It is crazy to me how much our body is doing without us realizing it or thinking about it. It is constantly looking out for us, protecting us, helping us…. Our brain is constantly working with our entire body, directing it and guiding it. Our bodies are a miracle, when you look at every little detail.
Anxiety is something that I have dealt with since I was younger. I can remember all the way back to elementary school telling my parents my stomach hurts too bad that I didn’t want to go to school that day. Then, when my older brother died tragically in car accident when I was 13….my body went into constant protection mode. It wasn’t until college that I started learning there were things I could do to help the madness that was happening in my mind and effecting my body. It’s been a journey, but I am so, so thankful for how far I’ve come.
I don’t want to talk about me, though. Something I have noticed is how many people struggle with anxiety. Wowza. This world can be heavy and hard to navigate. I’m a firm believer in balance. Surrendering your life to Jesus AND going to counseling. Knowing you can’t control your life AND learning how to take every though captive. Eating fun foods from time to time AND noticing how your mind and your gut health are deeply connected.
Throughout this journey, I have found 4 tangible things that I can do daily when I notice I am feeling very anxious. I pray it blesses you.
I made a little instagram video, if you would like to watch that here as well.
Face - relax your jaw and forehead muscles
Ever clench your jaw and not realize how tightly you were until you released it? Man, this one gets me. Whenever I am in physical or emotional pain, my jaw is the first thing I tighten. When you release your jaw, your forehead will almost immediately relax as well. Check this often.
Shoulders - down away from your ears
Anyone else hold all their stress in their shoulders? Sometimes i’ll catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror during that day and say WOAH GIRL. Relaxxxx…..
The tension we are feeling in our minds is so much expressed it how we are carrying ourselves. The tricky thing is it’s hard to catch unless your on the “outside looking in”. Ever have a moment where you are spiraling in your thoughts and a loved one places a hand on your shoulder and asks, “What are you thinking about? Would you like to talk about anything?” Yeah, body language. Listen to your body, sis.
Breath - slow + steady
Have you heard of breath prayers? They are one of my all time favorite “tricks” and something you can do no matter where you are! Driving. Having a hard conversation. Sitting in a meeting. Falling asleep. It’s a short prayer that you time with your breath. You can choose whatever words you’d like to in that moment. Inhale — Exhale, slow and steady. Here are some of my faves:
Inhale — Jesus
Exhale — I love you
Inhale — Spirit
Exhale — fill me up
Inhale — God
Exhale — I surrender all
Hands - palms up, unclenched fists
Did you know “Be still and know I am God” (Palm 46:10) is actually translated to “loosen ones grip”? When I was in college, I went to this amazing chiropractor that really helped my step into my healing journey. Something he pointed out to me was whenever I was sitting and talking with him, my fists were always clenched. He could tell by my body language how anxious I was feeling inside. When I read the explanation of this verse years later I was like OKAY GOD you are so, so cool. This chiropractor taught me to sit in a comfortable position and simply place my hands on my knees, palms up. When I was sitting in class, watching a movie, having a hard convo….I would place my hands palms up in surrender. It’s something I still do very often today.
One thing I want to make very clear about anxiety is that I am not a doctor. I’m simply speaking from my experience and I am in the depths of this journey with you. I also want to point out that anxiety is not from God. We live in a broken world, where things are not the way they are meant to be. Everyone has a different life story and different things they have been through, your body is trying to protect you, help you, heal you…and sometimes these things get confusing. I believe that we need to take every through captive and make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5), but I also believe that God gave counselors a gift to help people. God created minds that create medicine to help us.
Often times it’s not a one and done thing. It’s a journey. We all have a different story. Lean in, listen to God, listen to your gut and give yourself never-ending grace.
Always here to be a listening ear.
xoxo,
JamieLee Joy
