Anxiety

Does frustration feel like “just part of life”?

When Lily* first came into my office, I asked her to describe her anxiety. Here is what she said:

Here is the best way for me to describe the fight or flight response. Imagine walking through the woods. You come within two feet of a bear. Your heart starts beating fast, your palms get sweaty, and your body tenses up.

For a moment, you are paralyzed with fear as you have to make a decision. Do you fight or do you run? For me, this is everyday life. And you know what is so frustrating? There are times I don’t even know what brings it on. I wake up fine, and then BAM – it just happens.

Does it feel impossible to slow down?

I suggested to Lily that we slow things down – that she pause every few sentences and take a breath into her body and describe the sensations. At first, she told me this would be impossible.

I smiled and explained the value of breath and asked her to humor me and give it a try. So she did. Within a minute, she was able to slow her racing thoughts and told me she felt less “jittery.”

And so her healing journey began…

Moving from powerlessness to empowerment…

In therapy, Lily began identifying the situations that made her anxious.

Lily grew up with an alcoholic mother whose inconsistent behavior made her learn to “walk on eggshells.” This feeling stayed with her into adulthood, so anytime she wasn’t sure what to expect she felt anxious.

Once Lily began identifying how scary it was as a kid dealing with her mom, she was able to connect it to her irrational thinking as an adult.

She also committed to finding time a few days a week to slow down – which meant that in the car, she turned off the radio and focused on driving. Sometimes she would walk in nature. Other times, she would sit quietly on the couch, as she had her morning coffee.

The key here is that she was practicing mindfulness.

The more she practiced it outside my office, the easier it was for her to use the tool in my office, especially when talking about issues that were hard for her.

Anxiety is more than just fear and worry.

Lily also explored how much her genetic makeup impacted her anxiety. Because she came from a long line of individuals with anxiety, she eventually began taking supplements to support her nervous system.

The supplements improved her sleep, which helped decrease her anxiety.

By integrating early childhood work, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and mindfulness exercises, Lily was able to move from powerlessness to empowerment.

She started driving on the highway again, made amends with her estranged brother, and even began dating.

Let’s begin your new story…

Lily’s story is just one example of how anxiety interferes with living a full life. As was true for Lily, there are often several factors that create anxiety for individuals.

Together, we will peel away the layers of the onion so you, too, can feel empowered in your life!

Life is meant to be enjoyed, so let’s get to work on making a life without the worrisome burden of troublesome anxiety. Give me a call today: (860) 838-2071.

*Name changed to preserve client confidentiality.