Keep Calm and Carry On
No matter where you are in the world, you will have heard the news of the Coronavirus outbreak which began in China and which is now filtering into other destinations as we speak. I am now living in a city, which has closed all schools, government offices, banks, borders and is urging us all to work from home if we can. Consequently Social Media is overflowing with chats about whether to stay here or leave, whether to wear a mask or not and whether what we read is even true. Anxiety is around every corner.
On Saturday I read a blogpost by Dr David Owens, long-term doctor here in Hong Kong and founder of our family clinic OT and P who states:
“Anxiety is highly infectious. It is much more infectious than the Coronavirus. The greatest triggers of anxiety are lack of control and uncertainty. A common feature of an anxious state is a negative interpretation with catastrophising thought processes.” Sound familiar? Dr Owens responds by offering explanations of inflammatory terms, such as “epidemic” and “risk””
Other antidotes to anxiety might include a whole range of stress reduction techniques, I am seeing many people around me using their newly found free time to walk in the hills and explore the countryside which is lovely. Contact Calm Connections HK https://www.calmconnectionshk.com to join others walking in the hills and Ewa Wilkinson https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=546145755 to join nature photography walks. Check YvonneLi and guests daily meditations: https://www.facebook.com/beloveHK/ from all over Hong Kong.
A process of calming can be called becoming grounded and centred, terms used to describe reconnecting with the self in order to access the present moment, to calm the parasympathetic nervous system and gain a sense of self control. You know you are grounded when you feel calm, peaceful and centered. Being centered means that you have a reference point or a place to come back to when life’s challenges and emotions push you off balance. The center is the place you know you have to get back to, it may feel safe or steady.
In therapy we call this Self Regulation, which means to self-soothe and calm oneself when under stress. Returning to the “centre” can take place through various art making activities in which one refrains from conscious thinking and planning, which aligns with the therapeutic qualities of meditation. This can provide self-soothing for when anxiety feels out of control, that people can access in a group or at home or in the workplace. Much of this regulation takes place automatically-beyond our awareness but it allows the mind to take a break and time ‘stands still’.
Such art making activities are available to you here at the Wild at Art Studio where we are offering a range of art experiences for self regulation. Come along and ground and centre with us, turn down the anxiety monster and allow yourself some space outside the house in a small group setting!
