15/10/2022
Anxiety - Reflexology can help
Anxiety is so widespread at present and has been from the start of the pandemic but appears to be getting worse, probably due the economic downturn alongside the constant fear we are faced with on so many levels. I won't go into anymore depth regarding reasons but will focus on the symptoms experienced and the way in which help can be obtained.
Anxiety
Anxiety can take the form of a mild worry to the other extreme of a full on panic attack and restrict a person’s life, so that even normal tasks become impossible.
It is normal for people to feel nervous or anxious about a problem at work, or a student before an exam. For the purpose of this piece however I am referring to the type of anxiety that interferes with a person’s ability to lead a normal life on a regular basis. This is generally the sort of anxiety I treat in my clinic.
Anxiety is normal in acute stressful situations but it becomes a problem when the symptoms remain or the stress is minor and yet we perceive it as being dreadful and therefore our reaction is out of proportion and it has a very negative effect on our lives.
The common symptoms of anxiety
There are many and varied symptoms associated with anxiety and although some are common, not all these symptoms are experienced at one time.
The physical symptoms are caused by the brain sending out messages via the nerves and hormones to various parts of the body when we are anxious. As an example take adrenaline, a hormone, which is release into the blood stream via the adrenal glands when the body feels ‘fight or flight’ may be necessary. This is the perfect reaction if we are in a situation we need to escape from quickly but when faced with a normal situation, or one that continues for a long time, this can cause the body harm. The most common symptoms associated with anxiety are:
• Feeling uneasy, fearful, apprehensive and worried a lot of the time
• Inability to concentrate
• Irritability
• Trouble sleeping
• Heart palpitations
• Chest pains
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness and feeling faint
• Churning Stomach
• Dry mouth
• Trembling
• Numbness or pins and needles in the hands, arms or legs
• Muscle aches and pains
• Nausea
• Sweating
Not every person suffering anxiety will suffer all of the above symptoms. In the case of a generally anxious person, the top four are common.
In severe anxiety the person may feel like they are having a heart attack, when in fact it may be a panic attack.
Having said this, medical help should always be sought immediately to rule out anything more severe, in the case of chest tightness or pain and trouble breathing.
Reflexology
Reflexology aims to calm the whole body and can ease anxiety and the stress response, while calming the mind. With over 7,000 nerve endings on each foot, relating to all the body's organs and systems, soothing and rebalancing the person is something Reflexology does very well. I find when treating people suffering anxiety the adrenal gland is often over functioning and the solar plexus, (which I refer to as the nerve switchboard) feels tight and restricted. Reflexology is carried out to gentle soothing music, which is also calming.
I have had many people who come in for treatment saying they cannot relax and yet after an hour of a session of Reflexology, leave in a very relaxed state.
Other ways to ease anxiety
There are many things you can do if you are experiencing anxiety and one of the most important is coming to terms with what is causing the anxiety in the first place and finding a solution, if possible. Anxiety can creep up on people, as I know myself. The situation can have passed and yet the anxious feelings remain. Below are things you can do to help bring calm back to your life:
• Look at the things that make you tense and avoid them if possible or learn how to deal with them
• Practice relaxation techniques such as Meditation or Yoga
• Take up exercise, this may help to reduce the emotional intensity and use up nervous energy
• Practice abdominal breathing, this is a technique that calms the system quickly. Take a deep breath slowly in through the nose right the way down to the abdomen while saying the word calm to yourself, then hold for a few seconds, then let the breath out through the mouth. Try to visualise the muscles relaxing at the same time
• Eat a healthy diet and give up or cut down on caffeine and alcohol, as these can aggravate the stress response and actually cause the body to become anxious.
I hope you have found this helpful. If you would like to book a Reflexology session or have a chat about this please give me a call on 07989 940162, message me below or email me at [email protected]
