David Johns, Licensed Mental Health Counselor

Feelingsof anxiety and stress are caused by the mind contemplating fearful outcomes. Of course much of this cognition is outside of our awareness - our Sub-Conscious.

 Oneof the ways of dealing with anxiety and stress is to switch brain hemispheres.According to Neuroanatomists, whenever we are in states of fear, most of our brainactivity is occurring in the left hemisphere

 Soif you do something that gets your right brain functioning, it means you aregoing to reduce the anxiety and stress.

 Thiscan be surprisingly simple once you know how...

 RecentlyI heard an excellent interview with Genie Z. Laborde who has been involved withNeuro-Linguistic Programming over three decades and wrote the best selling NLPbook, "Influencing With Integrity."

 Idiscovered the following technique from listening to Genie and it really issimple! She has tested it with hundreds of clients and it has taught them howto deal with stress and how to deal with anxiety.

 Sherecently put up an article on her blog titled, "Right Brain Breakthroughfor Balance," where she explains some of the differences between the twobrain hemispheres.

"Thereis no fear in the Right Brain. The Left Brain is designed to keep you safe sois full of fear. Being in the NOW is the key to using the Right Brain. Thesimplest and easiest to execute move is focusing on your body"

 Belowthe is the simple method for dealing with anxiety and dealing with stress thatwill bring you back into your right brain and 'The Now.'

 TheBig Toe Technique  

1.You find yourself feeling stressed, anxious, worried, fearful or panicky.

2.Begin to notice the feeling in your left big toe. Just notice how it feels.

3.Now notice the feeling of your foot.

4.Gradually move up your body noticing the sensations in the different parts ofyour body.

5.Within 90 seconds your fearful feelings will have subsided!

 Ihave been experimenting with it for a few weeks and I'm pleased to say itreally does work. It brings your attention back into the present moment andswitches on your right brain circuits. The Power of Now in action!