What is the connection between community and anxiety you may well ask?
Personally, this has been a thread that has run throughout my life and at times I haven’t managed very well. As human beings we cannot always protect our emotional health and as such, we have to learn to roll with the ups and downs of life. This can be challenging however it is so worth the ride.
Connection and/or community and anxiety are more closely intertwined than most of us would think, especially in the human experience we are living in. This has perhaps become more apparent than ever over the last couple of years and dare I suggest, moving forward in the years to come.
Connection with our community is the fibre that binds us together and supports us to build and maintain our purpose. We are not meant to be solo travellers in life as this would generally not see us challenge ourselves to develop, grow and reach our fullest potential or be the best we could be.
Community – and there are many versions of this for example family, friends, work colleagues, sporting groups, neighbours etc – allows us to experience different interactions and provide us with the opportunity to engage in an experience that can support and benefit us or challenge us to think or respond differently and perhaps question our belief structures. Either way they are amazing opportunities to grow and become a better person.
Anxiety is usually born from a belief from a past experience that we’ve told ourselves a story about, for example I don’t fit in, I’m not good enough, I get put down all the time, it’s always my fault and lots more. Just showing up each day and doing/being the very best you can be is all anyone can ask of themselves.
With any form of anxiety, in the moment our biggest challenge is to slow down and remember to breathe. Remember our brain needs oxygen and when we experience anxiety the first thing we usually do is increase our breathing rate to rapid shallow breathing which unfortunately aggravates the anxiety episode.
If this happens and you’re outside, look up at the sky or a tree, stare at it and focus on slowly breathing in and out. This works to interrupt the signals to the brain that tell us this situation is dangerous. If inside, focus on a point on the ceiling in the corner of the room, again focus on slowly breathing in and out.
For those of us who struggle with anxiety, perhaps try asking yourself these questions.
- Who is my community?
- Is there a person in my community that I can rely on and be vulnerable with?
- How do I show up and interact with others?
- If there isn’t anyone in my community, how does this make me feel?
- Do I have to be perfect to fit in, and if so, does this fuel my anxiety?
Remember when we have connections and create community with others, we support each other. We don’t know what others may be struggling with. Be kind, be present and most of all be empathetic.
Sending love and connection.
Photo by Helena Lopes on Unsplash and by Fabian Møller on Unsplash
