Losing Our Collective Marbles: Coping with Anxiety in This Crazy-A** World
- Willow Williams
- Jul 25, 2024
- 4 min read
Y'all, it's scary as shit out in the world right now. Wars around the world. Climate change. Assassination attempts. Women's rights being taken away. People killing members of the queer community. Fascism rising in what's supposed to be the greatest nation in the world. Seriously, WTF is going on??? It's enough to make any sane person pull the covers up over their head and say bye! in as many ways as possible.
Hasta la vista!
Ciao!
Tootles!
Cherrio!
After while Crocodile!
Later Gator!
Deuces!
John Lennon had it right on the money in his song "Nobody Told Me" when he sang:
Nobody told me there'd be days like these
Nobody told me there'd be days like these
Nobody told me there'd be days like these
Strange days indeed
Most peculiar mama, roll!
Peculiar doesn't even describe it, Mr. Lennon!
All of this tension, uncertainty, insanity, violence, sickness, and inhumanity is beyond belief and causes me legit anxiety. For realz, folks. How are we expected to cope with all of this without losing our collective marbles? Coping with anxiety in this crazy-a** world feels damn near impossible. I'm going back to bed!
There are no easy answers or fixes, but there are ways we can mitigate anxiety. This article by the folks at Very Well Health has a lot of great ideas. I'm just going to focus on a few key things, but make sure to check the entire article out.
Very cool article link here ——> https://www.verywellhealth.com/how-to-deal-with-anxiety-8384822
Does anyone besides hippie me know what grounding is?
For starts, there are two types of grounding. I'm not qualified to speak on the more clinical one, so I'm not going to. Ask your mental health professional about it because it too is very helpful. What I am talking about is connecting with the earth's electricity. Healthline defines it as "… a therapeutic technique that involves doing activities that “ground” or electrically reconnect you to the earth. This practice relies on earthing science and grounding physics to explain how electrical charges from the earth can have positive effects on your body." (1)
What the French toast? you are probably thinking. That sounds a little woo woo for me, Willow!
Humor me. It's all about getting out into nature. Unplugging, taking your shoes off, and walking on the grass. Lounging on the ground, watching the clouds float by. Floating in a nearby (clean!) lake or river. Sounds weird, but it works. The earth's electricity is calming. Ever seen a worried or anxious flower or tree? Go outside and be in nature! Connect yourself to something bigger and beyond yourself.
That brings up my next point. UNPLUG. I feel like I really shouldn't have to explain this, but I am so guilty of this. So so guilty, and I know I'm not the only one. I look at a screen for 8 hours a day at work. I'm writing this on a tiny laptop. I have checked my phone 1,343 times since I started writing and answered 235 messages of various kinds. And unfortunately, that's the norm now. All screens, all the time.
Ever go on a social media break? I tried, but I couldn't do it. So I improvised. I set up 'do not disturb' hours on my phone. I turn off notifications for all apps, and never have my volume up. I purposely leave my phone across the room when I'm reading or doing chores. Better than nothing! High five for anyone who can do it! You're writing the next article!
The last thing I want to talk about is exercise. It's so very important. Here's some science for my geekier fans, "Exercise activates frontal regions of the brain responsible for executive function, which helps control the amygdala, our reacting system to real or imagined threats to our survival." (2)
And it doesn't really matter what you do, as long as you move, and do it consistently. My Friend D started a Facebook group that a bunch of us have joined around exercising. People are getting together for walks, hiking, biking, gym meetups, golf, and my personal favorite, foot golf! Yes, it's literally what it sounds like. Kicking a soccer ball down the fairway into a soccer ball sized hole in as few kicks as possible. It's the BEST. I have loved seeing what other people are doing, how we can keep each other accountable, and have fun exercising together!
Personally, I have a love, hate, love, hate, love, hate relationship with exercise. I really want to do it, and I feel great! when I do, but I lack consistency. It's very frustrating. I think it comes back to over-scheduling myself, as per my usual Aquarian self. What do you mean I can't do it all??? Something I am working on. Sigh…
Seriously, if you struggle with anxiety, read that article I linked up there ^. It has great insight, ideas, and coping techniques. Also, see a therapist if you need to, and talk to your doctor about meds. Both have helped me. At first, I was ashamed because I felt like I should've been able to handle life myself, but sometimes, it's just too much. It's ok to ask for help.
If you haven't heard of it, there's a great crisis line if you are struggling deep. Just dial 988. They've recently added a texting feature, which I think is super cool. More info here: https://988lifeline.org/.
Ending where we started with some more of John Lennon's lyrics. You're not the only one, John. There's lots of us right there with you. <3
Imagine
Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people living for today
Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people living life in peace, you
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope some day you'll join us
And the world will be as one
Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people sharing all the world, you
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope some day you'll join us
And the world will be as one
I completely agree, grounding & unplugging is important to ones mental health. Thank you for another great article.