Utahns experienced an earthquake in the middle of a pandemic. It’s understandable to feel overwhelmed!
For some trusted counsel, Studio 5 Relationship Contributor, Dr. Matt Townsend shares three main things we can do to stabilize our mental state amid a crisis.
3 Things to Do to Find Peace of Mind
1. Slow down and take a breath
Worry is normal. But there comes a point where you need to slow down and breathe. When you get anxious, you are not breathing as deeply. That means you’re not oxygenating your body, and you feel stress. Matt advises you to take a six second breath. Hold it. Then, let it out for another six seconds. If you do that two or three times, you’ll immediately feel a calm come over you. The emotion will simply pass over you so you can make better decisions.
2. Reframe your thoughts.
Once you can physically settle, you need to reframe your thoughts. How you think about this going forward will either inflame or diffuse the crisis. Matt suggests reviewing the events from a different perspective. Remember to remember what you’re grateful for. Look for blessings that have come. Look with empathy for those that have it worse than you right now. Look at the bigger picture and ask, where does this fit in your bigger life? Reframing will change the pressure surrounding what you feel.
3. Take healthy action
Naturally, feelings of anxiety prompt action. But you don’t to want to act irrationally or erratically. Townsend advises, instead, act in a healthy way on what you’re feeling.
- If you are worried about the earthquake, gather some reliable data, but don’t overdo it. Too much information can add to the overwhelm.
- Act to make your home and family safe. Talk about what you’ve been doing and process it.
- Get out and have a life again. Do the things that make you feel healthy. Exercise, breathe, be with family, and stay connected.
Known as one of America’s top presenters in the field of Human Relations and Development, Matt blends humor and storytelling with his real-life solutions to inspire and motivate healthier living. Matt Townsend is a regular contributor for Studio 5 at KSL-TV. You can find out more about him at www.matttownsend.com.
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