If You're Feeling Anxiety, Listen To This

Anxiety can feel loud. Sometimes it sounds like racing thoughts, a tight chest, or the feeling that you should be doing something, fixing something, preparing for something… even when you don’t know what. If that’s where you are right now, this music is simply an invitation to slow down for a few minutes. You don’t have to force yourself to relax or “get rid” of anxiety. Just let the music hold a little of what feels heavy, and see if your nervous system can soften, even just a bit.

Transcript

Hello friend, I'm assuming if you clicked on this track you're probably feeling some anxiety right now, And if that's the case, I'm sorry, Because anxiety is not my idea of a good time. I heard this quote once that said, Our anxiety does not come from thinking about the future, But from wanting to control it, And I think that control piece is pretty big when it comes to anxiety. I know for me, When I'm feeling anxiety, I'm trying to control that. I want it to go away, I don't like the feeling, And I think that's understandable, I think that's normal. But actually that resistance, That fight to make that feeling go away, Usually has the opposite effect, It usually makes it worse. Research shows that a big part of working with anxiety is learning to accept it, And that doesn't mean we like it, It just means, Okay, This is what I'm feeling right now, I'm going to allow it to be here until it passes. It's letting go of that need to control, It's surrender, And that surrender is what allows anxiety to move through us, Instead of getting stuck inside. One thing that's really helpful with anxiety is breathing. It's a way to tell your body, I'm safe, I'm not being chased by a lion, It's okay to relax. So my favorite breathing technique is fox breathing, Where you breathe in for four counts, Hold for four counts, Breathe out for four counts, And then hold for four counts and repeat. So let's do that for a few cycles just so you can test that out. So let's breathe in, Two, Three, Four, Hold, Two, Three, Four, Out, Two, Three, Four, Hold, Two, Three, Four, In, Two, Three, Four, Hold, Two, Three, Four, Out, Two, Three, Four, Hold, Two, Three, Four, Good. Now we've just done a few of those, But try doing those breathing exercises for five minutes, And then scan your body and see what you notice. I have a song to listen to if you're feeling some anxiety right now. It's actually called Take a Breath. It's an energetic, Happy, Fun song that I hope will kind of shift the mental, Emotional energy you're feeling right now. As you listen, Experiment with what it feels like to allow instead of resist what you're feeling. And see if that helps some of the anxiety move through you instead of getting stuck. You've already done something important just by pausing long enough to listen. Anxiety has a way of making everything feel urgent, But for this moment, There's nowhere else you need to be. You're right here, Right now. So I'm guessing nothing in the outside world has changed in the couple minutes we've spent together, But even a few moments of slowing down can remind your body that it doesn't have to stay in survival mode all the time. So as you move throughout your day, Be gentle with yourself, Be patient, Take some breaths, And keep coming back to this music whenever you need it. Until next time, Be good to yourself.