How do mindful practices help anxiety? (my story…)
Let’s take a trip back in time, to the year 2000. It’s a beautiful early spring day, an afternoon in March, and I’ve been doing some errands. As I’m driving I can feel my heart beating quickly, my breath is becoming shallow, and the road starts getting fuzzy in front of my eyes. I’m having a panic attack - one of many I had that spring. I have to pull over to the side of the road and sit for a few minutes before I can start driving again.
Thankfully, panic attacks only last a few minutes (about 10 minutes maximum) so it’s not long before I can get back on the road.
In the spring of 2000, I was working half-days, had two young children, and my mother was dying of cancer. I was stressed, to put it mildly.
For the next five years, until my father’s death in 2005 (he was also very ill and needed care) I was taking medication for panic disorder, an anxiety disorder, antidepressants due to depression and something to help me sleep. I hid in my bedroom, lost many friendships and withdrew from the world. I was not coping, and I definitely didn’t have any resilience to deal with life’s challenges.
Following my father’s death, slowly I started re-engaging with the world. It took me five years, but I eventually got my Masters degree. I started exercising and became obsessed with going to the gym. I started running - oh how I loved running! - and I discovered hiking, which I now can’t live without. Exercise greatly helped to reduce my anxiety, but I still experienced it and still needed medication.
A few years ago I had a serious fall that ended my running and intensive cardio classes at the gym. I felt myself falling into depression again.
Then I discovered yoga and meditation. I started doing You Tube videos (Yoga With Adriene was my favourite - try it!), took a mindfulness-based stress reduction program (MBSR - I’ve included a link below to Palouse Mindfulness - a FREE program you can do online) and began a daily practice that totally changed my life. I’m NOT exaggerating.
Now I can’t imagine life without mindfulness and yoga. I do it, in some form, every single day. Sometimes more than once a day. Actually, usually several times a day! And (while this may not be everyone’s experience), the result is that I no longer take any medication for anxiety or depression.
Let me be very clear: I will always have an anxiety disorder and will be prone to depression. That’s just the way my mind/body functions. And my experience may not be the same as yours or anyone else’s.
BUT I’ve learned that:
◆ I’ve always got my breath
◆ If I feel anxious I can ground myself
◆ Slow mindful yoga and meditation are essential for my mental health
◆ Being in nature is the best medicine (for me) that there is!
◆ Writing it down (keeping a journal) helps me make sense of my feelings.
If you feel mild to moderate anxiety (and who doesn’t have a little anxiety these days!), I hope you’ll try to incorporate some of these practices into your day. Every day. Always remember, though, that it’s okay to seek medical attention if you need help. Let’s end the stigma about mental health!
Resources:
Palouse Mindfulness: https://palousemindfulness.com
Anxiety resources: www.anxietycanada.com
