I’ve never told anyone, but several years ago when I was suffering from clinical depression, I also suffered from extreme anxiety. I would forget to breathe because my fear was so intense. I even passed out (multiple times) in public places like malls, and public buildings because I was holding onto so much anxiety.
Maybe you can relate. Do you have anxiety that consumes you? Perhaps its hard to make it through the day, or you can’t seem to function without worrying.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 40 million Americans suffer from an anxiety disorder like generalized anxiety, panic and social anxiety disorder.
Most of my clients have some form of anxiety and I know from personal experience what it feels like to lose hope and be consumed with worry.
It wasn’t until I stopped looking outside of myself that things began to change. A Course in Miracles suggests our outside world is a reflection of our internal state.
At the time of my diagnoses, my home was cluttered. I instantly saw the connection between my emotional state and physical environment. If I wanted to feel better on the inside, I needed to clean up my outside.
Fast-forward several years. Today, I am in love with my home, anxious free and I don’t pass out from fear anymore. In fact I wake up with enthusiasm, love and passion.
I took these steps to eliminate my anxiety and fall in love with my life.
1. Strip Down
The first thing I did was remove clutter and stuff that no longer worked.
Awesome Opportunity: Do it yourself. To remove anxiety, start in your home – in your closet, pantry or desk area. Remove what’s no longer working, donate old clothing. You will create an energetic shift that invites new opportunity into your space.
2. Create a Me Spot
Many of us have houses that don’t feel like homes. Perhaps you live with someone and there’s tension. This can create an anxious environment. To protect your own energy and remove the anxious feelings, you can create a me spot.
Awesome Opportunity: Carve out a nook in your home for you. This can be a mediation corner, a bathtub you retreat to in order to feel special, or a corner in the den where you read your favorite book. Enjoy the space you create for you.
3. Invite Love in
Your home environment is a reflection of you. If you don’t feel comfortable in your own space, it could be because there is more fear than love.
Awesome Opportunity: To combat anxiety, invite love in. This can be a physical expression, by inviting loved ones over to enjoy your space and company, but also invite love into each room.
I know from past experience that suffering from anxiety and panic disorders can make everyday life immensely painful. If you want to go deeper on this topic and remove anxiety for good, check out my August workshop In Joy, Transform Anxieties and Live a Happy Life Now.
