, etc. So I think your handling of the anxiety is great. And perhaps keeping it from escalating, even better.
October 6, 2009 at 9:26 am
Josh
This is great, this is my first time seeing this blog. I have issues with anxiety myself and with travel.
I recently went to Toronto, On and I live and grew up in a small town in Northwestern Ontario which is at the tip of Lake Superior. I felt overwhelmed and felt small when I first rolled into Toronto, but with time and breathing and other techniques that councilling has given me, I embraced my time in Toronto and had a fun time without worry. I had many anxious thoughts whle in Toronto the first two days about getting to my training session and if I would get lost riding the subway and what not. I would just use my Box breathing technique, breathing in for 7 seconds, holding it for 7 seconds and letting it out for 7 seconds and each time I would count to 7 and it would help me relax me and take my mind off the anxious thoughts or worrysome thoughts.
Before that trip my biggest trip was from where I currently reside in small Schreiber, On to Albany, NY for my brothers wedding and I had hit all them same feelings, but before my trip I met with council and we discussed everything that was worrying me.
It’s great to see people conquering there anxiety and enjoying life and not being held back by anxiety.
Myself I am still trying to conquere my anxiety of flying which I hope to overcome soon. This is a great blog and I shall continue to read it, it’s good to know that there are more people dealing with this same issue and that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and support.
December 4, 2009 at 11:26 am
Hyporelief
Hey,
Love the blog.
Just as an FYI, I started a website that I think can be useful to your readers, its called Hypochondriac’s Relief. Its a site that takes a positive bend on medical sites, we try to post only positive medical stories, the glass is half full kinda stuff.
You can check it out at HypoRelief dot Com
Keep up the great blogging.
October 17, 2010 at 11:37 am
Ananga - Anxiety Slayer Blog
Thank you for sharing this. I think it’s a great idea to remind ourselves to “Pause. Breathe. Pause.” It’s so simple, but it’s also profound how much we can adjust and feel calmer in general when we put our attention on practising little steps toward long-term change.
March 29, 2011 at 8:04 pm
Phil
I have issues with anxiety as well. I have been talking to a therapist, but it has gotten a bit expensive as I am no longer covered. I am looking for different sources and am currently trying online therapy cause it is cheaper. It´s still new, but I´m wondering if someone else has been doing it and what you think.
January 15, 2012 at 8:12 am
cureit
you can try Natural anxiety Treatment for proven anxiety relief For a free guide to natural anxiety treatment at http://naturalanxietytreatment.co.uk/blog
January 26, 2012 at 8:38 pm
Laura L
Great tip! Worrying and worrying about how we worry too much brings more worries! (okay, that’s confusing). So one of the best things to do is to PAUSE for a while and BREATHE and try to rationalize things out.
February 29, 2012 at 4:20 pm
Sara Raboin
I just found your blog today for the first time. You express yourself so beautifully, it is a joy to read. I will definitely be adding you to my “reading routine” Thank you!