Managing the Panicked Moments after a Layoff

It’s funny, but when I feel panicked about money and/or the future – and the panic typically hits me suddenly, in the middle of whatever I’m doing like I just got whacked with a baseball bat – what works best for calming myself is to take a deep deep breath slooowly, briefly shut my eyes to focus inward, and then repeat to myself two verses from the Gospel of Matthew, King James Version.

“Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” – Matthew 6:28-29 (KJV)

Saying it more than once or reading the entire passage (Mt 6:25-33) helps me too. Kinda like a meditative mantra, I guess. Mentally going through a list of everything I have right now: life, sound body, sound mind, employed husband, savings account, etc. also helps me. I remind myself that at this exact moment, all is well in my life. (“Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” Mt 6:34)

(Somewhat ironic that I quote Scripture to myself considering I usually think of myself as “spiritual but not religious” or as a “lapsed Catholic”. Dealing with a layoff and other stressful events hasn’t gotten me back into a church (yet), but the prayers and Biblical verses of my childhood kick right in.)

Another equally effective means for me to regain calm and “re-center” is to go for a run, or a brisk walk – actually, running is better for me because my mind is less inclined to wander when I’m running. When I run I tend to focus on my breathing, how my body feels, and pushing to get faster. Anxiety-inducing thoughts about money and the future are effectively shoved into the background and then forgotten. And afterward I feel a surge of energy and a sense of control and accomplishment.

A brisk walk can be soothing in a different way – if the weather is good I can enjoy the sights and sounds of nature. Arbor Hills Nature Preserve in Plano and the Arboretum in Dallas (where I got married, BTW) are my particular faves. However, I’ve often found that when I’m walking (as opposed to running), my mind wanders..and it can wander right back into my worries, doubts and fears if I let it.

One point about re-centering. If you’ve done it before, you know the sensation of inner calm and certainty. If you haven’t it can sound like meaningless fluff or woo-woo. Think of the old adage about “herding cats”. All the panicky anxious thoughts are like cats running around loose outside, and you need to bring them all in for the night. There are always stragglers but you get them all in, and then feed them and they quiet down. So, if you’re doing a mantra or deep breathing exercise, it’s like going outside for one last cat as you rein in your anxieties.

Some people might be able to compartmentalize – sort of like slamming a door shut on specific thoughts. Wrenching your mind away to another subject. I can do that too, but I find it takes more energy and it feels like as though the panicky thoughts are still right there, like cats behind a door meowing.

So, to sum up, my two fastest ways to Inner Calm are:
• Take a deep deep breath,
• close eyes to focus inward,
• repeat my personal calming mantra,
• remind myself that right now everything is okay.
Repeat as often as needed.
OR
• go for a good run (about a 5K distance).

What about you? How do you get to that calm feeling?