Managing Anxiety in Our Digital World

 My heart goes out to the many souls who are currently struggling with anxiety on a daily basis. 

In my ten years of work as a professional intuitive, I have noticed an especially high incidence of anxiety amongst those who identify as "empaths" and "highly sensitive people." These individuals have sensitive nervous systems are are more attuned to their environment. Our environments are becoming more stimulating - with near constant sensory input from our many of devices. The nervous system's of the highly sensitive struggle to keep up with so much sensory "noise." Our head begins spinning, pulling us out of the present moment and into worry and fear. 

We must be vigilant and have courage to (sometimes) stop scrolling in a world where everyone is staring at their screen! Human connection is profoundly healing - getting out of our own head is much easier when we are listening to another and looking in their eyes. It is aided when our focus is moved away from our screens, and heightened when we are actively helping another. 

Getting out of our head is also easier when we are moving our body! A nice walk or hike in nature - feeling the sunshine and wind on our skin, hearing the birds chirping around us, and the wind rustling the leaves - This connects us with the "here and now," letting us know that we are okay! 

The human part of us wasn't meant to exist in an entirely digital world, we were meant to gather with others around a glowing campfire sharing stories, wisdom, and food from the earth! We were meant to eat seasonal food and live in harmony with the changing seasons. Though life has changed, honoring our humanity in small ways can still bring radically positive results, especially for the highly sensitive among us. 

For the highly sensitive person, this might mean going to bed when it gets dark or using only candlelight in the evening hours. This might mean simplifying the diet by focusing it on affordable and available whole foods (like potatoes, rice, beans, apples, oatmeal, carrots, etc). This may mean, taking time once a week to sign out of our devices and join together with others in an offline space (like a club meeting, an intuitive development circle, a hiking meet-up, yoga class or something more). 

And most importantly of all, this may mean limiting the specific content that is worsening our anxiety and fear. This can require radical honesty and we begin to observe how each creator influences our well being. Have the courage to honor how each post/video/article contributes to your well being. Digital Minimalism (a careful and conscious curation of digital content that reflects ones personal values) may be supportive for those who are struggling with anxiety. 

By acknowledging your sensitivity, engaging in self care, and reconnecting to your humanity, we can begin to reduce our anxiety symptoms. Small actions, taken regularly, can change your life...and you deserve to feel good! 

Thanks for reading.



A more in-depth discussion of my thoughts on anxiety can be found in the video above.