Those of us who struggle with anxiety and panic attacks truly understand we can be in the best of circumstances and suddenly be engulfed in horrifying feelings. Heart racing, smothering, nervous breakdown inducing attacks without warning or reasoning. These moments are overwhelming and take us straight out of reality at times.
I spent the last 2 weeks in Panama City with my daughter, right on the beach. She went there for dolphin training classes to start off her future marine biology degree. I tagged along for the company and ocean.
The beach is my happy place. I can literally watch the waves roll in for hours. My retirement will absolutely need to take place in a beachfront condo.
With that being said, I was shocked and confused at the panic attacks that came hard and fast the first 2 nights in our beautiful room with the ocean view I adore. Hiding my struggles from my daughter, I promised myself freedom would somehow be found the next day. I couldn’t imagine spending my entire time in paradise trapped by my old nemesis, anxiety.
I remembered something I recently pinned:
Anxiety “grounding” tool: Look around you. Find 5 things you can see, 4 things you can touch, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell, and 1 thing you can taste.
{via NotSalmon.com}
This prompted me to think about true connection to nature, the kind that gets all of your senses involved. So, the next morning I hauled myself down oceanside and parked in a cozy blue chair under a striped shady umbrella. As anxiety rose up as it inevitably often does, I tested out that much needed grounding tool in my breathtaking surroundings.
Then I enjoyed a long, deep, meaningful conversation with God. Not really asking for anything. Just hanging out, enjoying His company, and thanking Him for this incredible beauty He created for me to wrap myself up in.
And it worked. Amazingly well. Here’s the fascinating part. My calmness from those grounded moments started to carry over to the evenings and even the rainy hours in my room after this dark cloud rolled in.
I’m well aware that most human beings cannot under any circumstances take 2 weeks off and head to the beach to work on their anxiety. But my theory is this will work on a much smaller scale too.
A recent Time magazine article (their special edition on mindfulness) I had the luxury of reading this week backs me up on this thought. It describes grounding as well but with a different perspective. Integrative-medicine doctor Valencia Porter recommends connecting your bare feet with the earth, ground or soil, to help depression, anxiety, and insomnia.
These are 3 of my greatest struggles. I’ll definitely be spending more time outdoors shoeless when I get home, even without the precious granules of sand between my toes. This is the perfect season to pull a chair into our backyards and stick our feet in the green grass.
If you’re not a fan of being barefoot, like my son who would cringe at the mere thought, just get outside. Go hiking, walk around your neighborhood, sit on your patio, and try looking around and engaging all of your senses. Use the above 5-4-3-2-1 grounding activity. It’s the perfect addition to any emotional healing toolbox.
Don’t forget to spend time with God, thanking Him for the nature that surrounds you, whether it’s sunshine, green grass, mountains, oceans, snowflakes… This is where I believe the true healing to take place. By remembering He created all of this helps me in those indoor, ungrounded moments. I can connect to Him when anxiety starts to set in, knowing how powerful and capable He actually is.
I pray these words help you move forward in life regardless of what you’re struggling with today. I know very personally how hard this can be. For more tips and support, please subscribe to my free newsletter. I so appreciate having you on this life journey with me.
I have been trying to enjoy more outdoor walks in beautiful natural views. We live close to a river where there are beautiful river trails. It’s calming to take a walk along the river. So I totally understand where you are coming from. I’m glad you had a chance to enjoy yourself and work on your anxiety during your vacation. I will have to try walking in the grass barefoot more often. I have heard of the benefits, but like so many things I often forget to practice it ☺
I wish I could remember to practice at least half of the things I know to be beneficial, Sonya :). You have a beautiful place to walk by the river. I’ve seen pictures of you and your adorable family there. This is the perfect season for hiking which is one of the only forms of exercise I truly love. I’m hoping to get out at least a few times over the next month.
Thank you for sharing your heart with us. I, too, have anxiety and panic that flares up at the oddest times. Thank you for the reminders of grounding. 🙂 Praying you are feeling better.
Thanks so much for the prayers, Melissa. I’m feeling much better. I completely agree how these just pop up at the oddest times. I’m sorry to hear you struggle with this too. I’ll definitely pray for you as well. There’s no way to completely understand this affliction unless you suffer from it.
I’m so sorry you had an anxiety attack, Candace. I’m so glad God relieved it through His creation and quiet soul rest time with Him. I haven’t had the privilege of it very often in my life, but I love to sink my bare feet in the sand and listen to the ocean sounds. Did you get to swim with the dolphins? I’m so happy for your daughter. Being a marine biologist was one of my dreams as a child. Blessings and hugs to you!
Those ocean sounds really do it for me too, Trudy. I didn’t get to swim with the dolphins. I had an opportunity but I far prefer looking at water than actually getting in it ;). I’m so excited for my little girl too. What an amazing career path. She really goes after her dreams. Blessings and hugs to you, my friend!
I don’t suffer from anxiety or depression but I do find great peace and calming when we do outdoor activities. So glad you had this time at the beach. Gulf of Mexico beaches are so very lovely!
