Linda Hardy: Helping You To Help Yourself

This is an excellent article about anxiety, based on the personal experience of the writer. I think there is some really good information and advice here.

Lovely. Try it out at a park near you 😊

Check these out, can you relate to any of this?

I like the concept of low power mode when you need to give yourself a break :-)

Thank you for visiting my Facebook page. I am a counsellor and Cognitive Behaviour Therapist in Glasgow City Centre. My philosophy is that we are our own best helper, and postings here are ones that I find personally inspirational, and also feature in many people's lives.
I post here regularly, and hope that some of the items on this page are of interest to you. Please do note that this message will always be at the top of my feed, with the most recent posting directly be...low.
Thanks for visiting my page.
With best wishes,
Linda
www.counselling-glasgow.com www.hardyworkshops.com
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Great article in the Guardian. People regularly tell me that exercise helps them to feel better, and I also know this from personal experience. I try to get out for a brisk walk regularly, but getting out there can feel like a chore. We've all been there, I'm sure. So how DO you get out there when your body and mind is telling you no.
Here are a few wee tips that may help:
Was there an occasion when you did exercise and felt much better than before? Imagine how you felt a...fterwards compared to before. In what way did you feel better? Really vividly remember the experience. Were your thoughts any different? If so, how?
Despite not really feeling like doing it - and we have all been there - tell yourself that you can cope with this discomfort. Say something along the lines of "Yes, I can really cope with going out there, despite not really feeling like it right now. After all, I have coped with a lot more in my life that was much, much harder than this!" And then remember how you are likely to feel afterwards if you have this 'I can tolerate it' philosophy.
Then, based on past experience, remind yourself WHY it's worth tolerating.
Try taking yourself out of your head and into your body or the immediate environment. For example, focusing on your breath, or on the sights, sounds and sensations around can give us space from all the thoughts that are going around in your head. Then when you are mindfully focused, chances are you are more likely to do what you need to do.
If none of the above works, then try being like an automaton. Acknowledge what you are thinking and feeling (don't fight it); but accept what is there. Then just go through the motions of putting your exercise gear on anyway, and go out there. Like a robot.
Please feel free to share or comment if this is helpful in any way.
With best wishes for now, Linda.
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Good quote. Sometimes I hear people say that I want him / her to change and all will be well. All we can do is change how WE are in relation to another person - perhaps we might influence change, but it is not possible to MAKE another person change.