I Know A Therapist We Can All Use

Okay, here’s the situation: It’s a Sunday night. You just had the nicest weekend playing beer pong, catching up with old friends, and stuffing your face with delicious meals. But then…

You open your notebook to see your “to do” list for the week. 

Your throat begins to tighten. Your heart begins to race. Faster and faster. As you look down you realize your palms are sweaty. Maybe it’s just Sunday Scaries again? What the?

Hello, Anxiety. 

Whether you’re going off to college, starting a new job, moving into a new apartment, or just a normal teenager trying to figure out this life... growing up is fucking hard.

Oh, and adding a once in a century Worldwide Pandemic to the mix definitely isn’t making anything easier.

In fact, 1 in 5 adults in the US has an anxiety disorder. Anxiety is the most common mental health condition.

Everyone has different triggers, and often these can be some of the most simple things. Like forgetting if you left the stove on, even though you know you turned it off (is this just me?).

While I feel the small triggers a little bit, what brings on the most anxiety for me is... not knowing what’s next in life. So the question I have been working on is, what is the best way to deal with future uncertainty?

Naval Ravikant says “A sick man only wants one thing; a healthy man wants ten thousand things.”

Health is our priority, but only when we’re not doing well. Why should we wait until it gets to that point?

The good news is I have learned a few things. Over the years, and through experience, I’ve found some methods that have helped me tremendously. 

Ready for the spark notes version on the methods that can work for you? Grab a notepad.

Focus on the present. When you linger on the past by thinking about all the ways you could have said or done something better or differently, the present moment will not make you feel at ease. The solution? PhD Meditation.

How do you create a safe space for yourself to meditate? You do this by staying in the present moment, by practicing Mindfulness. You accomplish this simply using the power of your breath.

It sounds so simple, yet it is totally effective. Being mindful of the present moment and focusing on rhythmic breathing is the first tool of many to help keep your anxiety from spiraling out of control.

Having such an adventurous spirit led me to trying these techniques, and I am now figuring out that putting one foot in front of the other is the best way to get across the street. 

If you want to get zen but feel awkward just sitting in silence, try these meditation apps to get you started:

Best Overall: Calm

Best Budget: Insight Timer

Best For Sleep: Headspace 

Best Bundle: Aura

Up next, I know you may not want to hear it, but…

PhD Physical Exercise is just as important for your mental health as it is for your physical health. 

If you haven’t found a regiment that works for you, it’s not necessarily that working out isn’t for you. You just haven’t found the correct plan for yourself. Yet. 

Remember, it takes time. I highly suggest doing a bunch of free trials of all sorts of different workouts. This course of action doesn’t need to be viewed as an annoyance, instead it can be thought of as fun. Try a new program each week, and then cancel a trial membership. Rinse and repeat, til something sticks. 

There really are so many options. Your game could be cardio, yoga, weight lifting, pilates, dancing, or something entirely different.

There is no better mental therapy than physical fitness. Already have a therapist? Keep it & add another to your arsenal. In this case, two is better than one. 

As your gyms may not be opened right now due to covid, these are the best online fitness programs to stream from home:

Obé Fitness: Sculpt, Strength, Power, Dance, HIIT & more 

Physique57: Hundred of Barre workouts for all fitness levels 

Tone It Up: Strengthen and sculpt with 550+ classes 

Daily Burn: 2.5 million members and thousands of workouts

SWEAT by Kayla Itsines: Cardio, HIIT, Strength, Powerbuilding, Pilates, no equipment 

CorePower Yoga: New classes with top instructors every week

So, meet your new therapists. PhD Meditation & PhD Physical Exercise. This is all you need.

If you implement just one of these new therapies into your routine, it will start to positively impact your life in all areas.

Are you ready for a healthier mind and body?

Peace out, Anxiety.