Benefit of weight for anxiety

It’s tempting to try to logically think your way through anxiety when it hits. You may try to talk yourself through it, distract, or provide comfort through food.

Unfortunately, when the wave of anxiety hits, logic doesn’t often do the trick.

One of the most effective techniques for calming your mind and body is something called proprioceptive input.

What is proprioceptive input?

Proprioceptive input translates simply to your ability to sense where your body is located in relation to other things, I.e your spatial awareness and body awareness.

You you proprioceptive input anytime you pick things up, put things down, sit or lie down. Proprioceptive input offers a calming and organising effect on the brain, body and nervous system.

You get proprioceptive input from many activities, but intentionally spending a small amount of time daily doing proprioceptive activities, means that you will regulate your nervous system daily.

Some ideas:

1. Jumping jacks

2. Havening (stroking downwards on arms)

3. Chewing gum

4. Tight hugs

5. Crawling

6. Lifting weights

7. Bodyweight activities

8. Yoga & pilates

9. Push against a wall or doorway (as if you’re trying to push it over)

Doing activities such as weight, body weight activities, yoga and pilates daily or a few times each week will gradually reduce the baseline level of amygdala activation.

It can be helpful to find a few activities that seem most accessible and write a small list you could keep handy (note on your phone or a piece of paper slipped in the back of your phone case), so that when you’re feeling heightened, you can easily access and remember which tools are going to be most effective for you.

One of the simplest and portable tools you could do, is have a packet of gum in your bag whenever you need it!

Sensory proprioceptive activities can become a routine way for soothing anxiety before it becomes too big or too overwhelming.

The more you practice these techniques when you’re in a calm place the more you will easily be able to access them when you’re feeling heightened.