Anxiety

I’ve found that many people live with chronic, low-grade anxiety. “A” type personalities seem to have a propensity for it. It’s also our society today, and pressures of both work and family. People often aware of all the outer causes of their anxiety. But it’s the inner work that gives you the skills to deal with life circumstances from a place of strength, security and calm rather than anxiety.

I find in approaching anxiety that it’s important to work on both learning to cope better with current symptoms, and resolving the deeper cause of the anxiety. This allows for real change to occur, change in how you are with yourself and out in the world. Anxiety is a pattern people fall into when they are overwhelmed, and don’t know how to work through whatever their challenges. Often these are underlying emotions, usually ones that have been around for years. Or they are restrictive, negative thought patterns, often automatic and unconscious. It may be physical stress, like poor diet, lack of both exercise and sleep, or illness, resulting in a stressed-out nervous system. Or it could be trying to fit yourself into a job or relationship that doesn’t serve you, that is not consistent with who you are and your real path in life.

Other than the counselling work of unraveling all of the above, certain methodologies are helpful in re-learning how to step out of anxiety and into a calmer, more balanced way of being. Here you more easily hear your own inner wisdom that guides you best. Meditation allows you to learn to let go of your busy mind and its incessant demand on your attention, so you can hear your body and spirit, not just your mind. Yoga, tai chi and other physical activities can help bring you back into balance through your body. Hypnosis teaches both deep relaxation, and receiving a lot of positive, supportive messages into your subconscious to shift your mental patterns. All help you learn and develop a new inner environment, one that supports you.