Physical Activity and Anxiety 

Okay, so by now we have the following to decrease the anxious thought aka "alarm center"

1. Using your 5 senses

2. Engaging in pleasant and calming activities

3. Being mindful/training your attention

These are just 3 ways you can shut off the alarm center!!!!

We still have 2 more, and hopefully by this point, you are seeing some benefits!!!

Now it's time to talk body.

So now that we understand that anxiety carries itself into our bodies, we can totally help to "release" that anxiety.

I know it may sound like the opposite of what you should do, but here's a little bit more science for ya.....

When that alarm system in your brain gets triggered, it sends a message to other parts of the brain to release adrenaline and cortisol. 

These two hormones (adrenaline and cortisol), have a function that gets your body ready for a threat.

Think of you being sent into an arena with lions, and the only weapon you have is a sharp stick .........

Adrenaline and cortisol are working in that moment to prepare you for whatever outcome you are imagining 

(my thought is the "fawn" response, but that's neither here nor there - ha ha).

So when your alarm center goes off, it sends these hormones to the body

The body is like "oh hey, what's up -- WAIT you mean we are in danger??? All systems GO", and the body starts to prepare you for the imagined fight, or threat.

Side Note .......these reactions our bodies have is absolutely an old relic from our "cave man" days .....we needed to have our heart pound quickly so that more blood gets to the extremities, we needed to have adrenaline flowing, we needed to have sweaty palms to "grip" things better, we didn't need to "digest" or "use the bathroom" when in danger .

So our bodies evolved this "threat system" to activate these responses, TO PROTECT US from the "sabre tooth tiger" outside our caves/dwellings/homestead.

Since it's the brain's job to protect the body housing the brain (think of self-preservation, or the urge to remove your hand from a hot stove so you don't get burnt), it didn't really need to be "sophisticated" in responding to threats.

You need to remove your hand from a hot stove, to be wary of dangers, and to perceive threats.

So your body, when it gets the signal from your alarm system, automatically gets ready for the danger or threat.

"So how do I stop this??      What can I do??"

This is where you need to engage the body -- meaning you need to do some kind of physical activity. 

Folks can get all kinds of relief from taking a nice leisurely walk somewhere or doing a high intensity kickboxing and Zuumba class - the main point is what you can do physically!!

Need to put a disclaimer in here ............this is NOT permission to go and fight/physically harm yourself or another person. This is physical activity in a productive sense - a way that does not physically harm yourself, or any other person.

Let me be more specific ........check out this list of recommended physical activities to decrease your anxiety.