Lately, I’ve been getting a lot of questions about anxiety, and specifically the intrusive thoughts that tend to be anxiety’s most vicious weapon.  Anxiety is struggle for almost every human on the planet to some degree (and at one time or another), because life is unpredictable.  We humans (and our brains) love the predictable.  By and large, we like to know what to expect.  Usually, our life follows some sort of routine.  But when life throws us a curveball,  even the most easy-going among us can feel anxiety creeping in.  We may all experience anxiety a bit differently, but the point is this:  it’s no fun at all. 

Think about when your anxiety/intrusive thoughts are most likely to occur.  I bet I know:  in the middle of the night, when you’re by yourself, when you’re doing a mundane task.  Sound familiar?  That’s because anxiety isn’t doing anything it hasn’t done since the beginning of time, my friends.  It’s the same old, same old.  Anxiety tends to attack when your mind is less focused on the present moment because it doesn’t have to be.  Chances are, when you’re laying in bed, when you’re hanging out alone, or when you’re driving a car, your thoughts aren’t a play by play of what is happening around you.  They tend to shift to either the past or the future…and for many, they tend to become anxious.

Your anxiety’s main tactic is to take away your potential for joy in the present moment by taking you out of your present moment.

Anxiety doesn’t need to change its tactics because those tactics have been working.  And while some degree of anxiety is helpful for, you know, keeping you alive, an unhealthy amount of anxious thoughts can cause you to feel helpless, hopeless, and engage in unhealthy coping mechanisms.  And that’s why we are saying NU-UH!  No more.  Not on my watch.  Peace out, anxiety!

There are many anxiety remedies out there, but the one I’m sharing today is my favorite.  It’s simple, quick, and you can do it anywhere.  And no, it’s not taking a Xanax.  

It’s filling in this blank:

Right Now I Am _______________________________

Whenever you feel anxious thoughts creeping in, whenever you notice your body physiology start to change (nervous stomach anyone?  Shallow breathing?  Rapid heart rate?), you can stop your thoughts in their tracks by saying to yourself, aloud or silently:  “Right now I am…”  and you will be well on your way to peace.

The trick is to return to the present moment over and over and over again until you stay there.  That’s your counterattack.  That’s the battle plan.  Sound too good to be true?  Try it out!

The next time you find yourself ruminating on the past (which we can’t change, by the way) or worrying about the future (which we can’t know, by the way), bring yourself back to the present moment by saying:  “Right now I am laying in bed” or “Right now I am sitting on the couch” or right now I am “driving in my car.”  Keep saying it until you believe it.  Keep saying it until you can find peace in that moment.  Keep reminding yourself that right now you are safe, you are fine, you are not actually in the moment you are worrying about.  You are ___________  instead.  

If you try this method, please let me know how it works for you!  At first, it may feel awkward or uncomfortable or just plain weird…but that’s ok.  If I have to replace your feelings of anxiety with feelings of awkwardness, I’ll take it.  Because it won’t feel that way forever.  The more you practice this technique, the easier it will become, the quicker you will be able to realize what’s going on and do something about it.  Please stick with it.  This is a tried and true method that literally everyone can benefit from.  Pretty soon, you will be well on your way to present moment peace that will only increase over time.  

Ok, who’s excited about getting some anxiety relief?  Woot woot!  Let me know if you have any questions, Besties.  That’s what I’m here for!  

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