Yellow Bananas: Morning Anxiety, Overthinking and an Overactive Mind

If only life didn’t feel so intense every morning when I woke up.

Morning anxiety is something I know very well. As the day loads, my brain runs through — not all the things that I have to be happy about — quite the opposite, actually. It runs through everything I have to worry about in the world, all at once.

It starts out with health anxiety, quickly runs into my finances, then sprinkles in some wedding bills and finally puts a big dollop of ageing and poorly parents on top.

Then we run through the physical symptoms…

Headache, backache, ouch, my boobs (must be my hormones), and then I reach for my water bottle.

How many times have I been for a wee? One, two… no, three times. What’s that all about?

Anyone who experiences health anxiety will probably recognise some of this. That little morning inventory of your body when your brain seems determined to notice absolutely everything.

Then we enter into… where am I today and what am I doing?

You see, the thing is that in this transitional time between finishing a long, much-loved career in spa and starting my new business, I seem to be busier than ever before.

Am I at the spa? Do I have an appointment at Alex Feels? Am I attending an event? Is there a project I’m working on?

Oh no, today it’s facial acupuncture supervision.

Right, okay, so today I’m practising with my fellow trainees and pinning people’s faces.

This course has to be one of the most technically advanced procedures I’ve done thus far. The level of concentration from me is off the charts.

You see… when something matters so much, my level of intensity kicks up a notch. Relaxing into something and enjoying it… only manifests when I know what I am doing.

The thing is… I am an anxious person on the inside. I always have been.

I know why, so that’s positive. I’ve spent hours exploring the why with various therapy sessions along the way. I got help, so I could work it all out.

You wouldn’t know I’m anxious these days. I choose not to let it define me.

In fact, I’m generally a very happy and positive human being. Confident, self-assured and strong.

That’s because I refuse to let it win.

The anxiety, I mean, of course.

However, like us all, in times of change, transition or stress, it tends to raise its very unattractive head and say…

“Hey, look, I’m here, and I’m going to keep on showing up until you deal with me.”

How do I deal with it?

Glad you asked…

Well, first of all, I don’t go through it alone.

That’s what your friends and loved ones are for. Tell them how you’re feeling. Not so they can fix you, just so they know that you’re finding life a challenge.

Be truthful with yourself and figure out steps you can take to manage how you’re feeling.

Anxiety can make you feel alone, like no one else could possibly understand the anxious thoughts and feelings running through your body.

Trust me, someone else with anxiety… will, in fact, get it.

Work on your breathing…

Yes, I know you know how to breathe, but when you take slow, deep breaths in through your nose, right down towards your tummy, and then a long breath out (the longer the better), you’re giving your body a chance to slow down and settle.

You’re working on calming your nervous system.

If you have some essential oils, then dab a little onto your hands or pulse points before you start the breathing. Scent can become part of that calming ritual too, and different aromas can make us feel very different.

My go-to is always lavender, but that’s a personal choice.

Now… mindset.

You can choose to let anxiety consume you, ruin your day, week or year.

Yes, I know you think you can’t control it… but you can work on managing it.

Make a deal with yourself.

You know the overthinking, the spiral of thoughts and feelings running through your body? Well, they aren’t going to help you.

Thinking about them, giving them space and room to grow, won’t help.

This is where you have to (in my opinion) throw a yellow banana at the lot of them.

A yellow banana?

Did she just say a yellow banana?

YES I DID!

Bear with me… there is method in my madness.

We’re going to give the brain something completely different to focus on.

Imagine that all your overthinking is a cycle, round and round, like a cog.

Now, in your mind’s eye, throw a yellow banana at it.

It stops the cog from turning.

Add in the repetition of…

Yellow banana, yellow banana, yellow banana…

…in your head.

I wouldn’t recommend saying it out loud if you’re surrounded by others, unless you want to spark up an interesting conversation.

You’re creating a diversion for your brain. Instead of following the worry round and round, you’re deliberately focusing your attention on something else — and putting it on repeat.

Now, every time today your mind spirals back and you start feeling those feelings again… whip out that yellow banana.

Actually, it could be anything you want, but I find bananas quite amusing for some reason, so for me they are my go-to.

This is your exercise and not mine, so you choose.

One of the best ways I’ve found to deal with repetitive thoughts and an overactive brain is to write it all down.

Get those anxious thoughts out of your head and onto paper.

Then stop them in their tracks with bananas.

And then plan to feel like you as much as possible for the rest of the day and NOT let anxiety win.

Put on your favourite knickers, apply your favourite lip colour and wear some colourful tights.

(The tights are a theme with me… read my earlier blogs.)

And get on with your day.

Yellow banana and all. 🍌