The beach was beautiful, Susan. Outdoor activities can bring peace to so many of us. The weather is really getting perfect for this too :).
Hi Candace,
What an exciting career for your daughter and how wonderful that you got to spend 2 weeks at the beach! You are bravely facing your challenges with anxiety and sharing them with us. I always feel so much closer to God when I’m out walking or surrounded by nature,and you’re right, somehow those elements tell us how capable he is to handle our fears and frustrations!
It was an amazing trip, Valerie. I loved seeing my daughter in her element. She is going into such an awesome career.
Spending time with God in nature is eye opening on so many levels :). I definitely feel closer to Him in those settings as well. I’m hoping to spend more time outdoors in this Fall season.
Such a great reminder today! It can be so easy to spiral deeper into ourselves when we have feelings of anxiety, but focusing on God’s creation and all that is outside of us, is an amazing way to remember the how holy God really is!
Getting outside of ourselves is definitely the way to freedom, Becky. I completely agree about how easy it is to get too deep into ourselves in those tough moments. God’s incredible creation is the perfect escape from the darkness of anxiety!
Beautiful!
Thank you, Michelle. It was a beautiful trip :).
I sure do agree that nature does wonders for anxiety. I was diagnosed with anxiety earlier this summer and what has really helped me is when I am feeling anxious, just take a break and take my dog on a walk. It helps.
My dogs are so helpful in times of anxiety and depression, Valerie. Even just playing with them is a wonderful escape :). I’m glad you’ve found something that works so well for you!
I always feel calmer and more relaxed in the quiet of nature or going just outside for a walk. I’m visiting today from the #shinebloghop.
I’m so glad to have you here, Bonnie :). Going outside in my difficult moments is definitely a tool I will be using more often. Even sitting on my back patio really does wonders!
So glad to have found your post at the #ShineBlogHop. We’ve had some pretty severe bouts of anxiety with a family member and I help and counsel anxious individuals daily in my work as a community services manager. Anxiety can be very debilitating for some people and I find your suggestion and discussion of using a grounding technique to be excellent advice. Bringing ourselves back to the present moment with our senses and focusing on neutral things in our environment is so helpful. As you suggest, connecting with nature is tremendously soothing and can go a very long way to helping us calm down and relax. This is such a thoughtful and well-written post. Thank you for sharing!
I’m so sorry to hear about your family member’s struggles, Reuven. I know how difficult it can be to watch and at times we can feel so helpless in bringing our loved ones out of these times. You are so right. Anxiety can be absolutely debilitating. I certainly get in that hard space at times. I’m thankful you found your way here :).
Oh Candace, I am SO glad you were able to ground yourself in peace while you were away on your trip! It looks stunningly gorgeous and you KNOW I get everything you experienced those first few days. I could see ME going through the same situation.
I had never seen your grounding tips, and I am really encouraged by them. I have always been calmed by long walks outside. Just getting outside at all helps me feel like I can BREATHE. I’m with your son- keepin’ my shoes ON though! LOL It all actually is just how my feet don’t work really. Not without good supportive shoes, so I’ll just breathe in the air, look around and find beauty and listen to the landscape around me. I’ll bring a snack to taste too! 🙂
A snack is always a great idea, Chris ;). I know you understand this struggle, my friend. These grounding tips are awesome. I hope they serve you well. I was so glad to find them at such a perfect time!
I wish you had been closer and we could’ve spent some time together in Florida!! Maybe next time.
The beach is one of my fav calming places too. I know one thing which helped a lot of my panic attacks, mainly when I got in the car, was getting rid of coffee, tea and sodas. The moment I knew I had to drive, I would be a nervous wreck. But for several months now with none of those items in m body, they are gone!! Too many chemicals in my body I guess and water is what I drink now. The Lord for sure helped me through that time period and lots of prayers.
I thought about you while I was there, Tammy! I would love to meet in real life sometime. My hubby may do some work in Orlando next year. I think that may be closer to you. If all works out, maybe I’ll have to tag along with him sometime :).
Caffeine wreaks havoc on my body as well. I used to own a coffee shop and I think all the lattes I drank all day broke something in me. I only have decaf now which helps a lot.
Very true my friend. I find that time spent outdoors always improves my outlook. P.S. We are heading to the beach this weekend. I can’t wait!
I hope you have a wonderful trip, Jen! I’m so jealous. I miss it already :).
That grounding technique looks fantastic. I don’t suffer from anxiety or depression, but I could see how that would be helpful in any stressful situation. Thanks for joining us a th the #happynowlinkup.
I think it can be used in so many applications, Leslie. I’m glad to have it in my toolbox. Thanks so much for the linkup :)!
I love the beach, too. I try and walk every day so I get my steps IN and breathe in the nature that surrounds me.
I really need to start walking outdoors again, Caryn. The weather is perfect right now. Thanks for the reminder! The beach is such a happy place for me. I wish I could walk there every day :).