Isolation and Anxiety
Anxiety and Covid-19
In the current socioeconomic and political environment, many are feeling isolated, fatigued, sad, and hopeless. There is a level of anxiousness felt by all, whether or not we are personally affected by the pandemic and world affairs. Each of us is connected to humanity so every individual is suffering some level of anxiety or sadness during these times.
The symptoms can be insidious such as lack of stamina and trouble sleeping, to having a panic attack. It’s important that we take care of ourselves both mentally and physically, as one affects the other. Mental stress decreases immune system function, interrupts sleep, and increases stress hormones. Furthermore, we tend to eat poorly when stressed which decreases overall health and increases the risk for the development of infections and chronic disease.
Tips for reducing Anxiety
Get out of the Head and into your Body
Call it being in the present moment, meditation, yoga or just a breath. Pause and observe for a minute here and there throughout the day. Set the timer on your phone to remind you. Once an hour will significantly change how you react to stress.
Do Not watch the News
Choose your inputs carefully. The current media instills fear, paranoia and the sense of isolation. Since watching it does nothing to help mankind, there is really no reason to partake. Many other choices for entertainment are available that uplift and provide hope..maybe even some humor. If you want to stay updated on the COVID-19 numbers, go to the AZDHS website dashboard for the latest numbers. This way you can follow the numbers from an accurate source without the emotional dramatization.
Sleep
With the nervous system receiving more excitatory waves and stimulation than usual, more sleep is needed. This gives the brain the necessary recovery time to repair the minor inflammatory changes as a result of stress. If the brain does not get sufficient time to recover, inflammation and damage could progress into a disease process. Sleep is also needed to reboot the immune system which is under daily assault from stress and diet.
Eat to Energize
It’s tempting to reach for sugar and fried foods when feeling lonely, tired and anxious. However, these foods cause a downward spiral into more fatigue, insomnia and lower moods. Eat for the purpose of nourishing the body and mind, rather than for comfort. High vibration foods, such as colorful fruits and vegetables raise the vibration of body cells. You can feel this after just one day of eating this way. When your digestion consumes less energy, you experience deeper sleep and awake feeling refreshed and energized. Increased physical stamina lifts the mental state of mind. These same foods nourish the immune system to keep it strong.
Read an Uplifting Book
Whether it be a spiritual, religious or a fictional story we can draw upon the written word to give us hope, tranquility and loving companionship. Books serve as a healthy escape into another realm to give us a much needed break while stimulating the mind.
Exercise to Release Tension
This seems impossible if you live in Phoenix right now with the heat and the closed gyms. However, thanks to technology trainers have offered online movement classes. There are also private studios which are still open where you can work out by appointment. Just 30 minutes a day of any movement at all, even dancing will facilitate the flushing of toxins and work off the nervous energy.
Acupuncture
We offer acupuncture which is very effective in combating anxiety, insomnia and depression. This subtle modality assists the nervous system in achieving a balance between the sympathetic (survival mode) and parasympathetic (homeostasis) processes. The treatment just takes 30 minutes and you leave feeling relaxed and more alert.
To schedule a visit, call 480-334-8278 or go to Request Appointment