Panic: Havoc on Our Bodies & Our Mental Health
With the current climate and the uncertain times, there is a lot of fear and panic. One minute your life is going along as planned and the next minute you are told that you and all of your loved ones may become sick and perhaps even die. You are told that people are hoarding food and toilet paper. You go to the grocery store and you realize that there is nothing there.
How are you supposed to feel? The body’s natural response is to go into flight, fight or freeze. With any acute stress, the body’s sympathetic nervous system (flight, fight or freeze) is activated due to a sudden release of hormones by stimulating the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands release catecholamines which house adrenaline and noradrenaline. These hormones produce increased heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rate. Can you imagine putting your body through this multiple times a day which most people are doing right now? On top of that, your mind is racing with the what if’s, exhausting you.
You want to get yourself back into the body’s parasympathetic nervous system (rest and relaxation) mode. Why and how do we do this?
WHY?
When the body is in flight, flight or freeze mode this lowers our immune system. You need a strong immune system in order to fight off virus’ and if you catch something your body is stronger to fight it and lessen the blow so to speak.
HOW?
First acknowledge that this whole pandemic situation is f#cked up and say out loud all the feelings you are feeling. Feeling like you have no control is an awful feeling. Fear, worry, panic, sadness, and loneliness all feel like sh#t. Acknowledge it!!!! This begins to release negative emotions from the body. When we hold negative emotions (they live in our cells) this creates disease. Releasing allows us to strengthen our immune system, become healthier physically and mentally. You create space for positive emotions to live there and allow your body and mind to reset!
Now start creating your new internal dialogue. It could go something like this:
“Yes, it is true, I do not have control over this pandemic, how others react, who is going to get sick, who may pass on. But I have control over how I am going to process it. I am no longer going to live in fear, panic, or worry. Yes, I may feel lonely and sad and I will honor those feelings. I am going to create a healing space where I meditate, breathe deeply, visualize healing, boost my immune system, eat nourishing whole foods, self-care in my home that feels good to me, connect with people I love FaceTime or Social Media if they are not currently with me. Also to know that I am not contributing to the panic that is causing food and supplies to be gone for people who truly need them. I will help my neighbors who may be in need.” Or anything other internal dialogue that makes you feel good and begins to calm you.
Great Immune Boosters:
Elderberry, D3, Vitamin C, B12 these are great ones to start. Call your local health food store for suggestions and ask if they will do curbside pick-up.
Drink Rose Tea to stay uplifted yet calm. Get plenty of sleep. Stay hydrated.
Please remember that we may not have any control over this virus but we do have control over how we think and behave so we can contribute to the healing, not the hindering.
You can email me with questions. I am also accepting new patients currently via telehealth.
Be Well.
Warmest Regards,
Kirsten
