Manage Anxiety & Panic Attacks with Two Easy Energy Work-Based Techniques

If you've ever experienced an anxiety attack (sometimes referred to as a panic attack) you are familiar with true terror. It is difficult, or impossible to relate the experience to those who have not experienced such an episode. As a matter of fact, anxiety attacks are even difficult for sufferers to fully appreciate while not in the midst of its horrible grip.

It is not associated experientially to common feelings of even harsh anxiety or panic. Rather, it is an unprovoked, overwhelming, seemingly external imposition of acute physical oppression and symptoms, that only leads to "feelings," or psychological impressions. The feeling of impending, certain death is terrifying.

Bottom line: it's not "all in your head." However, over the years, I have found some ways to effectively cope with unexpected anxiety attacks, using my head. The ideas and techniques in this article are based in an "energetic" methodology and philosophy, and are supplementary. They are meant to be used in conjunction with traditional, allopathic medical advice and methods as warranted.

Lie down in grass

This idea might sound overly quaint or simple, but its simplicity belies its effectiveness. Lying down is an obvious natural coping method-often the first thing we instinctively want to do in cases of physical stress. The body can relax completely, and expend its energy on whatever crisis is at hand.

It also eliminate the possibility of injury if passing out, or any kind of uncontrolled physical crisis or other comprised state comes into play. Although such things are not likely in an anxiety attack, my point is that the urge to lie down is an evolutionary dynamic of human survival. It's wise to know this, and lie down in the event of an anxiety attack.

If you are able to quickly find a patch of grass (or other appropriate ground) to do it in, all the better. In the midst of an anxiety attack, there's often a general sense of dissociation, or unreality. Energetically speaking, it is a profound lack of "grounding." So, getting grounded is in order.

It sounds so new -agey--what does it mean? Connection to the physical, the earth, feeling hooked in, stable, safe. Lying in the grass reminds our body of our relationship with the stability of the physical world.

As you lie down in grass, don't give a moment's thought to how you'll look or be perceived, or that you're getting dirty. Lie on your back, and put your hands under your head, so you don't look like you're in distress. This works on a couple levels-it's the most comfortable position, and it allows you to keep your composure, and you are telling yourself you're just lying down until the attack is under control, and it signals others that you are just resting casually.

If it is impossible to lie down in grass, because of climate, landscape, or other reasons, go for whatever the next best thing is. A hardwood floor, cement porch, etc. Try to find a natural, earth element surface on which to lie. If it's impossible, of course a bed, couch or any floor will suffice. If there are plants nearby, consider taking a small handful of dirt as a symbolic earth, and hold it as you lie down to let the attack pass.

Finally, if it is for whatever reason, impossible to lie down, take your shoes off and place your bare feet on whatever floor is available.

Simple Grounding Visualization

The last thing you're going to want to have to do in the midst of an anxiety attack is to remember all kinds of complicated breathing techniques, affirmations, and visualizations. The best weapons are simple ones. There are some very simple and basic grounding visualizations you can make use of for anxiety attacks.

Practice them in a regular state, so you're familiar with the imagery, emotions, and effects. Lie down to practice and implement the visualization. Here is the basic visualization:

First, gather all your attention right behind your eyes. When you're collected as much as possible, imagine the earth. Look into the very core, and see there is a small blossom in the very center. This blossom quickly becomes a thick, sturdy, but transparent and glowing green, soft vine, sporting the most lovely and fragrant flowers.

It quickly works its way up through the layers of the earth, finds you like a magnet, and wraps itself gently around your feet and ankles. Its hold is anything but constricting, you can move freely, but are pleasantly and comfortably connected to the core of the earth through this vine . You know that with this profound connection, there is no way you can leave your body unwillingly, no way you could get lost in any way.

Notes

Now, a couple notes about this visualization. It is also a good one to use with a fear of flying, or in any situation in which you feel unconnected, light headed. If you find yourself in an airplane situation feeling nervous, place your feet on the floor, and go through the visualization. You can even use it to combat simple inattention or unproductive day dreaming. It really works!

Also, some people have a real fear of being "bound." The visualization relies on this binding to some extent, but in a safe way. The purpose is to disempower the dissociative and ethereal, lightheaded dynamics of the anxiety attack-some of the physical and emotional sensations that lead to the false conclusion and fear of impending death.

If this binding idea is an issue for you, visualize the vines as so transparent they are almost invisible, wispy, and almost intangible. If you cannot tolerate any binding notion whatsoever, imagine a strong magnetic attraction coming from the blossom at the earth's core. Be sure to practice the visualization, and personalize it so that it's comfortable and effective for you in the heat of the moment.