Anxiety
The State of Protection
Anxiety doesn’t just swirl around in the mind through uncontrollable worry, intrusive thoughts, and catastrophic thinking. Anxiety makes an appearance at 3 a.m. when you wake up in a panic– flushed and overheated, heart pounding, and your breath wildly incoherent. It’s like your body hit the panic button before your brain even woke up.
Restless and exhausted all at once– your to-do list cycles on replay. Until your mind shifts to focus on every detail of yesterday’s unresolved argument with your partner. Your mind suddenly shifts to the morass of work waiting for you at the office in just a few hours.
Anxiety may show up physically as a headache, migraine, body aches and pain, gastrointestinal issues, or chronic pain. This reveals the interconnectedness of the mind and body.
Psychology Meets Physiology
What if we look at anxiety through the lens of the autonomic nervous system? This complex and primitive system continuously sends messages between the body and brain to protect us and ensure our safety and survival.
If our adaptive stress responses are working overtime and haven’t received the message to turn off–that we are safe in this moment–we can suffer with symptoms of anxiety. These symptoms can manifest physically as well as emotionally such as increased heart rate, shallow breathing, muscle tension, gastrointestinal problems, migraines, and chronic pain.
“You’re imperfect, and you’re wired for struggle, but you are worthy of love and belonging.”
– Brené Brown
The Art of Healing and Integration
You’ve taken an important step by simply being here, and I’m so glad you came.
As an anxiety therapist, I work through a mindbody perspective. I help those struggling with anxiety by integrating the sciences of psychology, neuroscience, and physiology to address anxiety at its root.
Together we will strive to restore your health and vitality by exploring scientific mindbody strategies that target the mind, body, and nervous system. You’ll cultivate greater self-awareness, self-care, and self-compassion as your system recalibrates and settles. Anchoring into safety and calming overwhelm.