Pandemic Anxiety Busters~

On By cindy knokeIn Birds, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, Psychological Self Care, REVERIES, Uncategorized

In the last two posts we started filling our anxiety busting toolbox and we are now down to our final three tools.*

Thank you to all the bloggers who added their own personal tools that work. They are most helpful and are incorporated into our toolbox. Choose any tool(s) that might work for you, and discard any/all that are not a good fit. Add more of your own resources that work. Adapt your toolbox to suit yourself. The most important thing, regardless of the specific tools, is to have tools in your awareness, to improve your mood, and ease your anxiety, when bad things happen.

Here is our toolbox:

ANXIETY TOOLBOX:

Self Talk Reframing (Cognitive Therapy)

Guided Imagination/Visualization

Exposure Management

Progressive Relaxation

Distraction in Action

Self Soothing

Second Voice

Spiritual Meditation/Prayer

Exercise, Diet & Good Health Practices

SECOND VOICE

Carl Jung emphasized the importance of paying attention to our inward self and inner voice and felt that, “engagement with the inner voice is pursued not as a form of inner housekeeping, but rather in the humble service of the development of a relationship with an intelligence present within us but greater than our own. Committing to that service means relating more deeply to our inner nature; its only end-goal is the whole-bodied, whole-hearted, full blossoming of who we really are.”

https://themindunleashed.com/2015/12/five-ways-carl-jung-led-us-to-the-inner-life.html

I wait for, seek out, and listen to my ‘second’ voice, which is often corrective, more helpful, and more calming to me, than my first immediate thought. If this makes any sense to you, try it. When an event occurs, and you have an immediate thought about it, pause, ask yourself, “is this right?” Your second voice may well chime in giving you a more helpful and accurate option. The more you practice listening for your second, more rational thought, rather than accepting your first immediate impulsive thought, the better you get at doing it. Jung felt that our inner voice was direct communication with the collective unconscious, hence the Divine.

SPIRITUAL MEDITATION/PRAYER

Taking time each day to clear your mind of worries and concerns by focusing your attention on the bigger picture is immensely helpful. There are many ways to do this. Prayer and spiritual meditation are methods for connecting ourselves to the greater whole which is profoundly comforting. This spiritual connection can be reached through independent or group prayer, formal or informal meditation, religious or spiritual practice and study. Immersing oneself in nature helps us feel comforted, part of a grander design. Exercising creative pursuits and talents help us feel spiritually connected. The idea is to take time daily for spiritual retreat and connection, eliminating all the noise, chaos, and negativity of the temporal world.

These practices encourage us to fully live in the moment and feel gratitude for being alive. In times of serious stress like a pandemic, turning inward spiritually, connects us outward, bringing calm and comfort. And now that most of us are isolated, finding a way, remotely to be of service and help to others, could never be more important.

EXERCISE, DIET & GOOD HEALTH PRACTICES

We all know the importance of exercise, a healthy diet, hydration, plenty of sleep and rest, in maintaining our physical health. These practices boost our immune system and improve our emotional and psychological health. This becomes more important when we are under sustained and serious stress. As part of your health plan don’t forget to have fun. Be creative about fun, include daily relaxing, distracting, and fun activities, that you have more time for now that you are home. Don’t forget to enjoy life, after all, it is passing, and you are living, now.

  • I tried to upload new photos specifically for this post but wasn’t able to. It seems my wifi is overwhelmed. So I reluctantly include prior posted photos.

Cheers & calm to you, from me, at The Holler~

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330 thoughts on “Pandemic Anxiety Busters~”

  3. Beautiful eye candies you have that are good ease your mind. Again, those are good tools to help lessen the anxiety during this crisis. Please stay safe and hope you and your family are well.

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  8. Thank you Cindy. I love your tools and photos. I especially liked Carl Jung’s take on second voice. I’ve heard many ideas on inner voice and communication, but this resonates as the most useful. I’ll add it to my toolbox! Take good care of yourself. Hugs and blessings….💝

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    1. I am glad it makes sense to you Brad. I adapted it from Jung and have used it for years and it works for me amazingly well. Often now my second voice is a short, “HA!” letting me know how off the mark my first thought really was. I love this. It makes me smile. Take good care Brad ❣

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      1. Thank you! Our beautiful province (British Columbia) is leading the way in slightly flattening the curve, we have to remain strong and vigilant so we can “plank” the curve over the next few weeks!
        Be well and continue to stay safe…

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  17. Good day Cindy, how are you?

    I’m always a sucker for colourful, vibrant blooms: these beautiful images have delighted and excited my eye, and offered a pleasurable distraction from reminders of global chaos, doom and gloom.

    Also enjoyed your dip into Jung and suggestion of listening to that second inner voice. During the coming weeks and months I am sure a consideration of this will prove necessary…quite possibly we’ll all fall foul of unwittingly projecting our concerns and anxieties upon another. These are indeed unprecedented times.

    Nature lovers will already know how liberating Gaia’s embrace can be when seamless with her Love.

    I trust y’all well and safe and taking great care in all ways. Keep smiling!

    DN

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    1. As always, a wonderful comment to read Dewin and thoughtful thought provoking as well. We we went hiking today in the blessedly empty Holler and all was lush and green and full of spring flowers. The embrace of Mother Gaia is indeed the most comforting during times like these. Take good care my friend & thank you for your kindness ❣

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      1. Thank you Cindy. We – family, friends, and our local community – continue to act responsibly knowing that we’ve an obligation to adhere to the rules and increasing restrictions both for the benefit of ourselves and just as importantly for others. A recent U.K government press conference hints towards a lengthy period of lockdown, although no specific time frame has been given (possibly between 1-6 months), which some will find difficult to deal with.

