Anxiety

Anxiety.  An experience we all have as human beings, and one that comes in many different shapes and sizes.  While our stress may show up as panic attacks, rumination, interrupted sleep, muscle tension, or irritability, we know anxiety can manifest both physically and emotionally.  We also know our bodies can give us clues as to what’s really going on.  

Many of my clients share that their anxiety makes them frustrated and weighed down.  They want relief from the discomfort, whether it be ruminating about something they have to do in the future, scanning their environment for threats, or playing over an interaction they had with a loved one.

Research shows that nearly 30% of adults will experience an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives.  In a fast paced world consumed by ever-growing technology and having access to news and media 24/7 upon life’s demands, it’s no wonder so many of us develop a reaction to being under too much stress.  

It’s true, anxiety is uncomfortable.  It’s also a natural response to something in our environment that we perceive to be dangerous or threatening.  Sometimes it’s possible to use specific skills to calm our nervous system when it’s too activated, or by determining what aspects of the situation are in and outside of our control.  In other contexts, accepting our anxiety for what it is and letting it be there can be a game changing approach.  What if, instead of fighting so hard to get rid of something and feeling shameful or embarrassed for having it, we accepted it as a part of ourselves?  What would happen if we learned to recognize the ways anxiety is trying to help us survive in the world and developed a trusting relationship with it?

Together, we will develop a thorough understanding of how you experience anxiety, why it shows up in your life, and what you would like to be different about it.  We will look at numerous hands on tools that you can use in the moment to regulate your nervous system, as well as gain a more in depth understanding of how your anxiety may be connected to key experiences and relationships in your past. 

In therapy, you will learn how to:

• Clearly identify different ways your anxiety shows up: somatically, cognitively, and emotionally.

• Increase your capacity to tolerate feelings of anxiety and discomfort and turn toward them rather than push them away.

• Build a strong base of coping skills to help regulate your nervous system (i.e., safe place imagery, grounding skills, etc).

• Focus more on the stressful aspects of your life you can control and build acceptance around the parts you cannot. 

PRO TIP:  5-4-3-2-1 Grounding 

What is it: grounding allows us to engage with all of our senses to get more connected to the present moment, so we get outside of our thoughts or bodies.  

How to do it: 

• Name 5 things you can see around you

• Name 4 things you can feel

• Name 3 things you can hear

• Name 2 things you can smell

• Name 1 thing you can taste