How are you?
Before you rush in to mentally reply "okay", "fine", or "alright," it's okay to stop for a minute and really pay attention to how your brain reacted to that question.
It's okay if you aren't alright. It's okay if, right now, your thoughts are racing.
If you have a million worries firing though your head alongside all the synapses and chemicals that keep you going every day, that's okay too.
Why? Because improved health and happiness aren't far away. Because your brain is simply trying to tell you something. And learning how to stop, listen, and address your overstimulated mind is entirely possible.
So, how exactly do you start calming down your brain?
4 Brain-Soothing Strategies for a Healthier, Happier Life
1. Honor the Fact That Your Brain is Part of a System.
Your brain does not want to operate alone. Your thinking mind is inexorably tied to your physical body and your emotional heart. Upset, pain and negative thoughts can course through one or all components and hinder your health and growth significantly.
Fortunately, all three want to work together, they are hardwired to do so. They have it in them to heal and operate optimally if given the opportunity.
So, take heart...a disquieted mind isn't something you must suffer indefinitely. If you're willing to tap into your physical and emotional sides for improved awareness and self-discovery, you can calm down and carry on. Then, with empowered insight and a holistic perspective, you will likely find a fruitful path toward a more relaxed and productive state of mind.
2. Pay Attention to Your Past
Some people discover that their thinking brains are confined by beliefs that just don't serve them well. Your lack of peace may be stem from an inability to live freely or authentically. Depending on your childhood, trauma, and key relationships, anxiety might have become your default setting.
To overcome such agitation, fear, or worry may require a closer look at your past and how you operate because of it. Sometimes we play roles we've long outgrown or we avoid change because the past tells us we can't succeed. Addressing old stories can help quell fear and open up whole new chapters for you.
Consider journaling as a first step to identifying unproductive life scripts and patterns, triggers, and points of dissatisfaction. The more aware you become, the more empowered you may feel. Empowered people tend to sleep easier and feel more in control.
3. Tune into Your Body
How is your body currently reacting, tensing, and changing to accommodate the lack of calm in your brain? Encouraging clarity with close attention to the body is vital. Attention paid to cleansing breathwork, grounding exercises, and relaxation techniques can slow down the mind and improving anxiety-related health issues. The following are particularly helpful
abdominal breathing
mindfulness techniques
progressive muscle relaxation techniques
In addition, a visit to your primary care provider is important for ruling out any medical factors that could intensify anxiety.
4. Solidify Trustworthy Supporters
Everyone needs support. Just as your brain is part of an internal system, you are meant to survive and thrive in a community. Calm is often achieved by acknowledging that need. Health and happiness tend to improve when we share ourselves with trusted others and tap into reciprocal care.
The people that care about you want to be there for you too. Letting them into your ups and downs may end up providing more clarity for you as they challenge some of your fears and worries.
Their love and honesty can help dispel long-held self-criticism. Their honesty and viewpoints can help correct misunderstanding or address misinterpretations that inform unhelpful beliefs. Moreover, loving support can help you put anxiety aside to refocus on the values that keep you energized, and moving forward.
Take the Next Step
Ultimately, calm is the product of more than just the brain. Soothing the brain often comes via awareness, acceptance, and thoughtful attention. A willingness to keep what is working and release what isn't makes all the difference. As you become better at practicing self-compassion, employing healthy coping skills, and embracing healthy relationships, calm won't seem so out of reach.
To get there, it helps to take this journey with a guide.
Working with a therapist is an ideal way to increase calm, feel better, and infuse more positivity into your life. I'm here to support you. Please read more about how anxiety counseling can help and reach out for a consultation soon.