A few things help me during times when my mind races at night. First, I pay attention to what my mind is consuming or ruminating on during the day. When I inhale all the terrible news reports, many of which I can do nothing about, it creates feelings of helplessness and increases my anxiety. I often ask God, "What is mine to do?" Second, I concentrate on my breathing. I just finished reading "Breath" by James Nestor. Incredible research on how changing our breathing can actually HEAL our bodies. Third, during the day I try to notice when my chest feels tight, when I'm reaching for something to comfort or to escape from a situation. Sometimes I can change the trigger; sometimes it's just the season of life I'm in. Naming it at least brings it out into the open.
Do you follow Emily P. Freeman - The Soul Minimalist? She has helped me so much over the years. Highly recommend her Substack, books and podcast.
Thanks for these suggestions Ellen. I have read all of Emily p Freeman’s books. Love her writing. I used her next right thing journal books for a while. They were great for helping me focus. I’m thinking I might pick one back up again. And she is where I first learned the concept of Naming “the thing”. I have found that so helpful
The book Breath sounds intriguing Will check that out.
Writing it out really is beneficial for me and yes on what we consume during the day
What is mine to do? Love that
My triggers usually come from the situation with my brother so working through some of that with a counselor has been helpful.
Thanks so much for these suggestions. I appreciate you sharing these
A few things help me during times when my mind races at night. First, I pay attention to what my mind is consuming or ruminating on during the day. When I inhale all the terrible news reports, many of which I can do nothing about, it creates feelings of helplessness and increases my anxiety. I often ask God, "What is mine to do?" Second, I concentrate on my breathing. I just finished reading "Breath" by James Nestor. Incredible research on how changing our breathing can actually HEAL our bodies. Third, during the day I try to notice when my chest feels tight, when I'm reaching for something to comfort or to escape from a situation. Sometimes I can change the trigger; sometimes it's just the season of life I'm in. Naming it at least brings it out into the open.
Do you follow Emily P. Freeman - The Soul Minimalist? She has helped me so much over the years. Highly recommend her Substack, books and podcast.
Thanks for these suggestions Ellen. I have read all of Emily p Freeman’s books. Love her writing. I used her next right thing journal books for a while. They were great for helping me focus. I’m thinking I might pick one back up again. And she is where I first learned the concept of Naming “the thing”. I have found that so helpful
The book Breath sounds intriguing Will check that out.
Writing it out really is beneficial for me and yes on what we consume during the day
What is mine to do? Love that
My triggers usually come from the situation with my brother so working through some of that with a counselor has been helpful.
Thanks so much for these suggestions. I appreciate you sharing these