I don’t know about you, but I was raised before technology bloomed to where it is today. There was no Google search to help explain what I was feeling, or how to fix something or what a phrase meant.
I was a curious person, open to explore and spent time in the library researching, taking walks in the forest, going for long runs, and learning from the earth. It took time to get to know people. There were no Facebook accounts full of stories, vacation photos and opinions. We faxed information and met in person to collaborate.
Answers were not instantaneous, relationships developed, and everything evolved more slowly.
Today, whatever you need is just a Google search away. Not only can you find a definition for what you are feeling, but also the various medications or therapies that can help cure whatever ails you. Zoom and FaceTime bring us all together in seconds. You can research someone before you meet them. You can filter your photos and tell your story exactly how you want to. We have access to so much.
We know more and have more control than ever before.
So why is there so much anxiety?
Why is there so much stress?
I think it's not just about technology. The world itself is noisier. It has more unusual smells. There is more infrastructure and more visual information.
Everything about the world today is filled with stimulation.
Ayurveda represents a potential natural way of looking at anxiety treatment. Ayurveda is both a mindset and a treatment, which is why those that follow the lifestyle put themselves in a strong place to find relief.
Traditionally, Ayurveda believes that anxiety is the result of sensory stimulation.
This would explain why the modern world appears to be more anxious despite fewer dangers at any time in the past.
We have too much stimulation. We are largely in a state of sensory overload.
Your nervous system was not designed for the overwhelm, so we seek to find ways to reduce sensory stimulation and come into balance. This is key.
When stress and anxiety swell, we look to self-care immediately.
What can you cut out? Unplug. Shut off the smart phone, stop watching news, take a break from toxic environments and people.
How can you move your body in a healing way? Forest Bathing (shinrin-yoku), Yoga, Tai Chi, Hiking, Gentle Body Movements
What words can you say to bring calm to your body and mind? Prayer, Meditation, Mantras and Positive Affirmations
What can you consume to heal your nerves? Herbs, Teas, Healing Foods
These are only the beginnings of an effective ayurvedic anxiety treatment, and what makes it especially interesting is that many of the principles hold true in Western Medicine and science as well.
Anxiety is a complex – so complex that there is rarely a single anxiety treatment that works for everyone.
The Ayurveda lifestyle helps learn more about ourselves and provides us with the tools to find balance for our unique constitution.
