Facing a crisis can result in big changes in our work and lives.
You might find yourself feeling anxious about how long the situation will go on,
Or maybe feeling panicked about the stability of your income,
Or the health of an elderly relative.
Maybe when you wake up in the morning,
You start thinking of all the things that you have to do,
And you begin to feel panicked.
We all experience anxiety from time to time,
It's completely normal.
And having the added pressure of a crisis is bound to bring up more concern and anxiety.
When you find yourself ruminating or worrying about the same situation over and over again on autopilot,
An area of the brain called the Default Mode Network is active.
And it has been associated with problem solving and creativity.
Yet when there are imbalances of connectivity within itself and other networks,
It has been linked with obsessive thoughts and behaviours.
And this may point to the benefit we see in balancing the engagement of the Task Off Default Mode Network with the Task On Attentional Networks through simple activities like paying attention to the body.
Most of the time,
These networks go on and off like a seesaw.
When one is on,
The other is off.
So simple activities that require you to gather and sustain your attention on an object or feeling,
Like the sensations of the body,
Are built-in balances for an overactive mind.
Anxiety can have varying degrees of intensity,
From general concern and worry,
All the way to panic attacks.
And the good news is that we have a breaker switch for anxiety through mindfulness.
Doing a regular mindfulness practice that includes the body will help you to feel calmer,
More relaxed,
And better able to withstand and respond well in the face of anxiety and panic.
The next practice is an effective tool to support yourself in times of anxiety.
Let's try out Working with Anxiety.
