connecting with people.” Although we know
it to be true, it’s easy to forget that what we
are seeing on social media is “a curated and
consciously presented version of a truth” and
most of us are as guilty of it as the next person.
“Social media feeds our perfectionist tendencies
and rather than seeing inspiration on our
feeds and following with action, we are often
paralysed by a fear that keeps us stuck,” says
Lucy. Accepting that life isn’t perfect is the
key to happier times. There is nearly always
a gap between how things really are and how
we wish, hope, expect or plan for them to be.
Learning to accept our imperfections and
ease the pressure helps us to behave in a way
that’s more true to ourselves. “It’s OK not to
feel the need to climb and strive if it doesn’t
feel right for you at this moment,” says Lucy.There’s a right time for worrying. Anxiety
is indiscriminate and can appear at any time,
however hormonal changes are thought to
make women more predisposed to it. If you
think you’re just a born worrier, it might be
that you’ve got used to functioning with anxiety.
“Sometimes worry can be oddly reassuring.
A constant low level of anxiety can make you
feel that you’re ready for anything and safe
from harm,” says Dr Ellen Hendriksen, clinical
psychologist and founding host of the podcast,
Savvy Psychologist. She recommends setting
aside time for worrying once or twice a day.
When worries crop up outside of the worry
time, ask yourself, ‘Can I do something about
this now?’ If you can, take action, but if you
can’t, then save that thought. The chances are
when the time comes around, the worry won’t
seem as important. “Don’t believe everything
you think,” says Dr Hendriksen. “And don’t
believe anything you think after 10pm!”Relax
Rest should ideally make up 42% of your day- about 10 hours (as recommended in Burnout
by Emily and Amelia Nagoski: this includes sleep,
exercise, socialising and eating). Anxiety and
tiredness are closely related and mutually causal - if you feel anxious, sleep is your best medicine.
Exercise
The most efficient way to complete the stress
cycle and neutralise stress hormones is to do
some exercise. Any movement will do, but try to
get at least a 20-minute walk outside each day.Do something
Rather than despair about global events, do
something to tend your small patch. Remember,
‘something is anything that isn’t nothing.’Give up on perfection
Start by stopping comparing yourself with others.
Don’t even compare you now with your past self.Let your feed nourish you
As well as limiting your time spent on social
media, check what you’re looking at. Block any
feeds that make you feel less good about yourself
and limit time spent looking at news channels.Ask for help
The Anxiety UK website has lots of really useful
advice including recommended therapists;
anxietyuk.org.uk. CBT (cognitive behavioural
therapy) is a talking therapy that is proven to
help; your GP can refer you for CBT on the NHS.Don’t bottle it up
Anxiety can manifest itself in many ways, but
if it’s affecting your day-to-day living, seek help- either through self-care or support from others.
How CBD can ease symptoms of anxiety
Many people turn to natural therapies, including the
much talked about CBD (cannabidiol), with positive
outcomes. Sultan Dajani is a community pharmacist
who prescribes CBD. “We have evidence that good
quality CBD can reduce symptoms of anxiety including
rumination and lack of sleep,” he says. It’s fast-acting,
but is only for short-term use. Always consult your
own pharmacist before using.
What to look for Oils and tinctures have the highest
concentration of CBD and are taken in drops.
Concentration and quality can vary so buy from areputable supplier (Dragonfly is widely available) and
check the mg of CBD, the percentage concentration
and amount of liquid. Choosing an organic brand will
ensure it contains no heavy metals or pesticides.
Start low “People have different reactions to different
doses. Start with a low dose and build up,” says Sultan.
Solid options CBD in capsule or tablet form takes
a bit longer to be absorbed but is good if you don’t
like the taste of the tincture. With any product, always
check the mg of CBD per dose. And rest assured that
a good quality cannabidiol is totally free from THC,
which is what causes a high in cannabis.Soothing oil
WELLBEINGconnectingwithpeople.”Althoughweknow
it tobetrue,it’seasytoforgetthatwhatwe
areseeingonsocialmediais“acuratedand
consciouslypresentedversionofa truth”and
mostofusareasguiltyofit asthenextperson.
