What to do during an anxiety episode and the 1,2,3 step to return to safety.

Understanding Anxiety: A Journey of Healing for Women with Childhood Wounds

Over the past decade of working with clients, I've witnessed firsthand how anxiety manifests uniquely in each individual. For many women, anxiety is not just a feeling, it's a complex interplay of childhood experiences and emotional history.

The four main faces of Anxiety:

🎮 The Control-Seeker

For some women, anxiety emerges as an overwhelming need for control. These women are often highly productive, driven by an internal narrative that constantly screams, "You must be doing, achieving, or you are not enough.

👀 The Procrastinator
Others, like myself experience anxiety as chronic procrastination. The weight of self-doubt can feel paralyzing, preventing us from pursuing what we love. Externally, we may appear calm and collected, but internally we are bubbling with fear and uncertainty, questioning our worth with every step we take.

🥹 The People-Pleaser
For some women, anxiety finds expression in relationships through people-pleasing behaviors. This is often rooted in the fear of abandonment, an attempt to control how others perceive us. Imagine living with that constant fear! It's not only exhausting but can also drain your energy and sense of self.

😰 The Physical Manifestation
Anxiety can also manifest physically, racing hearts, palpitations, or the unsettling feeling that something is "off." These sensations can lead to isolation, making everyday experiences feel overwhelming.

No matter of how anxiety presents itself, it often traces back to your upbringing. It’s crucial to recognize that anxiety is not simply a "condition"; it is a symptom of deeper issues that demand your attention.

The Constant Barking Dog: Triggers of Anxiety

Anxiety can be visceral, triggered by seemingly innocent stimuli, a specific smell, a tone of voice, or a loud noise. I refer to these triggers as the “constant barking dog.” They may not always be apparent, but they exist, lurking just beneath the surface.

Our bodies store memories, emotional experiences, and unresolved stress, leading us to perpetually scan the environment for safety: “Am I safe?”

Embracing Anxiety as a Guide

It's important to shift our perspective on anxiety. Instead of viewing it as the enemy, we can see it as a signpost indicating where healing is necessary. Healing begins when we recognize that anxiety is merely a coping mechanism developed during times of limited options.

Why Conventional Therapy Falls Short

Talking therapies can be beneficial, but they often fall short in addressing the complexities of anxiety, especially when rooted in trauma. Emotional issues require emotional solutions. While we can rationalize and understand our feelings, true healing requires a somatic approach, one that engages the body.

My methodology incorporates Rapid Transformational Therapy ( deep Hypnotherapy) and nervous system regulation, addressing the root causes of anxiety through a deeply somatic process.

A Three-Step Process to Return to Safety:

Check your baseline: From a scale of 1 to 10, how much anxiety are you feeling right now? Write it down.

🎧 Tune in
Sit somewhere you feel supported.
Take a slow breath in… and a longer breath out.
Place your hand over the part of your body that feels tight or restless.
Stay there for a few moments. Let your body know you are paying attention.

👁️ Notice
If this feeling had a color, what would it be?
Don’t overthink.
Just allow the first color to appear.

👂 Listen
Ask quietly: What do you need right now?
You may feel the urge to move, cry, stretch, step outside, or speak something you’ve been holding.

Now take your baseline again! How much the anxiety have shifted? 

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