For those of you who have read Truman Capote’s “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” might recall the phrase, “the mean reds,” which is worst than the blues, according to the character Holly Golightly. I believe that anxiety and panic attacks equate the mean reds. And lately, with the astrological transits in Mutable Signs (Pisces, Sagittarius, and Virgo), as well as, the upcoming Pisces Lunar Eclipse, I have a bad case of the mean reds.
Some people still self-medicate or take pharma drugs for the mean reds. I am not here to give medical advice, but I also believe in facing raw emotions head on, rather than escaping them. Healing doesn’t come through denial or repression of emotions. However, that doesn’t mean we can’t distract ourselves with something or idea that makes us feel better. I call this the talking down approach.
And if you don’t take the medical route and just want to feel better, here are some ways to make peace with the mean reds. And please understand that if you’re suffering from any mental conditions or personalities disorders, seek professional counseling, especially from a cognitive therapist.
- Listening to slower or slowed down music played on low-tone instruments such as cello calms the heart and body rhythms. Music under 80 beats per minute helps us relax and leads to better sleep. You can also try brainwave CDs. Here is information on brain waves and sleep patterns.
- Sound healing helps quell anxiety and panic attacks. You can either use Tibetan or crystal bowls (if you can afford them) or listen to sound healing recordings. I recommend recordings by Jonathan Goldman, Joshua Leeds, and you can find others on the Sounds True label.
- Listen to self-help and spiritual podcasts. I prefer listening to these on YouTube and I normally stick with Hay House authors such as Louise Hay and Esther Hicks but listen to the ones that relax you. There are literally hundreds, if not thousands of spiritual podcasts to choose.
- Sing or chant. I enjoy Kirtan chants myself, but you can sing Gregorian or other types of spiritual chants. Or if you prefer singing jazz standards, that works too. Just stay away from melancholic or bitter lyrics.
- Dance. That’s right put on some music and dance. Exercise is a good way of calming the mean reds because it releases healthy chemicals in the brain. Dance uplifts and also helps us to sleep better. Just don’t dance before bed.
- Watch funny videos or read hilarious books. Laughter is also good medicine for the brain and boosts the immune system too.
- Learn how to do breath work. Breathing is crucial when having an anxiety attack because we need oxygen to get to our brains. We cut off oxygen when we experience panic attacks. So remember to breathe.
- Go for a walk. Even if you’re just engaging in a quick jaunt around the block, walking gets our good juices flowing. We can find answers to our problems while we’re moving forward–thus walking. Movement releases healthy chemicals into the brain.
- Try homeopathy and flower essences such as Bach Flower Remedies.
So next time you experience the mean reds, don’t berate yourself. Take charge and practice self-care. Anxiety attacks are most likely to occur when we are faced with stressful or even new situations. For instance, when I move into a new home, I experience acute anxiety. When I begin a new job or do anything for the first time, I know I’m going to experience unease. This is time for me to step back, slow down, and practice self-care.
What every you do don’t blame or shame yourself when you experience anxiety. It is caused by brain functions and body chemistry. Some people are more prone to anxiety than others. Also during certain stages in our lives, we are more prone to anxiety such as in the case of a menopausal woman. Get counseling. Join a support group. Know that you are not alone and if you add the list of practices I provided here to augment medical treatment (counseling or energy healing), you’ll make peace with the mean reds.
And I speak from my own experiences…
*I’m not endorsing any of the products or websites mentioned in this article. This is for information purposes only.
Metaphysics 4 Everyday Living 