Showing posts with label Learning to Take Care of Oneself. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Learning to Take Care of Oneself. Show all posts

Sunday, April 13, 2014

Issues of the Fear that Inhibits Us

Everyone is fearful. Fearful of the unknown. Unknown that which is not comprehensible.

However there is one thing I can say:

We are all in this together, you are not here to cheat me, and I am not here to cheat you.

And together, we will help each other explore that unknown, piece by piece, little by little.

And we can only do this, if you give me your truest and most full commitment

To taking care of yourselves,

because everything else will be taken care of

We are mutual.

Friday, April 4, 2014

How to Get in Control of Your Emotions

Some of the biggest struggles that I have faced is dealing with my emotions when spending time with others who are not totally on the same wavelength as I am, and depending on the situation and the surrounding events that led up to a certain encounter with someone, my mood has often easily shifted, leading me to feel miserable and weak, with emotions such as anger, sadness, or jealousy to ensue. However as I have spent time analyzing such triggers, I have also begin to understand what causes me to feel such a way and how I can prevent and reverse such transformations in thought.

   1. Think About What Just Happened

Many times when I feel my mental stability about to snap, I take a moment to think within myself about what just happened, and what caused me to feel the way I am. By doing this I analyze the current situation, allowing me to calculate what I need to do to prevent it from getting worse and out of hand. As a result, I have avoided heated arguments and conversations with many people, and have also thrown off many who have tried to incite fights with me. Often, I follow through by showing additional compassion or kindness to overwhelm the opposing party in a good way, so as to diffuse the situation.

   2.  Listen to Music

This is one of the most effective and most underrated means of regaining your emotional consciousness. If possible, isolate yourself for a little bit and plug in some earphones and close your eyes and listen to some chilling music that helps you to relax and forget about what caused to feel the way you do. By doing this you totally let yourself to let go of negative emotions and not put them on others, which often can hurt others and lead to further unintended negative consequences.

   3. Write it Down

When you are feeling extremely overwhelmed by a certain occurrence or event, take time to write your thoughts down. By expressing your thoughts via ink you get a clear look on what it is that is making you feel grief or hurt or whatever it is, and by seeing it from a third-person-esque view, you can analyze the situation and bring yourself back down to a grounded emotional state. Although hurtful feelings may still linger, you now have expressed your thoughts without hurting anyone else and without restraining your true feelings, which in turn will allow you to feel much better about yourself.

   4.  Take a Nap

Taking a light nap will allow you to forget about your thoughts temporarily, which might be all you need to recover your mental stability. Otherwise, this method is pretty self-explanatory as to its benefits.

   5. Talk to Some Good Friends or Family

Hopefully if the situation at hand is not involving your friends or family as the culprit of negativity, take some time to consult with them. It might seem embarrassing and/or demeaning to have to let yourself talk about what it is that is hurting you to your close ones, however this is often one of the most helpful methods of releasing bottled thoughts and emotions that may still be lingering with you after following the previous methods. By letting yourself calmly discuss with others, you may begin to realize either through self-introspection or via discussion the true root of your feelings and work towards relieving that root.

Remember that only you can let yourself be overwhelmed by these thoughts and negative emotions, and by learning to apply strong control over these feelings, you can learn to lead a more positive and fruitful life, one that will allow you to truly feel happy and at ease.

Cheers!


Thursday, April 3, 2014

How to Deal With Anxiety and Live in the Present

Many people often feel like they are living for others and for the future, and as a result they are unable to live contentedly and in the moment. I have felt this feeling many times as well, and I know of the difficulty that this poses to your overall well being, relating both your mental and physical health. However, I have strove long and hard to try to bring my self back to reality and the present moment whenever I feel caught up in such a stirring of worrisome thought using a few strategies that work very successfully for me, and for many people who I have asked to try and implement as well.


