Did you know?
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States. They go on to say that anxiety affects 18.1% of the population over 18 years old every year and even though anxiety is very treatable, only 36.9% of those suffering from anxiety go in for treatment.
Anxiety is a big deal folks. It affects your overall health and has negative impacts on your relationships with others.
Want to do something really different?
Every day, I work with my clients struggling with anxiety and the topic of media comes up. We are continuously bombarded with media through our computers, television sets, and smart devices. What if we were to make a radical change in our lives around these physical devices?
This technology does not have to control our lives and feed us with more information to cause anxiety in our minds and bodies. We can stand up against them. Yes, that’s what I said. Take a stand against your technology. The robots are taking over the world! Ok, I’m digressing a bit…please keep reading.
Three is a magic number!
So here are three tips that will drastically reduce anxiety in your life.
1. Remove any technology from your bedroom. I know, I know. You have to sleep next to your Iphone because it tracks your sleep and wakes you up in the morning. For a few bucks you can buy an old analog clock with a bell on top. That is technology that has ONE purpose and that is to wake you up in the morning.
TVs in your bedroom are also a major contributor to ruining your sleep and therefore increasing your anxiety. Get rid of it. Keep it in the “living” room and let your “bed” room be a place for sleep and…other fun activities that do not require technology :).
The common thread I see in all of my clients with anxiety is poor sleep habits. We need to SLEEP. It is the best thing for our overall mental and physical health. How many hours are you getting a night?
2. Move your body. Notice I didn’t say that dreaded word “exercise.” Just go outside and move your body. I don’t mean go try to become Arnold Schwarzenegger, although I would not mind being him for a couple of days. I mean go for a walk. Walk. Walk. Walk. It is the best exercise to help your body and to clear your mind.
We get stagnant and then we sit in front of the TV (see number 1.) and we get nowhere. Try doing something even if it’s just picking up some weights and doing some squats while you watch your favorite show.
I have a friend who retired 4 years ago and was 140 pounds overweight. He simply started walking around his neighborhood and eventually all over town. He is now 140 pounds lighter and looks 15 years younger. I’m inspired by that. It all started with going outside for a walk.
3. Connect with another person. Two of the most common responses to anxiety are to either abuse alcohol or drugs, or to isolate. We numb ourselves to self medicate and/or we think that no one will understand if we talk about it and that we will be judged. I think ANY citizen of the world will be able to relate to what you are going through because they have probably felt the same at some point in their life.
So connect with another person. Hey, refer to number 2 and ask another person to go on a walk with you! Then you will not be letting technology suck out your soul, but will be getting great physical and mental exercise and you will be developing a much needed friendship.
So there you go. Three steps to reducing anxiety in your life. Give at least one a try and let me know how it goes. However, if anxiety is truly limiting your life, consider getting professional help from a doctor or therapist.
Feel free to respond and let me know other topics you would like for me to cover in my blog. Have a great week everyone!