When I am feeling anxious, in order to make sense of it, I tend to look around my life and count up everything I have a reason to be anxious about. But most of the time, I am connecting dots that aren't there. Sound familiar?
Some of the thoughts that sensitives & empaths have about their anxiety include:
There must be something wrong with me that I can't stop feeling so anxious.
How can I stop feeling anxious when everyone around me is anxious?!
If I could resolve "____" issue in my life, I wouldn't have so much anxiety.
While these are common perceptions, none of them offer any real opportunity for relief.
Steps to objectivity:
When I'm wrestling with number 1, 2, or 3 of the above thoughts, (especially after wasting time trying to justify my anxiety), I reflect on these 3 facts and repeat these mantras to help me shift out of my anxious state:
As an HSP/empath, my central nervous system is designed to be at a heightened state of alertness, which means it is more prone to feelings of anxiety — mantra: my body was designed to process this energy. It's natural and I can handle it!
As an HSP/empath, my system is more in tune with the emotions of others, which makes me feel anxiety beyond my own worries and fears — mantra: I acknowledge that this anxiety is not all mine and am willing to let it go.
I know that the anxiety which really is mine is manageable (because I've handled it so far!) — mantra: I open myself to new outcomes and trust all is for my highest good (and I will practice some energy exercises to help shift my anxiety).
SIMPLE AND POWERFUL ENERGY EXERCISE FOR ANXIETY
Place your right (or left) palm flat across your forehead. Hold it there for several minutes and breathe. Try this now.
It might seem overly simple, but this energy exercise interrupts the central nervous system's fight-flight response. It draws blood back up to the forebrain where it's needed for rational thoughts. It also acts as a touch meditation (shifting your focus to the sensory stimulation of your hand).
Jeannette is the author of the novel "Diary of a Teenage Empath" and two HSP/Empath workbooks for children & teens. She is an Integrative Health Coach who, with her mentor Dr. Wendy Nickerson, launched the first-ever accredited HSP training program for mental health professionals. She leads an HSP community group in Halifax.
The information on this site is for informational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for seeing a doctor or mental health care professional. None of the information on this site is intended to treat or diagnose any physical or mental health conditions.
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