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One day when I was experiencing the turmoil of anxiety, I found I was not
able to get relief from anxiety using Inner Talk alone. My mind wanted to
believe the positive things I was saying, but my body wasn’t buying it. I
noticed that my worries were accompanied by a feeling often described as
"butterflies" or that "sinking feeling" in the pit of the stomach. It felt
like a churning sensation, as if the normal flow of energy had gone into
reverse. I located the center of those anxious feeling in my abdomen and
touched it with the palm of my hand. As I rotated my hand in a clockwise
direction, I found the anxious sensations dissipating almost immediately.
With the biological component of my anxiety relieved, I resumed my Inner
Talk and found that my body could now accept it. I began to teach this
technique to clients and workshops participants and found that nearly
everyone could locate their main Anxiety Center and calm it using this
method.
This fast, free and effective method for anxiety relief can become
another powerful tool in your anxiety mastery kit. Here’s how to do it:
• Find your Anxiety Center.
Get out of your head and into your body. Notice where the sensations of
anxiety are located in your body. The most common Anxiety Centers are
along the midline of the front of the body, especially the stomach
(butterflies, nausea) and chest (rapid heartbeat and rapid breathing).
Some people may find their Anxiety Center in the throat area. Worrying,
unaccompanied by physical sensations, usually indicates an Anxiety Center
in the forehead (as indicated by the typical furrowed brow). If your main
symptoms are in the arms or shoulders, use the middle of the chest as your
Anxiety Center; if in the legs, use the lower abdomen.
• Calm your Anxiety Center.
After locating your Anxiety Center, place the palm of your hand
directly on the spot. Now begin gently moving your hand in a circular
clockwise direction (moving downward on the left side, upward on the right
side). After a minute or two you will begin to notice a feeling of anxiety
relief and calmness replacing the sensations of anxiety.
• Optional: Add a holistic dimension.
To increase the effectiveness of this technique combine it with
positive, self-calming Inner Talk and relaxed breathing. When your “inner
child” won’t listen to reason, it probably has a good (emotional) reason
not to. Listen to your Inner Talk and find out why. Use the Anxiety Center
Calming Technique to communicate safety and relaxation non-verbally.
You may get butterflies in your stomach occasionally, but next time you
can get them to the right way -- clockwise!
Note: Be sure to consult a mental health professional for help if your
anxiety is chronic or severe.
Read more articles by Robert Gerzon online at:
http://www.gerzon.com |