The past year has been tougher than any of us could have imagined. We catch up with expert Anne Cheshire to find out about how we can be kind to our mental health as we try to deal with all that we have had thrown at us in the past few months…

Phew! What a year it has been on all counts. As we ease gently out of lockdown and foreign holidays almost simmer in the horizon again, we dare to dream of ‘normal’. But what is that anymore? Of course things look more positive than it has for months but having lived a hermit’s life for longer than I could have imagined, I decided to enlist the support of an expert to help me ease back into the world.

Anne Cheshire is a consulting medical herbalist based in Edinburgh. As well as being a renowned herbalist (first class degree in Herbal Medicine and a member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists) Anne is also a trauma therapist. She is Director of the Trauma Recovery Clinic and specialises in PTSD and other complex stress-related syndromes. This unique combination of experience is what makes Anne’s services especially valuable to those who prefer a natural approach to dealing with stress and anxiety.

Anne has developed an online coaching programme – The Calm, Confident Brain – which is a user-friendly self-help method based on the extensive one-to-one work she continues to do with clients. It helps identify the role that the unconscious brain plays in regulating our levels of calm and confidence. The programme is useful for anyone who suffers from anxiety and provides the user with the correct tools for dealing with panic and restoring emotional balance.

During my session with Anne we discussed the things that were causing me deep-seated anxiety, which often led to panic attacks that would catch me off-guard as I set about my day. Together we identified symptoms of the attacks and Anne explained their connection to my unconscious brain. She gave me practical tips to control my breathing and restore calm to my body and mind. Did they work? Absolutely and resolutely, yes. Furthermore, they worked immediately. I have used these tools several times since then to control my panic and return to myself. Anne also prescribed a herbal mix for restoring my calm and confidence which arrived promptly by post. I’ve loved taking the herbal mix which has the fragrance of a woodland and tastes sweeter than expected. I feel better than I have done in many months.

Here are Anne’s five simple steps for reducing anxiety:
● Camomile tea is the simplest and most pleasant way to reduce anxiety. It’s great for digestion and helps calm the mind.
● Connect with people who accept you as you are. Living up to unrealistic expectations is one thing no one needs at any time.
● Connect with other creatures in nature – take up birdwatching, play with your pets or simply wake up early to hear the birds sing. Synchronising with nature is always a good thing.
● Contribute to something of value – whether it be volunteering with a charity, helping clean up your neighbourhood or anything that positively serves a purpose. This contributes immensely to better mental health.
● Create something beautiful – beautify your garden, paint a picture, take up pottery. Whatever you choose, focusing your mind on creating a thing of beauty makes for a happy headspace.

For more information on the Calm Confident Brain programme or to simply connect with Anne Cheshire, join her on Facebook – Anne Cheshire Coaching. Anne is always happy to answer questions.