“Socialmediafeedsourperfectionisttendencies
andratherthanseeinginspirationonour
feedsandfollowingwithaction,weareoften
paralysedbya fearthatkeepsusstuck,”says
Lucy.Acceptingthatlifeisn’tperfectisthe
keytohappiertimes.Thereisnearlyalways
a gapbetweenhowthingsreallyareandhow
wewish,hope,expectorplanforthemtobe.
Learningtoacceptourimperfectionsand
easethepressurehelpsustobehaveina way
that’smoretruetoourselves.“It’sOKnotto
feeltheneedtoclimbandstriveif it doesn’t
feelrightforyouatthismoment,”saysLucy.
There’sa righttimeforworrying.Anxiety
isindiscriminateandcanappearatanytime,
howeverhormonalchangesarethoughtto
makewomenmorepredisposedtoit.Ifyou
thinkyou’rejusta bornworrier,it mightbe
thatyou’vegotusedtofunctioningwithanxiety.
“Sometimesworrycanbeoddlyreassuring.
A constantlowlevelofanxietycanmakeyou
feelthatyou’rereadyforanythingandsafe
fromharm,”saysDrEllenHendriksen,clinical
psychologistandfoundinghostofthepodcast,
SavvyPsychologist. Sherecommendssetting
asidetimeforworryingonceortwicea day.
Whenworriescropupoutsideoftheworry
time,askyourself,‘CanI dosomethingabout
thisnow?’Ifyoucan,takeaction,butif you
can’t,thensavethatthought.Thechancesare
whenthetimecomesaround,theworrywon’t
seemasimportant.“Don’tbelieveeverything
youthink,”saysDrHendriksen.“Anddon’t
believeanythingyouthinkafter10pm!”
Relax
Rest should ideally make up 42% of your day- about 10 hours (as recommended in Burnout
by Emily and Amelia Nagoski: this includes sleep,
exercise, socialising and eating). Anxiety and
tiredness are closely related and mutually causal - if you feel anxious, sleep is your best medicine.
Exercise
The most efficient way to complete the stress
cycle and neutralise stress hormones is to do
some exercise. Any movement will do, but try to
get at least a 20-minute walk outside each day.Do something
Rather than despair about global events, do
something to tend your small patch. Remember,
‘something is anything that isn’t nothing.’Give up on perfection
Start by stopping comparing yourself with others.
Don’t even compare you now with your past self.Let your feed nourish you
As well as limiting your time spent on social
media, check what you’re looking at. Block any
feeds that make you feel less good about yourself
and limit time spent looking at news channels.Ask for help
The Anxiety UK website has lots of really useful
advice including recommended therapists;
anxietyuk.org.uk. CBT (cognitive behavioural
therapy) is a talking therapy that is proven to
help; your GP can refer you for CBT on the NHS.Don’t bottle it up
Anxiety can manifest itself in many ways, but
if it’s affecting your day-to-day living, seek help- either through self-care or support from others.
How CBD can ease symptoms of anxiety
Many people turn to natural therapies, including the
much talked about CBD (cannabidiol), with positive
outcomes. Sultan Dajani is a community pharmacist
who prescribes CBD. “We have evidence that good
quality CBD can reduce symptoms of anxiety including
rumination and lack of sleep,” he says. It’s fast-acting,
but is only for short-term use. Always consult your
own pharmacist before using.
What to look for Oils and tinctures have the highest
concentration of CBD and are taken in drops.
Concentration and quality can vary so buy from a
reputable supplier (Dragonfly is widely available) and
check the mg of CBD, the percentage concentration
and amount of liquid. Choosing an organic brand will
ensure it contains no heavy metals or pesticides.
Start low “People have different reactions to different
doses. Start with a low dose and build up,” says Sultan.
Solid options CBD in capsule or tablet form takes
a bit longer to be absorbed but is good if you don’t
like the taste of the tincture. With any product, always
check the mg of CBD per dose. And rest assured that
a good quality cannabidiol is totally free from THC,
which is what causes a high in cannabis.Soothing oil
WELLBEING