Let’s Talk Anxiety

Jan 30

What is anxiety?

Anxiety can be normal in stressful situations such as public speaking or taking a test. At times, anxiety can also be a helpful motivator but what is it like when you are having feelings of excessive and all-consuming thoughts that interfere with daily life? Feeling ungrounded is a common experience with anxiety. Feeling ungrounded can include restlessness, looping thoughts, and feeling disconnected from surroundings and those around us.

Why does anxiety happen?

Slowly you move from your window of tolerance into dysregulation which then can lead to hyperarousal or fight or flight. Your prefrontal cortex (the part of your brain that plays into regulation) no longer working in the same way it does when you are feeling grounded. At this point, your anxiety is now in the driver seat and the rational part of you is in the passenger seat. Environment also plays a role into how you are feeling. Everything you see, hear, smell, taste, and touch impacts the way that your brain is perceiving your external world which then impacts how you feel internally.

Finding balance and helping yourself feel more grounded:

Engaging in CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) focuses on changing the thought patterns that exist for you and helps you to be able to identify any distortions that you may be struggling with. When you work with a therapist 1-1 you can start to identify patterns and behaviors that are leading to anxiety.

Some coping skills:

Change in environment, getting up from the current place you are in and going outside or to a new room can help stop the thoughts that you are struggling with.
Moving your body, the more you feel physically capable the more mentally capable you will feel.
Engaging in play, when you engage your inner child through things like gardening or crafting it can be helpful in feeling more balanced and more present.
Journaling- helping yourself get the thoughts from in your head on paper so that you can understand them differently is a huge part of gaining understanding of the anxious thoughts you are struggling with.