DUBAI: Recent studies show that loneliness and isolation alongside anxiety have changed how people socialize throughout the day. But the first step to not let stress and anxiety consume you is acknowledging that you’re not feeling your best. Renowned wellness expert, Compassionate Inquiry therapist and motivational speaker, Nancy Zabaneh believes that there is still a stigma associated with being in therapy, particularly in the Arab world, which prevents people from seeking the help they need.

Here are five suggestions by Nancy to help you find a way out of your mental anguish:

Spend more time outdoors
Grab a friend or a loved one and spend time outside, whether it’s going for a neighbourhood walk, to the beach, or a drive outside the city into the mountains – the UAE has endless options to explore. “I love driving out to the Hajar mountains and to the Northern Emirates. Hiking is a wonderful activity, as well as regular beach walks. We are blessed to live by the sea here in the UAE,” adds Nancy.

Learn something new
Take a course online, learn a new skill, or refine what you already know. “Training in different modalities not only allows me to upgrade my skill set in multiple areas, but also keeps me engaged with the outside world.”

Stay connected with others
Engage with your local community. The quickest way out of the neurosis of the mind is to serve. Whether it is cooking for friends who are unwell, reaching out to the elderly or volunteering at the local shelter, donate your time to people in need.

Try a Kundalini yoga session
A mindful tip is to get your energy from prana instead of adrenaline. The rhythmic flow of Kundalini yoga restores the nervous and glandular systems and releases old stress response patterns from the body. A typical Kundalini yoga class involves chanting mantras that help to cut through the endless wheel of subconscious chatter in the mind, all the while building our pranic and radiant bodies. This induces a space of calm and vitality.

See a therapist
Nancy is the first Compassionate Inquiry Therapist in the Arab world and offers counselling sessions to help others realize compassionate connection with the source of their issues. “My approach is very holistic – engaging the mind, body and spirit and incorporating everything from meditation and kriya-based work in between sessions, to journaling and accountability practices.