You’re in control of your beautiful & wild life.

Anxiety has been a part of my life for quite some time now. Even before what I like to call my “massive-slap-in-the-face-hello-panic-attack”, there were anxious moments, nervousness and insecurities. I just hadn’t labelled them yet.

To me anxiety is no longer something to be ashamed of. In fact, I have come to embrace it. Sound a little rose-coloured? Well, it’s true. Anxiety became an opportunity for me. A reminder to check in with myself. A chance to look at my life, reflect, and choose the path I want to take.

Anxiety can be the indicator that it is time to take a little inventory of your life. Pay attention to those red flags. And always trust and listen to your intuition. It is real and there for a reason.
 

Think of anxiety as your inner GPS sending off warning signals. It is up to you whether you pay attention or ignore them.

 
Ignoring the warning signals for too long resulted in panic attacks for me. So I want to share with you my top 5 tips for dealing with anxiety naturally as I have learned to do. I am happy to say I have not had a panic attack in quite some time by following these simple yet effective steps.
 

Simple + Effective steps to deal with anxiety

Anxiety may always be a part of my life but by having a simple and powerful toolkit, I no longer live in fear. Arm yourself with these practical ways to take back control of your beautiful and wild life.
 

5. TALK ABOUT IT

Now you may not want to start every sentence with “Hi. I’m Megan and I have anxiety.” BUT it is SO important to share what you’re going through and to give yourself a voice. Talk to someone. It could be your partner or mother. But it doesn’t have to be your nearest and dearest. Sometimes it’s better to share these things with someone else first. Someone not as close to us so that we are not emotionally invested in their response. Those who love us the most tend to want to fix things for us and although they have the very best of intentions, sometimes we just need to be heard. You can also talk to someone who has been through what you’re going through and can share their experiences with you and possibly some insight too.

As long as you feel supported to express your feelings freely, without judgement, and get it off your chest. No good will come from bottling up your anxiety or negative thoughts. Get it out and you take away its power.
 

4. EAT CLEAN

I know we’ve all heard this before, but diet really is such a HUGE factor in looking after our mental health. The brain is an organ too that feeds off and gets its fuel from whatever it is that we are putting into our bodies. If you are eating a highly processed diet and consuming packaged food-like substances, your mind will be foggy, erratic and not fully functioning.

Treat yourself to real food! Lots of fresh and vibrant vegetables and fruits. Organic is best but as long as it comes from the earth rather than a factory, you are on the right track. Your brain will thank you for a diet full of nutritious variety. Your mind will be clear, calm and crisp with clarity. Positive thinking and boundless energy are just a forkful away!
 

3. EXERCISE

Move that body! The best way to rid yourself of that pent up nervous energy is to exercise each and every day. I know what you’re thinking… Who has the time, energy, motivation, etcetera. But it doesn’t have to be long, arduous, hard-core sweat it out sessions. Put on some rocking tunes and dance it out for 10 minutes. Or try something really gentle such as dru yoga. Lots of stretching and breathing works wonders on the anxious mind, which leads me to my next tip…
 

2. BREATHE

We do not breathe properly anymore. Seriously. We all need to just STOP. Inhale. Exhale. Repeat. Deep, long, down to the belly breaths are such a powerful combatant to the jitters and shakes. That is why meditation is so good because it constantly brings us back to our breath.

One of my favourite breathing techniques is the 4-4-8. Start by breathing in for 4 counts. Fill your lungs completely to the point where you feel your abdomen is full of air. Hold for 4 counts. Then slowly exhale for 8.

This may take some practice, breathing so deeply. Just start slowly with 2-4 repetitions. Once you are feeling comfortable you can increase the reps and practice whenever you start to feel tense. My tip… do the 4-4-8 breathing technique every morning and every night. Honestly, it will change your life.
 

1. SELF AWARENESS & KNOWLEDGE

This is THE best tool to have in managing anxiety. And the absolute essential step in learning about ourselves is to write it down. Even if you have no idea where to start, just start. Grab pen and paper and just start writing about how anxiety makes you feel, when it is at its worst, or when you think it started. Sometimes it is not until we make the conscious effort to dig a little deeper, reflect, and read our thoughts back to us, that we have a breakthrough. And experience that ever elusive a’ha moment.

Journaling is a great way to get to know yourself again. Your dreams, your fears, your wants and desires. It’s also a great tool for measuring how far we have come and how we have dealt with certain situations in the past. What has worked and what has not. What are your triggers and what do you absolutely need to avoid, at least for right now..
 

Be your own top priority and feel the anxiety start melting away. Taking some time for self-care and loving yourself will leave no room in your heart for fear.

 
So take these tips and put them in your own natural tool-kit for managing anxiety. Take it slow. Little adjustments to daily living can have a profound and long-lasting effect on your outlook on life. Choosing herbal tea over that espresso or having lunch outside in the sun rather than cooped up at your office desk will do wonders for the anxious mind.

Make conscious decisions to put your health first, puts you back in control. You are the master of your ship my friend. And once you start showing up for yourself in little ways, soon enough it becomes habit. You build upon self-trust – which, in turn, builds up self-confidence and self-esteem.

Be your own top priority and feel the anxiety start melting away. Taking some time for self-care and loving yourself will leave no room in your heart for fear.

And remember… you got this.

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