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Coping Skills

We all know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It should never be skipped, even if you are feeling nauseous from morning anxiety (Morning Anxiety 101: 5 Useful Tips). Eating right away when you wake up gets your metabolism going which will help you lose weight, and can regulate blood sugar levels which can relieve morning anxiety.
Yesterday, we were shocked when a job opportunity fell on our lap. This job would require some major life adjustments. Adjustments that are nerve wracking, even if you don't suffer from chronic anxiety. It has many advantages that make it very appealing, such as living by the beach, having our housing and car paid for, having a nanny or maid, etc. However, this job would require uprooting our family and putting us not in another state, but another country. We would reside for two years in Abu Dhabi, which is close to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
I've heard that your anxiety levels can ebb and flow during your menstrual cycle. The Internet is flooded with forums with women questioning how much the menstrual cycle influences anxiety levels. Turns out that the hormones involved with menstruation probably do, indirectly, affect your anxiety levels.
Anxious self-talk influences me every morning. Although I know morning sickness is a good sign pregnancy-wise, ingrained into my subconscious I feel throwing up is a setback. I know the anxiety is because of something I am telling myself (aka negative, anxious self-talk). To figure this all out, I know I have to do a writing exercise.  So far, it is the best skill I have learned to help me overcome and manage my anxiety.
Do you ever feel like you have taken on so much in your life that there is just not enough time in the day to do it all? Lately, I am constantly behind on assignments. Every time I turn a corner I see half-finished projects, things needing to get in the mail, "overdue" pop-ups on my computer, etc. I have so much to do, yet I am sitting here not even sure where I should start and feel like I am just wasting valuable time.
I thought I would discuss what I use as my favorite tools and resources for learning about and dealing with my anxiety and phobias. Reading Material- The biggest help that I have gotten has been from the book The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook Fourth Edition by Edmund J. Bourne. The guidance in this book touches on everything that I can think of on how to manage your anxiety and phobias. I highly recommend trying to find this book at your local library. I was hopeless and this book gave me the motivation to take control of my life again. Main things that helped me were learning about Self Talk, Positive Affirmations and Mistaken Beliefs.
As a follow up to the importance of implementing relaxation techniques into our lives, I want to share with you why yoga is my favorite relaxation technique and a great anxiety tool. It always amazes me just how refreshed and rejuvenated I feel after completing a yoga session. Even 20-30 minutes can greatly improve my mood. I feel like I have washed my slate clean, opened up the windows and let some fresh air in, and I get a burst of energy. Meditation is so important to reduce the stress in our lives.
Imagine you are on a beautiful island, surrounded by palm trees, sand, and the soothing sounds of the ocean. How could anyone be anxious in a place like that? Yet, several years ago, when Mr. T and I went on vacation to the beautiful islands of Maui and Kauai, each day began with horrible panic attacks. I was sick the entire trip. Ever since then,  I get really bad travel anxiety when traveling far from home.
When I feel guilty, scared, upset, or embarrassed about my morning anxiety, and when I give into the fear thinking that its too much to bear, my anxiety gets even worse and I am usually really sick all day long. Here are five useful tips to knock morning anxiety out of your morning routine.