Unfortunately this month we find ourselves again in lockdown…. So many people have had to close their businesses when they want to keep working and we have all been asked to work from home unless on the essential list and restrict our movements back down to 5km from were we live. The new restrictions will bring us up to Dec 1st and then hopefully businesses will reopen and families can be together for Christmas.

But we know that nothing is certain and the unknown is increasing stress, fear, anxiety and depression for many.

Humans are sociable creatures and need the company of others, some of us prefer one to one interactions whilst others need the company of lots of people to feel happy, content and connected. This is in our nature, in our DNA and compelling, so please be compassionate for those who are really struggling right now.

Stress, uncertainty and loneliness are triggers for anxiety, fear and depression. As intelligent individuals we can tell ourselves that what we are feeling is irrational but stopping those feels may take more than will power. Fear and anxiety are strong emotions which are triggered to signal danger and keep us safe, they demand that we take action to move away from a situation or stand up for ourselves. Unfortunately they may also cause us to be short tempered and aggressive or feel overwhelmed with a sense of dread, frozen, unable to think clearly or procrastinating. Physical symptoms like a loss of appetite, stomach ache, nausea and vomiting can affect our ability to rest and digest. Other signs like chest pain’s, shortness of breath or heart racing, sweating, muscle tension and headaches can intensify the feelings making things spiral further.

If we lived in the wild and were being chased by a lion these flight and fight responses would be fully activated we would respond appropriately. The danger would end and the body would reset our sympathetic nervous system (SNS) so we would rest and recover. Our current levels of stress are not immediate and gone but rather continuously provoked without the opportunity to reset the SNS, so many are suffering from chronic anxiety and symptoms that are effecting our mood and physical health.

To break the cycle and calm your mind focus on areas that you can control.

Here are 3 areas were you can easily take action whilst at home

1.     Breathe - Calm your SNS by breathing in and out through your nose all the time. If you feel anxiety or fear rising, sit comfortably, place your right thumb over your right nostril, close your eyes and breath long and deep only through your left nostril for 3 minutes.

2.     Drink this - Glycine is an amino acid with calming properties it is found in bones and connective tissues. Make a meat broth or dissolve grass-fed gelatine powder in warm liquid which you can sip on through the day or make a nutritious soup to snack on.

3.     Relax - At the end of a stressful day treat yourself to an epsom salt bath. Add 2 cups of Epsom Salts to a hot bath and soak for 20+ mins this ‘relaxation mineral’ will soothe your muscles and calm the sympathetic nervous system.

I hope you stay safe during lockdown and find these techniques helpful. If you feel you would like to talk with me in confidence I am still offering Virtual consultations and Acupuncture for Mental and Emotional well being.

Amanda Roe is a Holistic Trauma Therapist offering a range of therapies that include Life & Health coaching, Hypnotherapy and Acupuncture. If you have any questions or would like to make an appointment I am looking forward to hearing from you.

Book your FREE 15 min Consultation with Amanda here.