In 1954, we entered the "Age of Anxiety" according to a leading news source at the time. That was nearly seven decades ago. Anxiety levels has only continued to rise since then.
Even after COVID, anxiety kept and continues to rise. The New York Times called this "the inner pandemic."
When we feel anxious, it often seems impossible to calm down. The truth, however, is that we can drop our anxiety quickly by focusing on positive sense perceptions.
If you’d like a break from anxiety, do the following exercise. Focus all your attention on it, for just a minute or two.
You’ll need something to write with for this one.
Even after COVID, anxiety kept and continues to rise. The New York Times called this "the inner pandemic."
When we feel anxious, it often seems impossible to calm down. The truth, however, is that we can drop our anxiety quickly by focusing on positive sense perceptions.
If you’d like a break from anxiety, do the following exercise. Focus all your attention on it, for just a minute or two.
You’ll need something to write with for this one.
Exercise for Stepping Off the Anxiety Spiral: Sense Drenching
First, call to mind something that makes you mildly anxious — not something truly terrifying, like contemplating death or the money laundering operation you’re running, but something that makes you just a bit nervous.
0) Notice how this feels in your body and the emotions that come up.
1) Write a word or two describing the sensation:
2) Next, list three things you really, really love to taste:
3) Now list three things you really, really love to hear:
4) Now list three things you really, really love to see:
5) Now list three things you really, really love to smell:
6) Now list three things you really, really love to feel against your skin:
7) Next, imagine a scenario where all or most of the items above are present. Write a brief description. For example:
“I’m sitting in my favorite easy chair sipping coffee and eating Belgian chocolate. My dog is laying on my lap while I stroke his fur. Outside I can see a beautiful snow-covered forest, and my wife and daughter are playing. I can hear their laughter, wind in the trees, and birds singing. The smell of pine trees are wafting through the open window. Also, I am receiving the best foot massage of my life.”
8) Imagine the scene you just described as vividly as you can in your minds eye. Include at least one image from each of your five senses you wrote about above.
9) Add them all together. Notice how you feel, and briefly describe it:
10) Compare this with the anxious feeling you wrote down in question one.
I hope you enjoyed this little vacation from anxiety!
Love and Power,
Alex