Anxiety shows itself to each of us in different ways.
Overwhelm. Panic. Fear. Worry. Depression. Nausea. Nervousness. Restlessness. Lack of concentration. Rapid heart rate. There are many physical, mental and emotional symptoms, and they all add up to feelings of helplessness.
So, what’s going on when an anxiety or panic attack presents itself? Physically, it starts within the autonomic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for how we react to dangerous and stressful situations, goes into autopilot and starts releasing hormones and neurochemicals, preparing the body for action. You may have heard it referred to as “fight or flight mode”. This triggers the amygdala, the emotional/fear centre of the brain to think it’s in danger. It’s the parasympathetic nervous system’s job, which is responsible for rest and digestion, to stabilize the body into a calmer state. For some of us, and at different times for different reasons, it takes the parasympathetic nervous system some extra time to catch up.
There are many ways to try to reconnect, and some things will work better than others but the one thing you must realize is that anxiety is not WHO you are. Anxiety says NOTHING about you as a person. We all deal with anxiety in different ways, on different levels and like with any change, we need to put in the work and experiment to see what resonates with us.
BREATHE.
A simple ask but not a simple task when you’re in the throws of an anxiety attack, deep breathing can promote relaxation. In through the nose and out the mouth. Breathe into your chest…exhale…then breathe into your belly…exhale…breathe into your back…exhale…and then breathe all the way down into your tailbone…and exhale. With each inhalation, imagine feelings of peace entering your body, and as you exhale, out goes a flood of unwelcome feelings.
BE PRESENT.
Being present calls for mindfulness. Being present helps us keep control over our brain so we can stop worrying about things we don’t need to. Feel the floor. Feel the couch or chair beneath you. What do you see? What do you hear? Let thoughts come and then let them go. Hanging onto negative or distracting thoughts just gives them power.
GROUND YOURSELF.
When it feels like anxiety is pushing at your limits, and it feels like it has nowhere to go, direct it into a larger body that can handle it- the Earth. In an earlier blog, “Why Is It Important To Be Grounded?”, I explain ways to ground yourself with quick meditation and also with mindful walking. Feel free to check it out.
TAPPING.
Sounds crazy but this can be surprisingly relaxing. With the tip of your fingers, open handed, tap your chest lightly and slowly work up to a comfortable calming pressure. Just keep tapping until you are calm. You can also do this on the crown of your head with both hands.
SLEEP.
Breaking bad sleeping habits can seem like an impossible task. First of all, stop the over stimulation before bed like scrolling on your phone or watching TV. Bedrooms are meant for sleeping (…and sexy times). Yoga Nidra for sleep or relaxation is a great option for people who have a hard time turning their brain off. It does not involve movement at all, just lying somewhere quiet and comfortable with your eyes closed and being walked through a body scan. There are many free meditation apps out there to help you find the right teacher, like Insight Timer.
EXERCISE.
Dreadful I know, and seems like a very hard task when all you may want to do is shut yourself off from the outside world. We’re not talking hard core here, unless that’s what you like, but walking, swimming, and other gentle activities like yoga can help release tension, divert your attention from what is making you anxious, and change your brain chemistry to increase availability to anti-anxiety neurochemicals.
Small things can grow into big worries; we ALL feel this way sometimes. You are not broken; you are not defeated, and you are most definitely not alone. You are just a human, having a human experience.
Your friendly neighbourhood Crystal Healer,

Lisa at The Crystal Sparrow


*This is not a replacement for professional medical/psychological help. Please make sure you always seek appropriate support.

Have you ever felt disconnected, overwhelmed, anxious or a sense of not quite being “with it”? These can be signs of a root chakra imbalance.
The root chakra, or Muladhara in Sanskrit, is the first of the seven main energy points in the body. It is the foundation of the entire chakra system. It represents our primal and earthly needs like safety, survival, health, our material and monetary existence, and our ability to focus and manifest our needs.
The “root” implies exactly what you would expect, like the roots of a tree; it is our connection to the Earth. At this time in our history, we are probably more disconnected than we have ever been. We are consistently affected by emitting WIFI signals that mess with our natural electromagnetic field (EMF), and the stress from work, to put food on the table, to get the house, to get the car, etc, etc, etc. It is common for a lot of us to worry, to lose sleep, to get anxious and withdrawal. Some of us are in constant fight or flight mode, so how do we reconnect in the here and now?
The reasons for disconnect can vary but the most effective way to ground yourself, is meditation. If you think you “can’t” meditate, you would be surprised how often you already do it. Lose yourself in a song? You’re meditating. In deep thought during your morning shower? You’re meditating. Praying? Guess what? You’re meditating. Sometimes you snap out of a mild trance, like a daydream and you don’t remember the detail but that too, is a state of meditation.
You can start grounding yourself with mindful walking. Concentrate on every breath and every step as it hits the Earth, feeling the connection between your feet and the ground. Graduate yourself to a seated quick meditation; both feet on the ground, you can opt to have one grounding stone in your hand (like smoky quartz, black tourmaline or whatever you are most drawn to) and one between your feet. Breathe deeply in through the nose and out through the mouth while imagining a red ribbon extending from the base of your spine, through the floor, through the ground, all the way to the core of the Earth. Say to yourself, “I am safe, I am grounded and I am centered upon Mother Earth”.
Without grounding of the root chakra, we lack the stability for true growth. Life is hard sometimes but you have the right to receive and you have the right to be here. If you need a little more help, don’t be afraid to ask.
Your friendly neighbourhood Crystal Healer,

The Crystal Sparrow


*This is not a replacement for professional medical/psychological help. Please make sure you always seek appropriate support.

Well let me honest, when I started this journey, I had no idea either! I had collected some crystals and a little bit of knowledge over time and then suddenly I decided to make the big push to gain more understanding of why I was being drawn down this path.
I’m a helper and a fixer but I didn’t know how I was supposed to channel these abilities. Do I study psychology? Do I become a counsellor? And when and how and holy crap, what am I doing with my life???!!! Then I completely stumbled upon crystal healing and then a certification course and I was like, “That’s a thing?” and the more I found out about it, the more it made sense to my journey.
It was intimidating at first. I wasn’t the best student in school especially sciences and there was science, oh so much science! But it was comfortable and easy and felt right and turns out, I like science! You see, these rocks aren’t just pretty faces, they have vibrational energy. All matter has vibrational energy. There is a reason why crystals are in watches and electronics and x-rays, etc. They amplify vibration.
Now, we mere humans are a bundle of various frequencies. All our organs are doing their own thing. Then there are also our chakras, the main energy centers that run along our spine that connect us to our past, present and future and our mind, body and spirit. These little wheels of life carry big impact on who we are and how we relate to ourselves and others. When one or more of the chakras are imbalanced, it can manifest into something mental, emotional and/or physical.
Where do crystals come in? Most of us enjoy the rainbow of colours and sparkle that crystals possess and each chakra is associated to a colour. By working with stones on these chakra centers with corresponding colour, we enhance the function of the chakra. Now, there’s a whole lot more involved here but generally speaking, crystals are a great vibrational balancing tool.
I’m still a little uncomfortable with the term “healer”. Some people who are not familiar with healing modalities might think I have lost my mind and I think I possess some sort of magical power. I’m simply a facilitator. I don’t do the healing- the stones, the life force energy of Reiki and the power of your own self-awareness will help heal you.
Having a crystal healing session can teach you a lot about yourself. I encourage you to explore more knowledge about crystals if it is something you are drawn to. I’m here to help if you need me.
Your friendly neighbourhood Crystal Healer,

The Crystal Sparrow