  1. Consciously Remind Yourself to Think in the Present 
This may be one of the quickest and most easiest methods of bringing yourself back to present thought and ridding persistent worry. Whenever you find yourself contemplating about the future and possibilities for too long, and in a non-constructive manner that is seemingly harmful, just remind yourself that it is no matter, and to concentrate on things right in front of you. Whether that means to stare at the details on the walls, or read a book, or talk to some people or even yourself, do what it takes to try to remember your best self is that in the very present moment. This method will often help you if your anxiety is not too bad or engrossing, and is often what most people need on a daily basis to help them get through their day. If your anxiety is not going away after trying this for a while, read on.

    2. Meditate

This is one of the best methods for removing those constant negative thoughts that seem to just not go away. This method will require a bit of time and patience, but guaranteed, this will help 90% of those with difficult anxiety to feel some relief. There are many guides to proper meditation, however I will outline a simple method that will grant you most of the benefits of meditation with little pre-planning and practice. The most important rule of meditation that I have observed is to put myself in either a place or position where I will not be disturbed and/or I will be forced to concentrate on my meditation. This can mean visiting a sauna or steam room, if you have access, as such an environment is very conducive to still thought due to the very high temperatures that allow your mind to sit still. If you do not have access to such a facility, find a quiet room, turn on a fan or some other source of gentle, repetitive noise, that will allow you to clear your mind. 

Following putting yourself in a suitable environment, sit down, crossing your legs if possible, and sitting up with your back erect as possible with a strong arch forming in your back. Now, that you are in a totally optimal position, close your eyes and begin to breathe deeply, inhaling through your nose for 3 seconds, and exhaling through your mouth in a gentle blowing motion for 3 seconds. Continue to breathe in this pattern, paying close attention to the air going in through your nostrils, and the cool air leaving your lips. By doing this for a while, you will begin to notice that you are completely in tune with your breathing, and that is all your mind is thinking about. 

If this is your first time, try to do this for 5 minutes straight, setting a timer beforehand, and allowing yourself to not worry or concentrate on anything else but your breathing for that 5 minutes. If you continue to do this, you can increase the positive effects by concentrating your energy and focus on the region between your eyebrows while your eyes remain closed. If your anxiety does not go away, try to do 3 sessions of 5 minute meditations or a 10 minute session, taking careful aim to concentrate on your breathing and the region between your eye brows.

   3. Exercise

A classic method that is tried and tested by many, a simple walk to a full on sprint for any given amount of time is a no-frills way to exhaust yourself and your thoughts in the process. I personally like to spend time exercising outside if possible, and just absorb the nature and settings around me, and just appreciate the beauty that is ever present in our daily lives. By concentrating on just the positives, you allow yourself to feel warm and thankful for all that you have, and spending a few minutes outside really allows us to engross ourselves in those feelings, and really letting those constricting thoughts that many of us have to just escape our minds.

People often ask if listening to music is suitable, and I say it is up to you, but preferably keep the volume low and the music positive so that you can fill yourself with good vibes and a capability to listen and feel the nature and environment around you as you exercise.

   4.  Eat Food

Eating food might seem like a weird way of coping with difficult thoughts, but I have found that eating rich, wholesome food that I truly enjoy, allows me to delve my energies into the tasteful explosions going on in my mind, rather than thinking about the past or future. In addition, food provides a good dopamine boost, which is always a good deal when it comes to depressive or worrisome thinking. 

   5. Watch Comedy

One of the biggest tips that psychiatrists and therapists give to those struggling with severe anxiety is to involve themselves in comedy, either telling jokes, or watching and listening to comedy. I personally love to watch some good, light-hearted comedy, usually some satire or stand-up, avoiding overly crude and/or difficult comedy, as it can often mess with your thoughts, given that they are not in the best mood. 

Great comedy can be found all over the internet, as well as on Television, with great works available on YouTube and Comedy Central. 

Conclusion

Overall, do what it takes to try to bring yourself to present consciousness, and please let me know via the comments section how these strategies fared for you, and if you have any good suggestions for others struggling with such issues. 

And don't forget: take it easy, because in the end, everything's good.