Anxiety? Try getting back to nature for a bit.....

Rivers — Northern Rivers Coaching And Counselling In Rowlands Creek Road, Uki, NSW

What if you knew in your heart that nothing out there intended to hurt or harm you? How would that feel?


Anxiety, in the face of a real danger or threat, is a very good thing indeed. Our blood changes, our heart rate increases, our senses become heightened and our body transforms itself into a high performance machine, capable of running faster, fighting more ferociously, lifting heavier things, or even hiding quietly sometimes. 


We can use anxiety before a big performance like a presentation, interview, or sporting contest to "psych ourselves up" and deliver an outstanding larger than life performance. Anxiety can in fact be a very good thing and extremely helpful to our survival.


However many of us (close to 15% of Australians) will experience an episode of an anxiety disorder this year. It's the most common diagnosable mental illness by a long way - more than double the prevalence of depression. And many more of us will experience something similar - not quite diagnosable, but still scary symptoms of a racing heart, shivery feelings, overwhelming fear, sweating, dizziness and generally feeling terrible. The difference with an anxiety disorder is that there is no threat or danger present - things just become scary and unmanageable. Often to the point where we run, hide, freeze, avoid, procrastinate, get in trouble at work, or become simply exhausted and unable to function.


Anxiety — Northern Rivers Coaching And Counselling In Rowlands Creek Road, Uki, NSW


Fortunately, anxiety disorders are very easy to diagnose, they are so common and natural that there is no need to feel any stigma or shame about having one, and they are able to be treated very successfully. Treatment usually involves some regular sessions with a psychologist or counsellor who will teach very specific skills to help you to manage and calm these awful symptoms, and often medication is helpful to get you into a state of readiness for your therapy sessions - which are more like personal training sessions for your mind.


Once treatment and recovery are underway, there are some very enjoyable lifestyle options that will help you to feel a lot better. One way in particular is getting back to nature - visiting the bush, a park, the beach, or the countryside. In the evening, candlelight or the flicker of a campfire or open fire can be very restful because of the melatonin that gets stimulated within us, which helps us to sleep (unlike phone screens or tablets).


Camping in the outdoors offers us both these options and there is a wonderful benefit to doing this. You realise gradually that there is nothing out there that really wants to deliberately hurt or harm you - in fact most creatures in the bush would be quite happy to stay away from you provided you don't disturb them. The feeling of being exposed in the outdoors, but safe and comfortable, is something everyone should experience. 


A person is sitting around a campfire at night with a full moon in the background.


There are of course some basic ground rules for staying safe in the bush and around fires, but if we apply our conscious "wise mind" and seek the support of others if we lack experience, generally we will be safe and secure. For those who live with anxiety problems, this is a very helpful practice, coming back to "wise mind" and experiencing how it feels to manage those unhelpful feelings of fear and dread, while you calm the mind.


The other night we lit one of our burn piles at the property when we had some great friends staying with us for the weekend. The neighbours came over to join us and it was a really fun night. At some point I ventured off to a dark area of the paddock to collect some logs for the fire, where we had stacked them after some tree lopping a few years earlier. As I approached the logs I started to become fearful that maybe I would disturb a snake and that I might get bitten in the dark. As I carefully rolled away each log, I checked to make sure I wasn't disturbing anything. I checked each log before picking them up and returning to the fire. Fortunately, no reptile revealed itself - truthfully they probably weren't even there in the first place.


As someone who suffers occasionally from anxiety, it was a great feeling for me returning to the fire, grateful for my friends and neighbours, the full moon lighting up the night sky and the fact that I had managed a little fear and anxiety, by focusing on being fully present and conscious in the moment while I carefully removed the logs from the pile. The affirmation or acknowledgement of gratitude for "right now, I am out in the open at night in front of a fire with good friends, a beautiful night, and nothing presently wishes to harm or hurt me" seemed appropriate to reflect on.


In our anxious, waking lives, much energy is wasted on perceived enemies, threats and dangers which we create in our minds. Mindfulness is a great helper in reducing this wasted energy, and there are not too many better places to practice mindfulness than out in nature. Next time you go for a walk on the beach or out in the bush, try practising this affirmation and see how it feels. "Right now, nothing around me presently wishes to harm or hurt me. I am safe and secure, enjoying my moment experiencing the natural environment". I hope this helps. And if you have been thinking about seeing someone to help you with anxious feelings for a while, why not pick up the phone to a counsellor or your GP for a chat about things. You won't regret it.


