Dear One,
With deepening intention to help you by offering you Lyme Mindset Healing Method ideas; here’s ‘Calming Fear.’
Do you ever feel fear or anxiety rising and – in the moment – it’s hard to think when catastrophizing over some future Lyme issue, you feel you’re ready to dash out of the room, or possibly bite a head off?
You aren’t alone, friend.
The “constant chatter between a number of different brain regions – a fear network,” can feel downright nutty making (brainfacts.org‘s Levi Gadye, Ph.D.).
After living years with Lyme and co-infections which fanned fear flames plus intense anxiety from bee venom therapy, helpful ways to calm were crucial.
Keeping it real here, I still gotta practice these.
When you soothe body and mind, clarity of thought, as well as executive level brain functioning for Lyme healing decisions, grows more possible.
Here are 5 T.I.P.P.P.s for Calming Fear:
• Temperature change: Cold water splashed on the face, an icy glass of water held against neck or face before drinking, a cold shower or a bag of frozen beans laid on the neck (yep, really) decreases sympathetic nervous system activation AKA ‘fright or flight.’ Plus, it increases parasympathetic nervous system activation causing relaxation. Ahhhhh. A cup of hot chamomile, lavender, or rose tea can calm indicates research. Tea making can be a calming ritual and break – both are Fear reducing aids,
• Intense exercise: 20 jumps standing in place – if able – as shaking movement is a nervous system release, a brisk walk around the kitchen several times, or a down/up driveway jaunt are quick anxiety relief options. Moving your body in a pleasing-to-you (er, pleasing-ish) way is research supported for nervous system deactivation,
• Paced breathing/Physiological sigh: “Specific patterns of breathing impact our state of mind” per Andrew Huberman, Ph.D. and Stanford neuroscience professor on Instagram @HubermanLab. Like physiological sighs which are easy, rapid zen-makers. Inhale twice through the nose – in succession – then exhale through the mouth. It’s an initial longer inhale followed by a pause then a short, second inhale followed by exhaling. There’s no exhale between the 2 inhales. It’s fine to mouth breathe if nose breathing’s a challenge. Even once soothes; I found three quite beneficial. Studies show the more you practice and implement physiological signs, the calmer you become over time. This “promotes an ideal ratio of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the lungs and bloodstream.” The ability to physiologically sigh is a Mother Nature gift as we have “200 neurons hardwired into us for the specific purpose of inducing calm.” Wow, eh? Heart rate reduction may take a bit more time which is normal and healthy. Here are details, science, and Dr. Huberman video of technique at bottom of article, minute 1:58.
• Progressive muscle relaxation: After taking a deep breath, tense all your body muscles and then relax. Do you have 5-10 minutes? You can tense and release different muscle groups in your body, and/or
• Pray: The Divine’s thankfully available 24/7. A 3-4 word, easy-to-remember prayer – repeated over and over – can be recollected and practiced in advance to increase the likelihood of successful implementation when fear arrives. Notes by the bedside, on the bathroom mirror, in kitchen, on car dashboard can assist. Ask me how I know… Ideas include ‘Angels guide me,’ ‘God/Heaven, you take over,’ ‘I offer this to the Light,’ or … you pick.
Lyme or whatever is causing Fear and anxiety doesn’t evaporate instantly – bummer, eh? -alas T.I.P.P.P.ing can shift you in a more conscious, peaceful direction.
Once you’re feeling tranquil-er and an inner smile dawns, this has the potential to ripple outward giving you a chance to, step by step, shift thoughts and choices to better serve your healing.
With peaceful, mega love beams and gratitude for Calming Fear via T.I.P.P.P. – Temperature, Intense exercise, Paced breathing, Progressive muscle relaxation, and Prayer,
Judy