Your Path to Peace: A Personal Journey of Completing the Stress Cycle and Easing Anxiety
By Kassidy Veness, APSW
I've been on this relentless journey of tackling my never-ending to-do list, thinking that crossing off tasks would magically bring relaxation. But here's the kicker—I noticed that even on those victorious days when the list was conquered, the weight of stress hung around like an unwelcome guest. It felt defeating, until I stumbled upon a podcast that dissected the difference between stressors and stress, unlocking a path to genuine relief.
Understanding Your Struggle
If you're like me, anxiety can make that to-do list seem like a mountain too high to climb. Stressors, those external pressures, create a storm inside us, and the physiological reaction (stress) tends to stick around, even after the storm has passed. But fear not, there's a way to close the chapter on this cycle and truly feel at ease.
Practical Steps for Your Journey:
Move Your Body (20 - 60 minutes): Exercise becomes a liberating escape, a chance to shake off the tension that anxiety brings.
Breathe: Take intentional breaths—inhale for 5, hold for 5, exhale for ten, pause for 5. It’s a small act that makes a big difference.
Find Laughter: Embrace laughter, let it be your ally in dismantling the fortress of anxiety.
Connect Intimately: A 6-second kiss or a 20-second hug from someone you trust can work wonders in making you feel safe.
Allow Yourself to Cry: There's strength in letting those tears flow. It's a release, a permission slip to feel and heal.
Get Creative: Express yourself through art—paint, sculpt, sing, or write. It's a language your anxious soul understands.
Relax Your Muscles: Slowly moving from the tips of your toes to the top of your head, tense and release your muscles progressively, giving your body the reset it craves.
Those oddly specific timeframes? Research shows they're just what our anxious bodies need to feel safe.
A Personal Shift in Perspective: Let’s be real; battling anxiety isn’t just an intellectual game. It's a rollercoaster of emotions, a physiological challenge. So, let's change the game plan. Dedicate 30 minutes each day to these activities, and watch as they become your armor against anxiety, gradually reducing the baseline stress levels that hold you captive.
Conclusion: Anxiety is an uninvited guest, but you don’t have to let it overstay its welcome. By embracing a more personal and physiological approach, you can rewrite your story. These practices aren’t just activities; they're your daily triumphs, your personal rebellion against anxiety.
Sources: Nagoski, E., & Nagoski, A. (2020). Burnout: The secret to unlocking the stress cycle. Vermilion.