Annabel Rivkin finds the cure to a city-stressed mind

Want to crack the happiness code? Read on…
Sophia Loren as Nora Van Ostamgen in Operation Crossbow
Annabel finds her happy place
Getty Images
Annabel Rivkin4 February 2022

Enough. Enough of the dread and the shame.

There is a certain fast-paced flavour to city distress; the exhaustion and fear that drives us, like battery-operated toys with no soul. Vaguely wondering if there might be more, but largely thinking, ‘If I can get through this week then there is only one more week to go before I need to get through another week.’

I’m going to take you with me, over the next months, and we are going to try new things. Look in different directions. I used to storm through the streets. Now, after everything, I scuttle. Like a cockroach. No longer run by my old friend, Anxiety, but controlled by my new acquaintance, Panic. The Panicdemic.

I started with a Mind Massage from Lucinda Meade, a highly personalised blend of hypnotherapy, physiotherapy, acupuncture, breathing and wisdom. She offers tips to override the ‘We’re all going to die’ message your splintered subconscious sends your shattered nerves. Counteract the hyper-vigilance by zoning in on your peripheral vision. When we are stressed our vision narrows so, without moving your eyes, take in everything. It helps. And it’s discreet. You won’t look mad(der). Also, try The Physiological Sigh: a long sniff, a short sniff and a long exhale to slow the heart and stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system to nudge you away from fight or flight. Try them. The apocalypse will have to wait.

Mind Massage by Lucinda Meade, £120 for 60 minutes at TwentyTwo Training, SW7 (twentytwotraining.com)

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in