Let’s Talk About It: Tips and Tools to Understanding Your Anxiety

“I was on my way home from work, sitting in traffic listening to my favorite radio station. All of the sudden my thoughts started racing: ‘Why did my boss not respond to my e-mail? Was there anything I said, he didn’t like? What if he has already given up on me and I am the next one, who gets fired. How will I be able to pay the mortgage and the kids’ tuition. At my age, nobody will want to hire me. I am done.’ Then my chest got really tight and I had difficulties breathing.

For a moment I thought about driving to the emergency room. But then I remembered what the doctor said last time: ‘Your heart is fine. You just had an anxiety attack.’ How embarrassing.” Scott sighed. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Everybody else seems to have it together.”
The truth is like Scott anxiety can make you feel trapped and powerless. And since most of your energy is dedicated to fighting this feeling, you will sometimes find yourself exhausted and easily irritated; you may lack enthusiasm for life and feel disconnected from the people around you.

You may even start dealing with insomnia, chronic pain or other physical symptoms. So why does anxiety seem so difficult to overcome? And is there anything you can do to make yourself feel better?  There is a lot of confusing, misleading and disempowering information about anxiety and the do’s and don’ts on how to overcome this challenge. Some see anxiety as an illness, others as a misfire or a biochemical imbalance in our brain. All of these perceptions have merit, but they are not entirely fair or accurate to what the purpose of anxiety is.

Anxiety is a natural form of communication from our subconscious mind and serves an important function. Similar to physical pain, which calls our attention to an injury or other problems with our body. Often anxiety can be a symptom of deeper emotional and mental wounds – whether they are unresolved traumas, self-sabotaging patterns, or limiting beliefs.

By identifying and addressing these deeper root causes, you will not only overcome your anxiety but also gain a greater sense of inner peace, wholeness and confidence. So rather than turning away from anxiety, turn towards it with an open-mind and heart and try to take care of whatever underlying needs it represents.

Join me on Oct 21 | at 9 AM PST / 12 PM EST for the latest episode of “Get Real” where I answer your questions and share with you my tips and tools on how to turn anxiety into a catalyst of growth and personal empowerment.