Anxiety
Almost everyone suffers from anxiety at some time or another. Technically, anxiety is an abstract fear of something that has not yet happened – but tell that to anyone who suffers from anxiety and they’ll tell you that it’s real, right now.
And its symptoms are real – the pounding heart, shortness of breath, stabbing chest pains, and racing thoughts of a panic attack, or the dull dread of something not quite right or missing in your life that accompanies you through your days. Either way, anxiety robs you of your vitality, and saps your sense of hope and joy.
Body & Mind
Franklin Delono Rosevelt got it right when he said “There is nothing to fear but fear itself.” But fear is a powerful, primitive, physiological response that does not always respond to the cool logic of reason. Anxiety works through our body’s fear system, initiating the physiological responses designed to keep us alive under the threat of imminent harm. Operating at a lower level of arousal, prolonged low grade anxiety ties us up in obsessive thoughts and behaviors that trap us in reenactments of the past. To alleviate anxiety it is essential to address both body and mind.
A holistic Approach
I approach anxiety from a holistic perspective taking into account the physical, cognitive and behavioral components of anxiety. There is also a spiritual dimension of anxiety and trauma. Working at this level we address shifting one’s orientation from fear to love, from apprehension to trust, and from despair to hope
Somatic Awareness: Working at the level of the body, I work with individuals to bring their awareness into their body to identify the physiological signals of rising anxiety. I then teach body and mind exercises to restore balance and calm. Together these two approaches, increased somatic awareness and mind/body practices, help alleviate the symptoms of anxiety.
Cognitive & Behavioral Awareness: Identifying what triggers your anxiety and the automatic thinking that comes with it empowers you to take control of the fear-based story that feeds anxiety.
Psychological Awareness: Understanding how your past influences experience in the present helps you gain perspective on your experience and reclaim your power from the underlying fear. Moving away from the constrictive force of fear creates opportunity for increased sense of vitality and joy.
Spiritual/Soul Awareness: Learning the lessons or gifts of our aliments is perhaps the most challenging part of personal growth. Yet in our suffering lies a life lesson that can help us transform what was once a weakness, into a capacity.