Two Dogs — Northern Rivers Coaching And Counselling In Rowlands Creek Road, Uki, NSW
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Can't Stand your Boss? 4 Simple Tips to help you to De-Stress

October 9, 2020
As we all start to get back to work, the uncertainty of a rising unemployment rate combined with the need to "play catch-up" from companies whose profits have been seriously impacted by recent events can create some unique stressors in the workplace. Under stress, we do not behave at our best. We become irritable and intolerant of others and we also become less conscious of how we are coming across to others. So too do our managers, who - yes, should by rights know better, but sadly are vulnerable to the same human flaws such as stress responses (did I say that? No I wouldn't say something like that..) and blind spots. We have all experienced an encounter of some sort, where our boss has left a lasting, negative experience which we can't seem to shake off. That comment during the meeting, the unfair treatment, the lack of real care or authenticity, or that condescending look. Let's face it. It hurts, hurts bad, and lasts a lot longer than we care to admit.

Take the Stairs

October 9, 2020
Most of our lives are spent pursuing the path of least resistance. The method which offers up the most economy of effort. The lifestyle or workplace relationship that involves the least hassle, or conflict. We tend to do what is easiest. That is not to say we don't sometimes make life unnecessarily hard for ourselves. But that usually involves avoiding some truth, some uncomfortable and confronting experience where we might feel some shame or embarrassment. This avoidance, if not dealt with completely can seriously impact us and others around us. And worse - this can lead to something much more dangerous - denial. At this point we have lost insight into what is really happening, and instead we start to convince ourselves that everything is OK. We start to believe our own bullshit. At this point we might notice others starting to give up on us. It's not worth pointing out that we are heading down a path of misery, because we would never believe them or agree with them anyway. At work, people just start to tell us what we want to hear. And if we are in leadership roles, that has a serious impact on the wider company culture. It seems easier to avoid conflict. To escape embarrassment or awkwardness. But sometimes, the path of least resistance ends up being much harder in the longer term. Whether you are refusing to address a health problem, a financial problem, or a relationship problem, it will strike you that the avoidance is short lived as a strategy for comfort or reduced pain and suffering. What we resist persists, as Carl Jung famously said. Have you ever noticed that sometimes taking the less comfortable road can produce an outcome that requires much less effort in the longer term? So we get up early and make it to the gym. The yoga mat. The road, the bench, the punching bag, or the swimming pool. The rest of the day feels a lot more comfortable afterwards, because we have stimulated some chemistry within us that builds on our resilience. We've also invested a tiny bit in our self esteem, and we allow ourselves a moment of gratitude or pride in having accomplished something - just for us. The evidence of investment in those "stairs" is beyond doubt. Taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Beating those step challenges. Or simply going for a walk - maybe one that involves a few stairs or a steeper incline on the hill. The benefits to our mental and physical health are many. Where are the opportunities in other areas of your life where you might choose to "take the stairs"? Here's a few examples I heard about when asking others this question recently: - Apologising to your partner for being obnoxious last night - even though it was a two way street - Confronting your boss with some concerns about the direction the company might be taking that is out of sync with your values - Jumping on the scales - Speaking to your doctor about your drinking, or another health problem that is causing you some fear and shame - Ringing that client whose business you are worried about losing - Calling your Mum! It doesn't matter what it is, there is always something within each of us where we know we haven't "taken the stairs" and if we can look in the mirror, with love and a smile, maybe a wink to ourselves, and say "it's time", we will never look back. Life can, and should feel easier. There is way too much dysfunctional stress experienced within most of us to be considered healthy. However most of that stress comes from being conflicted - knowing we should say something or take some action, but worrying about the consequences - and avoiding doing the right thing. If we can remember that taking the stairs sometimes can not only be good for us, but feel good as well (maybe not during but certainly afterwards!) - then hopefully life will start to feel a lot easier. Have a great week and enjoy your moment on the stairs. Cheers - Greg
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