Help for Your Anxiety

NUTRITION HACKS FOR MENTAL CALM If you are feeling anxious these days (aren't we all?) don't forget about the mind-body connection. What you eat can actually affect your mental state.  Here are some nutrition hacks that can help your body create a sense of mental calm. Stay Hydrated:  I am guilty of drinking coffee and Diet Coke all day, but I am trying to drink more H2O. The general recommendation is that we drink 64 ounces of water a day. Staying hydrated has been shown to improve mood and reduce stress. Regulate your blood sugar.  Don't skip meals,  A blood sugar drop really affects your mood negatively!  Have lean protein for breakfast and add the following foods to keep your blood sugar stable. Whole grains contain tryptophan and magnesium which decrease anxiety and boost mood. Spinach, nuts, and beans are good sources of the calming mineral magnesium. Asparagus is potassium-rich and contains vitamins A, C, E, and K.  In Chinese medi...

10 THINGS YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW TO HELP YOU SLEEP DURING THE COVID-19 CRISIS So many of my clients are having trouble sleeping during these unnerving times. Many of them are worried about themselves,, family, friends, and co-workers contracting the Coronavirus. Some of my clients are essential workers who have to go out in public masked and gloved hoping they are protected.  I think this widespread problem of insomnia is rampant because the pandemic brought so many changes to our lives. The pandemic regulations came so quickly and escalated so fast that our heads are spinning. When we lay down to sleep it can feel like all of our worries and fears come out to play,   It doesn’t help that we are now separated from our neighbors, friends and the religious organizations that would normally support us when we are anxious and frightened. We are all trying to adjust to this "new normal" but it can be even harder if we are sleep deprived. I went to the experts at th...

MENTAL HEALTH WELLNESS TIPS FOR QUARANTINE A therapist friend condensed all the advice mental health professionals are giving to those who are unsettled by the shelter-in-place and physical distancing policies. A good read! MENTAL HEALTH WELLNESS TIPS FOR QUARANTINE 1. Stick to a routine . Go to sleep and wake up at a reasonable time, write a schedule that is varied and includes time for work as well as self-care. 2. Dress for the social life you want , not the social life you have. Get showered and dressed in comfortable clothes, wash your face, brush your teeth. Take the time to do a bath or a facial. Put on some bright colors. It is amazing how our dress can impact our mood. 3. Get out at least once a day , for at least thirty minutes. If you are concerned of contact, try first thing in the morning, or later in the evening, and try less traveled streets and avenues. If you are high risk or living with those who are high risk, open the windows and blast the fan. It is ama...

Today I would like to share an article by a fellow mental health professional.  She suggests that we create our own 2-minute affirmation to repeat while we are scrupulously washing our hands to avoid COVID-19.  This would be a good self-care addition to your life during shelter-in-place.  It doesn’t have to be the one she suggests.  It is fully customizable. Make your own, using language that gives you comfort and hope. The other day I was standing in line at the pharmacy, waiting to pick up a prescription. It was a long line and it was moving slowly. People were getting irritable. Suddenly, a man ahead of me turned started yelling at everyone behind him: “There isn’t enough distance. There needs to be at least  six  feet! This isn’t safe! We’re all going to get sick!” He kept yelling, shaking his fists in the air. People panicked and left. His anxiety became contagious. The woman behind me shook her head. “I heard people are carrying yardsticks to enfor...

I am so glad you are here!    I created this blog to offer support to the many people who experience anxiety, panic attacks, social anxiety or phobias.  I am a certified clinical anxiety treatment professional with 20 years in the field helping adolescents and adults manage and overcome their anxiety. I hope these posts feel helpful.