A Cause Of Anxiety No One Talks About | Your Intuition

I was shopping yesterday and I overheard a conversation between two people. I'm not sure exactly what they were talking about but the woman said something along the lines of this: Listening to my intuition was a skill I needed to learn. It was challenging and it took some time for me to learn how to listen to my gut feeling.

That struck me as odd. I grew up with an intuition so strong that it felt like it was pulling me in a certain direction. I can't quit explain the feeling. It just exists within me, I guess.

But this got me thinking about my own experiences of following (or not following) my intuition. I started to see a common thread.

A few months back, me and my friend made plans for a road trip. Just a few days before we were suppose to leave, I worked a 48 hour shift which left me one day to prepare for a wedding and our trip. The next day was a family wedding and the day after that me and my friend were scheduled to leave.

I got up that morning to pack. I knew I didn't want to go. I knew I was exhausted. But I started packing anyways. I began to have a panic attack. I felt overcome, sick stomach, my heart started to race. All I wanted to do was climb in bed and cry.

I knew what I needed to do. I texted my friend and told her that I could not this. Fortunately she understood and went on without me. Upon cancelling my plans, my anxiety immediately lifted. I felt energized and exhilarated.

I'm not sure why but I was compelled to stay home that day. I don't know if it was because, as an extreme introvert, my body, mind, and soul was craving downtime. Or if it was because I needed to do something else such as work on my blog. Or if I was sensing a bad situation by going on that road trip. The possibilities are endless and I will probably never know.

The anxiety I experienced in that moment let me know full well what I ought to do. There was no second thoughts. No questioning the situation. I knew I needed to cancel my plans and I did just that.

This isn't my first time with this experience though. I remember me and my boyfriend were trying to decide between two apartments. One apartment was cheaper and more modern than the other. So it was kind of a no-brainer. We went with the cheaper, nicer looking apartment. I called the landlord and I told him I would be by with the damage deposit.

After the call, I had feelings of anxiety. That apartment, the landlord, or something else did not sit well with me. And I couldn't get the other apartment out of my head. I called my boyfriend in a state of panic and I explained the situation. I told him the idea of signing the lease gave me anxiety and made me feel stuck. He said "well, let's go with the other one then". My anxiety subsided after that.

My intuition does not always present itself as anxiety though. Sometimes it's just a feeling of knowing.

I do believe that everyone has a strong intuition. But I think a lot of people have become disconnected from themselves which results in them not understanding why they are experiencing certain sensations and feelings.

And I believe episodes of anxiety can often be the result of people not listening to their intuition.

I don't have any advice on how to become more in tune with yourself. This is because I never actively sought out how I should do that. But I know that I have done things which have certainly contributed to me understanding myself more. I will look into this further and share another time.

Right now, the only thing I want you to understand is that you do have a gut instinct. Everybody does. And if you have seemingly random episodes of panic or anxiety, there is a possibility you are not listening to your intuition.

Let me know what you guys think. Are you naturally intuitive? Or is this something that you have to work on?

Thanks for reading. And please share with someone you think could benefit from this :)

Ang

Here is a link to my previous blog:

What To Do When You Feel Jealous | Fast & Easy Way To Stop Feeling Jealous

More on anxiety:

Why You Will Never Be Completely Free Of Anxiety

Instant Cure For Anxiety | Quick Tip Entry # 4

10 Beautiful Things That Happen When You Do Yoga

Before I get into this blog, I'm going to tell you about how I got into Yoga. It's pretty intense. Are you ready? I got into Yoga through... the Wii Fit. Yep. You read that right. The Wii Fit is a game for the Nintendo Wii. In this game, you can do Yoga poses and I believe you earn points based on your balance. It's been years since I played it.

When I started doing Yoga via the Wii Fit, I noticed that I really liked how my body felt. The best way for me to explain it is that it felt right. And I felt invigorated after. I started following along to Yoga lessons that aired on TV. Shortly after that I discovered Yoga teachers on YouTube.

Yoga via YouTube is my favorite way to practice it.  In case you are curious, my favorite Yogi's are Tara Stiles and Yoga With Adriene.

I have been doing Yoga for about a decade now and I have been practicing it very consistently the past several years. The past year or so I have noticed changes that happened to and within me as a result of practicing Yoga that I wish to share with you.

1. You Will Align Yourself Off The Mat

When you are practicing Yoga, your teacher will remind you of your alignment. Long neck. Tail bone tucked in. Shoulders rotated. Well, I'm constantly checking my alignment when I'm off the mat. In turn, this is great for your posture.

2. You Will Practice When You Are Not Doing Yoga

The other day I wanted to get someone out of my bottom drawer. Instead of simply bending down, I kicked one leg back and practiced a standing split while getting the item out of the drawer. This isn't uncommon for me and it's safe you say you will find yourself doing the same thing.

