A couple posts ago, I wrote about the power of laughter in reducing anxiety. I've thought of another guaranteed anxiety reducer: listening to music.
When I'm really anxious or just having a bad day, I like to turn on some cheesy '80s pop or dance music to take my mind elsewhere. Even though I might not feel like it, I'll even sing along (a great way to reduce that shortness of breath feeling anxiety often brings). My current counselor even told me I should sing in the shower in the morning to "start the day right." I readily admit that I'm not a vocalist, but I do find getting revved up by a favorite song to be a great anxiety buster.
Reducing anxiety essentially is about getting back to living—laughing, singing, and enjoying company. Anxiety robs us of all that. We must take our lives back!
My wife has just discovered the power of a good book in reducing her anxiety. AND it has made her want to get out and live a bit more! I've been using books as a stress buster all my life. It really works!
ReplyDeleteBtw, comedy books and "feel-good" books work best.
Thanks for sharing, Robert! I suggest uplifting and energizing music, too.
ReplyDeleteI have to say I agree on this completely.
ReplyDeleteAs a former professional musician, I couldn't agree more about the benefits of good music! Why not put them all together - laughter, good music and good books (not all simultaneously, of course!)?
ReplyDeleteGreat idea, Robert. Sounds like living life instead of living anxiety :)
ReplyDeleteI hate the shortness of breath feeling, and I TOTALLY AGREE that singing helps to take it away!
ReplyDeleteDo you feel like your diaphragm doesn't work when the shortness of breath feeling comes?
I get it a LOT, even when I'm not feeling anxious.
Laying on my back helps, too, because it forces my breathing to regulate itself. But the moment I stand up, there I am subconsciously clenching my stomach again.
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I hate that feeling, too! Singing forces you to bring in air, I suppose. I've heard that inproper breathing exacerbates anxiety.
ReplyDeleteI hate that feeling, too! Singing forces you to bring in air, I suppose. I've heard that inproper breathing exacerbates anxiety.
ReplyDeleteI hate that feeling, too! Singing forces you to bring in air, I suppose. I've heard that inproper breathing exacerbates anxiety.
ReplyDeleteI agree about it!
ReplyDeleteI can not live one day of my life without music, when I'm listening to it I just pretend that I forgot everything related to stressing issues.