For many of us, the reason we turn to food when we feel anxious is because we don’t know how to feel or process anxiety.
We feel that uncomfortable vibration of panic and suddenly we’re searching for something to eat and we’re not even hungry.
It’s a short-term solution that only works only works for so long.
We can stop the cycle by learning how to accept anxiety, feel it fully, and let it move through us, instead of fighting it, pushing it away, or feeding it.
Anxiety really can’t hurt us. Sure, it feels uncomfortable, but if we breathe with it and allow it, it often fades on its own.
Allow yourself to become curious about anxiety. Notice where you feel it. Explore anxiety with curiosity. What does it look like? Smell like? Taste like? Stay with it and get to know it without any resistance or fight.
Moving with anxiety can also help. For instance, taking a walk, a warm bath, dancing, yoga, swimming, or switching up what we’re doing can also ease anxiety as you breathe with it and explore it patiently.
“But feelings can’t be ignored, no matter how unjust or ungrateful they seem.”
So the next time you feel anxious, give yourself permission to let it be.
Breathe and explore anxiety with compassion, patience, and curiosity.
Move with it, if that feels better.
Just don’t stuff, resist or avoid anxiety.
Don’t react to it, resist or avoid it, and please, don’t feed it.
Just let it be.
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