How tuning into your nervous system can help you cope with anxiety

Anxiety affects us all at some point in our lives, some may experience frequent or constant anxiety, while others find it creeps up when they’re feeling stressed. It can be debilitating and often hard to pinpoint what is causing it, but according to experts, tuning into your nervous system can actually help you recognize and avoid your triggers.

When it comes to anxiety and our mental health, we all have our own coping mechanisms, whether it’s journaling, meditating, or snuggling down and watching TV—anything that we think takes our minds off those panicked feelings. But, according to this latest research, your distraction tactics could be what's making it worse. 

According to Dr. David Hanscom, so many elements of our day-to-day lives could be making us more susceptible to our anxious feelings. He says by actually tuning into our body, and recognizing what they may be, will help you to avoid your triggers and as a result, ease your anxiety.

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Something as simple as watching a tense drama, scrolling the news—or gossiping with a friend—could be among the causes because they can make you feel agitated. 

As Hanscom explains in Psychology Today: “Anger and anxiety describe agitated physiological states and are sensations generated by your body’s response to threats.

"When states of agitation are sustained, your body’s physiology causes physical damage to your tissues, sensitizes your perception of sensory input, and detracts from your capacity to enjoy life.”

The body has a very reactive ‘fight or flight’ response when it feels threatened, and our mind is the same. So it makes sense that negative thoughts and stimulation only stoke these feelings more.

While all that sounds very doom and gloom, there is a silver lining. Hansom says: “To some degree, you are in charge of the information going into your nervous system, and what you choose to input into your nervous system will affect your body’s chemistry.”

Have a look at your daily routine, are you scrolling the news a lot? Are you in contact with negative people? Or are you finding yourself complaining often? All of these things could be contributing and are within your control to change.

Try to change things up and do things that actually create happy feelings or ‘spark joy’ as Marie Kondo would say, like watching your favorite episode of friends or having some self-care days—don’t mind if we do!

Hanscom adds: “Understanding the effects of what you are inputting into your nervous system is important in calming it down, initially, they may be so ingrained that you can’t see them or the effects they are having on the quality of your life. It takes practice to notice and is also challenging to change.”

While we wish there was a quick fix for anxiety, sadly there isn’t. It can be hard to overhaul your routine. Start simple, be kind to yourself and try to make your day-to-day you time as positive and calming as possible.