3. You Will Become Conscious Of Your Breath

While practicing Yoga, you will learn to take long deep breaths into your belly. I have become very aware of my breath when I'm off the mat. I check myself to make sure I'm breathing deep into my belly, especially if I'm anxious.

4. You Will Listen To Your Body

After years of practicing Yoga, I now know, appreciate, and respect what my body needs. If I'm tired, I may do a Yoga routine that focuses on stretching and relaxing. There is no shame in this. I honor what my body is telling me.

5. The Burn Feels Good

And on days when you do have the energy, the burn will actually feel good. It's as if your body is telling you that this is exactly what it needs right now. You will be able to hold that plank pose longer than ever!

6. You Will Get Emotional

I had to research this one. What I found is that just like Yoga releases physical tension in your body, it also releases emotional tension as well. Don't be surprised if you well up during certain yoga poses.

7. You Become (More) In Tune With Your Body

In my experience thus far, this mostly involves food. Your body has a way of telling you when it needs food and what food it needs. This becomes more clear when you do Yoga.

8. You Will Feel Proud Of Your Accomplishments

But not in an egotistical way. You might want to show people that you can do a headstand but it's not to show off. This may happen with non-Yoga related accomplishments as well.

9. You Crave More Yoga

I started doing yoga for about 10 minutes a day. I worked up my way up to 20-30 minutes a day. Now, I have been craving doing yoga for about an hour in addition to some playtime after my lesson. Of course, this all deepens on my body and what it needs. Refer to point number 4.

10. You Will Challenge Yourself

When I first began to practice Yoga, I never thought I would ever attempt headstands and arm balances and yet here I am. You will know when you are ready to take your Yoga practice to the next level.

There is definitely a common tread in my list. Getting in tune with your body and taking what you learned on the mat outside of your practice.

I hope that this article inspires you to start or continue your practice. There are so many types of yoga. Experiment and see what works best for you.

I would love to hear from you. How did you get into Yoga? And how has it changed you?

I hope you have a wonderful day.

Namaste,

Ang

Check out some of my other blogs:

Why You Will Never Be Free Of Anxiety
https://confessionsofanawakenedyouth.blogspot.ca/2017/06/i-have-anxiety.html

9 Signs You Are Going To Live A Spiritual Life
https://confessionsofanawakenedyouth.blogspot.ca/2017/06/9-signs-you-are-going-to-and-should.html

If You're Tired Of Treating Acne With Diet... Read This.

I started to get mild to moderate cystic acne in my early 20s. I always intended to treat it with pharmaceuticals but I was indecisive about what route I should take. I didn't want to take antibiotics as it would render my birth control ineffective. I also didn't want to switch birth control because the one that I was using was working well. Fast forward today, about 4 years later, and I am no longer taking birth control nor did I take pharmaceuticals. My acne has improved significantly and for the most part, it is none existent.

What did I do to improve the condition of my skin? I decided to take a non-traditional (or perhaps more traditional depending on how you look at it) method. I spent literally years researching how diet can worsen and improve acne. There are so many people on the internet who claim that their acne disappeared when they went vegan, or eliminated dairy, or drank more water, and the list goes on and on. It's overwhelming.

Initially when I started making dietary changes, I honestly did not notice any improvements in my skin. I would do more research, watch another video, and do what these people did in a desperate attempt to clear my face. I became really passionate about healing the body through foods and yet I wasn't seeing any results. It was really frustrating. Why is it so difficult for me?

One day I got so overwhelmed with the condition of my skin. I needed peace. I needed something. So meditated and I came to a realization. What was the point of eliminating soy from diet when I only ate it a few times a month? Why should I drink more water when I already drink 2-3 liters a day? So is there something I'm consuming on a daily basis that is affecting my skin? There was and it was foods like bread and pasta. Wheat. I was a vegetarian but I wasn't necessarily health conscious. I ate so much bread, sandwiches, pizza, subs, and pasta. I cut back on those food groups and lo and behold, the cystic acne almost instantly stopped.

I'm not writing this blog to tell you that you must stop eating wheat if you want to clear your skin. What I'm saying is that there is so much information out there. You can search forever and never find a solution that works. This is because our bodies are so different. But I do believe that we intuitively know the answers when we look within and listen to our bodies.

If you are struggling to find a cure for your acne, I will tell you this. Yes there is a "cure". Center yourself. Breathe. Ask for a direction. Pay attention. Really listen. Keeping moving and you will see results.

I have a lot of experience with acne and managing it holistically. Although it's a pain, I do not regret it nor do I hate. I learned a lot from it. I plan on sharing those experiences with you at another time.

Take care of your beautiful body.

Angie

P.S. no, this is not a picture of me : )