What causes anxiety?
Anxiety occurs when we feel overwhelmed because we believe that we can't cope with life. This belief is often untrue, but we have allowed it to become our reality - perhaps as a way of keeping ourselves small and this may be unconscious. Anxiety is the discrepancy between what we are required to do and what we feel capable of doing. For example, if you have a report or an event due on Friday, and you feel inadequate to meet the demands of the task, anxiety will flourish in the gap. Anxiety occurs across a continuum, from mildly anxious to debilitating.
There are many different types of anxiety such as social anxiety, specific phobias, panic disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Caffeine, drugs, alcohol, sugar and other stimulants can also contribute and increase the symptoms of anxiety.
A underlying cause of all types of anxiety is a disconnection from your innate sensitivity, felt sense of self and body. Not being able to be present with yourself, others and what's going on in your life is a major cause of anxiety.
What are the symptoms of anxiety?
Physical Symptoms
Panic attacks
Hot and cold flushes
Racing heart
Tightening of the chest
Sleep problems
Restlessness
Feeling tense
Wound up and edgy
Detached from your body
Sweating
Shaking
Psychological Symptoms
Excessive fear
Worried all the time
Catastrophizing
Obsessive thinking
Overthinking
Indecisive
Irritable, agitated
Worried you’re going crazy
Behavioural
Avoidance of situations
Inability to sit still and remain calm
Social withdrawal and isolation
Exaggerated startle reflex
Decreased ability to perform normal activities of daily life
Talking too much
Inability to concentrate or focus
Not being able to set boundaries/ say no
What anxiety feels like in the body
Anxiety symptoms can present differently in every person and the way in which people feel and relate to anxiety depends on many factors. It can be related to a specific situation either in the past or the future, or it can be a overall feeling of helplessness based on the belief that we can't cope. When you are very anxious you may not necessarily know what you are feeling. It can feel like you have moved out of your body and up into your head in order to avoid any feelings as they are overwhelming. Withdrawing from your body and feelings may create temporary relief but it is much easier and more joyful to do life when we are present and connected to our body and feelings.
Anxiety and body connection
It is important to know that you were not born anxious and you are not just an 'anxious person.' It is extremely common to have anxiety, but it is not normal or natural. What has happened to you in your lifetime has contributed to you feeling anxious and energetically disconnecting from your body and feelings. You are not a victim of anxiety and it is not something that you just have to put up with and manage - the more we connect with our body the more present we become. The more consciously present we are, the less overwhelmed we feel. Being present to our body and feelings challenges the belief that we cannot cope allowing us to feel more capable and confident to meet life's demands.
How to deal with anxiety naturally
When we are connected to our body and feelings it is difficult to be overwhelmed by anxiety, therefore, one effective way to deal with anxiety is to re-connect with the sensitivity of your body. Although moving up and out of your body and feelings provided temporary relief, it is one of the main reasons that you feel you cannot cope. Grounding yourself, becoming present with yourself and others and energetically reinhabiting your body can be challenging but is SO worth it as brings a lasting sense of confidence and joy to your life naturally. Our bodies are the interface between our Soul and the field of love in which we are held. Therefore, reconnecting with our body and Soul deepens our realisation that we are part of the natural flow that governs the rhythms of nature. This realisation can be extremely healing.
The Body Connection Program supports you to re-connect to your body and felt sense of self and is specifically designed to support with the building of presence in our day-to-day life. In turn, participants have noticed a marked reduction in symptoms of anxiety and an improvement in their daily life. If you would like to try one of the exercises created for anxiety, click here.