If you live in Norther New Mexico and you have allergies, whether you;re allergic to juniper, ragweed, some other pollen, or even have a dust allergy, you may have already begun to deal with allergy symptoms. In Santa Fe, there are lots of runny noses, itchy red eyes and sneezes!

There are also lots of allergy medications with long lists of side effects and even many alternative allergy treatments.

But did you know that these type of seasonal allergies can actually be controlled very quickly and easily by your own mind? You see, it has long been known that such allergies have perceptual/mental triggers (as in the famous case of a woman with severe rose allergy responding to fake roses…) and so if it is ultimately the mind deciding to fire the allergic response that it has learned, it can unlearn it.

Here something to begin working with that’s quick and easy:

When you sense symptoms beginning, start with a few deep breaths, telling yourself (internally or out loud) to be calm… relax your body more and more with each out-breath… then notice how you are feeling around the symptoms from a mental or emotional standpoint (“this feeling is like… it feels as if…”). Notice if the feeling reminds you of a particular emotion. Does it feel scared? Angry? Frustrated? Nervous?

Once you have identified the emotion that it most closely resembles, then ask yourself “I have felt this way the strongest when…” and see what comes to you. Then use your breath to release that feeling on the exhale, telling yourself whatever is the opposite of what you identified (so for a fearful feeling “I am safe”, for a nervous feeling “I am calm” etc.). Then make it even more specific to the area where you feel the symptom — i.e. “My nasal passages are now safe and calm with all pollen and dust, the tissues of my mucous membranes are relaxed and dry and at ease” and imagine this strongly. Also, if you notice any negative self-statements (such as “I am bad” “I am guilty” “I am unlovable”) then repeat to yourself the reverse of these.

Try it for 10-15 minutes and notice the result!