Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Articles
April 2015
Anxiety and Calming the Mind
by Patricia Kowal, Licensed Acupuncturist in Noosa
We constantly hear that modern times have presented us with hectic and demanding schedules, pulling us further away from quietness and peace, this is true. Anxiety presents itself in many shapes and forms. Some experience it in brief intense moments that suddenly arise, and others experience it to a lesser degree but feel like it never goes away. Anxiety can arise from past difficulties, intense periods of emotional trauma and upheaval, and can accumulate inside of us if not addressed or recognized. Throughout my years as a crisis counselor and acupuncturist there has been a common thread associated with anxiety: over thinking. This article focuses on how calming the mind may affect our anxiety provoking thought processes and learning to recognize when they are starting.
Noticing our thoughts and calming our mind
We can become skilled in noticing the effects of our thoughts by how we interact with them. How can we notice when thoughts arise, and how are we able to decide what to do with them? When we sit in quietness we can understand how our thoughts arise and determine how we want to be involved with them. By taking a few moments to calm our minds through the day, we may be able allow our minds to settle and help prevent feelings of anxiety, or lessen our overall experience with them.
If you look at the photo to the right, the man has grabbed on to the balloons that are carrying him into the sky. Say those balloons are your thoughts. Recognize when a balloon has presented itself in your mind and choose whether to grab on to it, or not. If you consciously decide to not grab onto the balloon (your thought), you are helping your mind from launching into over thinking which can cause feelings of nervousness, fear, low self-esteem or anxiety.
So, how do we create quietness in our busy hectic lives? Most articles will send you off on a journey of exploring meditation and trying to sit quietly after a hectic day working. Some people may try it once and never do it again; others may try it and hang it up after a week. But I want you to avoid the discomfort of forcing yourself into the idea of meditation. Meditation is beneficial, but if the thought of meditation turns you off, then perhaps altering your approach and using a different concept of the word and its true practice may help.
Consider instead taking moments out of your day to settle your mind more often—put your pen down and take a deep breath, wait a few moments before starting the car, lower your head while at your computer and clear your mind. Such small moments will help you on your way to a less stressful experience of your daily demands. If a thought arises and you are aware that it is present, be thankful you have noticed it happening—then you can choose to freak out about it, involve yourself in the story, or you can allow it to float away on its own (like a balloon into the sky). When you choose your interaction with your thoughts, you may feel less anxiety and more power to handle the consequences of your choices. Whatever visual works for you, use it!
Chinese medicine theory and calming the mind
In Chinese medical theory, calming the mind and bringing it to a peaceful state is called “calming the spirit”. Traditional Chinese Medicine views anxiety and emotional related issues as an imbalance of either the five elements (fire, earth, metal, water, wood), temperature regulation, or a disruption of the smooth flow of circulation in the body.
Treating imbalance in your body as well as taking moments to help calm your mind through the day may create space for you to notice the daily stresses that are creating anxiety . By noticing what thought patterns are creating fear and anxiety, they may no longer affect you as much and you enhance your ability to let go of negative thoughts. Negative thinking can translate negatively in the body such as muscular tension, anxiety, anger, palpitations or sad and depressed moods.
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Patricia Kowal is an AHPRA Licensed Acupuncturist, Chinese Herbal Practitioner in Noosa on the Sunshine Coast.
Disclaimer: Please follow up with your practitioner if you are unsure or are having questions about the information contained in this material.
Middle photo: h.koppdelaney via photopin cc
Bottom photo: Nick-K (Nikos Koutoulas) via photopin cc