        Your period of daily exercise, hiking the Holler, sounds an absolute delight. I’m sure you already have an intimate knowledge of that area and will get to know it much better during the coming weeks. She, the Holler, will I hope continue to entertain and care for y’all.

        As a Nature lover, I thought this would raise a smile. The U.K’s nationwide lockdown is allowing animals to roam paths which they usually shy away from. As the Conservation Manager of one of the U.K’s largest national nature reserves said recently, “We have annual visitor numbers in excess of one million and suddenly, in the peak of breeding season, they are not going to be here. Nature is just going ‘ahhh, it’s all to ourselves now.”

        Stay well!

        DN

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        1. Funny you should mention the animals enjoying the humans locked down for a change. We were supposed to go skiing, but we cancelled the trip due to the pandemic and then they shut down the mountain. For the first time in forever there weren’t a thousand skiers on the mountain, and look what happened! I swear this is a bear I saw in the summer. It actually made the UK papers:

          https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8138805/Shocking-moment-saw-BEAR-walk-lobby-hotel-girl-works-night-shift.html

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          1. Nature will reclaim what is and has always rightfully been hers. Perhaps in the aftermath of COVID-19 we will learn to live symbiotically with Nature rather than seek dominion over it. Thank you for the link Cindy, it’ll not be the first or last Bear to extend its daily excursion by wandering into town.

            Sorry to hear of your cancelled ski-trip. There is always another time, the mountains aren’t going anywhere. Keep smiling.

            Take care,

            DN

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  24. Your post is choc-full of antidotes to stress and anxiety, Cindy, thank you again for sharing your expertise and the lovely floral display. I’m intrigued by the second voice and really need to listen to it more. My first voice gets me in trouble, so this was really great to read and now have an actionable plan to move forward to positivity!

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  27. These are sound professional advice that can reduce stress and anxiety. Many people are suffering from them. The pictures of the flowers are beautiful and soothing. Thank you for the info.

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  28. Reblogged this on BOOK CHAT and commented:
    Once again Cindy Knoke shares her knowledge on how to deal with the pressures of this pandemic. This is part three. (You can scroll through my latest posts for links to parts 1 and 2). Besides her advice on staying sane through the Covid-19 pandemic, Cindy’s blog contains a plethora of entertaining posts with her own photos. Please stop by her blog often.

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  30. I love this post and all the suggestions/advice. I meditate twice a day and find it SO helpful. First thing in the morning, to start the day calm and centered (and adding energy tapping), then before dinner to end the day releasing stress and anxiety.
    I also find NOT listening to the news too much helps. Half hour with the newspaper, and half hour national news is more than enough. ;-0 Thanks for this. xo

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    1. You are living proof of how beneficial taking control of your stress actually is. It does take practice, but so does anything worthwhile. Thank you for sharing your impressive daily program and take good care დ

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  37. What a beautiful and inspirinhg post!
    The concept of the second voice is not new to me, but I had forgotten about it. Thanks for reminding me 🙂 he colours of your photos are beautiful, warm and comforting. Thank you for this Inspiration.

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  38. Thank you, Cindy, for this series of posts that remind us of things we so easily forget amid the noise, chaos and negativity. It’s now a daily effort to reset and move on. Thank God for Spring – and for your always gorgeous pictures! New York is a mess now, with bad news in the numbers every day. We are all half afraid to go to the stores in our masks and gloves, even for essentials. Though unnecessary travel is frowned upon, we sneak off to the the beach now and then just to drink in the view. Prayers appreciated as we head towards peak infection here. Other emerging hot spots will, I fear, suffer all summer long. Blessings on you and yours in these anxious days!

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    1. Blessings and prayers back to you and Marion and your family Peter. I am prayerful that New York will reach it’s peak soon and have some so needed relief. Love to you my friend & stay safe ღ

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  42. Such beautiful flowers. My second voice has always helped me, it is very easy to judge events or people otherwise. I do Yoga and Reiki early in the morning and of course exercise and diet are necessary. And I do not use the internet before 12.30, it is so distracting. Stay safe and healthy. Regards

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  44. You took me right back to my childhood there for a moment… About that ‘second voice’ 🙂
    As a child, like many others, I had whole conversations with puppets, dolls and whatever came in handy – somtimes literally, my own 2 hands ;-). With the years the puppets went, the dolls went… but discussions with myself stayed and to this day, if I am nervous or trying to work out something, I ask myself and answer too, all on my own. And it certainly helps… 😀

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    1. Yes. It is immensely helpful and I am glad you are aware of it and make use of it. I think it is a big shame that we are taught to lose our childhood selves. In so many ways, they are our best selves ღ

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  48. Thank you for your wonderful support, to overcome the lockdown, Cindy. Looking at the images is really refreshing the mind, and the toolbox is great, too.
    Hope you all are well, and stay save. Best wishes, Michael

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  49. Prior posted photos or not, they’re gorgeous, Cindy! And a much welcomed soothing to the eyes. Thank you for them, and for these wonderful suggestions. I have bookmarked this post to re-read them, and am looking forward to reading your earlier posts on other tools as anxiety busters. Thank you again. Cheers to you, my friend.

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  50. Pushing out all the negativity on the news and that from others is something I try to avoid and look at all the positive, encouraging ways people are coming together and helping one another is what lifts me up and choosing joy in all the ways we can find strength. Getting out and walking my dog in the fresh air helps to relieve anxiety for me also, and above all, first and foremost; prayer and personal time with God and studying His word is what really feeds my soul and lifts my spirit knowing that he knows and controls all and holds it all in the palm of his hands.

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    1. “Yea, thou I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me.” I am happy you have your spiritual center Joyce. Stay safe and well my friend დ

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