4 simple steps to move through a wave of anxiety

This week was a big one! Monday was World Mental Health Day, my 30th birthday was Thursday, and I also recorded the last episode for Season 1 of the To Bra Or Not To Bra Podcast this week!

Whether you read my blogs religiously or you’re new to the fam, chances are you already know I’m a pretty big mental health advocate. I’ve struggled with anxiety since I can remember and lived with undiagnosed severe OCD until I finally got properly diagnosed at age 23.

It was at that point in time that I went from trying every program under the sun to lose weight (ps - none of them worked), to simply making food and movement choices that would lessen my anxiety and just make me feel better overall. And THAT is when the physical results started rolling in.

Needless to say, when it comes to my physical health, my mental health was and always will be my main motivation.

So, in the spirit of World Mental Health Day earlier this week, I wanted to share one of the most valuable frameworks I’ve learned when it comes to dealing with anxiety. Bookmark this webpage or copy and paste it into your notes on your phone, and come back to it the next time you feel a wave of anxiety coming on.

Here are the 4 simple steps I use to move through a wave of anxiety:

1) Recognize: Instead of fixating on whatever triggered your anxiety in the first place so you can “fix” it (aka what our brains like to immediately jump to), recognize the emotion you're experiencing and try putting a name to it.

2) Release: Allow yourself to feel. Give yourself PERMISSION to feel without judgment or resistance. The less you try to resist your emotions, the less power those emotions will have over you.

3) Reframe: How can what you're feeling actually serve you at this moment in time? Our anxiety acts as a powerful tool to indicate to us that something within us is calling to be nourished or replenished.

4) Recharge: Recharge your mind and body with a quick breathing exercise, grounding activity, or light stretch sesh so you can reconnect with your body, step into alignment, and move forward with your day refreshed and restored.

Remember, you are stronger than you know.

PS - To all of those who have or are currently struggling with their mental health, know that you are not alone in feeling this way. Battling through these internal struggles makes you one of the strongest people on this planet. I know from experience that reading one blog post, one headline, listening to one story, hearing one tip/piece of advice that makes you feel seen and heard can sometimes be the turning point on your journey toward seeking help. And I also know that sometimes it’s so much easier to talk to a stranger about your struggles than opening up to those closest to you. Know that I AM HERE. I am here for YOU. You are not alone. If you are struggling and reading this, I invite you to use today as an opportunity to release shame and connect with someone who can help you see you for who you truly are and desire to be. You got this.

xo,

Em