I help with stress and anxiety
How to get back to yourself and find your internal peace.
The Reluctant Anxiety Expert
I didn’t plan to become an expert on anxiety and stress. But, as it turns out, I’ve had a lot of experience with both of these super-fun topics, and in the process of finding solutions for myself, I’ve acquired tools and methods that help others as well.
There was a time when I thought of calling myself the Reluctant Anxiety Expert, but that notion passed! I’m still an expert, but no so reluctant about it anymore.
No silver bullets.
In my experience, there is no single fool-proof way to get a handle on your anxiety. For me, something that worked for awhile can stop working or not work in certain situations.
That’s why I believe you need to collect a few ways so when you’ve gone down a rabbit hole, you can try a few things to calm yourself down and get back to baseline.
So, if you hear someone saying they have “the way”, I invite you to be a little skeptical. To the best of my knowledge, there are no silver bullets. I’d love to be proven wrong on this, so if you’ve discovered a silver bullet, please let me know!
The time of one-size-fits-all is over.
I can’t tell you how many times I see people say that you must meditate to calm yourself down. Or, write in your journal to get the anxiety out of your head. Yes, these things can be very effective tools, and if it works for you – amazing. But, they don’t work for everyone, and telling people they must meditate can make them feel like failures. Or, even worse, it can make them feel hopeless about their anxiety.
I know this because there was a time in my life when I was so anxious that there was no way I could sit still and meditate. It just caused more anxiety. I couldn’t even work out, because my mind would race all over the place. Back then, the only thing that helped was walking. And walk, I did. Walking would burn off the extra energy and buy me a little time to get some work done. But, while it provided some relief, it wasn’t a progressive solution.
Thank goodness that time is behind me, but I really could have used the information I teach my clients now. It would have saved me so much angst (and shoes!)
Your customized tool belt
I highly recommend learning a number of methods and tools. it’s helpful to think of it like a tool belt and, with experience, you can pull you the right tool at the right time.
This is what I do with my clients. We try out a few tools and see which one works for them, and then we find a few more.
The idea is to be there to guide them to the tools and support them as they learn them. However, the ultimate goal is to teach them how to use the tools themselves. The interesting thing that happens after awhile, is that they mix and match and create their very own customized tools. The goal is independence, not dependence.
My favorite tools
Currently, my favorite tools are:
- Parts Work (e.g. Internal Family Systems by Richard Schwartz
- Thought Work (e.g. The Work by Byron Katie)
- Reiki (energy work that you can do on yourself)
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Tapping (e.g. the Emotional Freedom Technique)
If you're looking for some support ...
Including the above, I have almost 50 different tools that I use in my practice. I’ve tried them all on myself (lucky me!). I mention there are 50, not to overwhelm you (you don’t have to learn them all!), but to give you hope. There is something that will work for you.
I’d be happy to help you with your anxiety or stress. I have a program specifically designed for this. Go here to find out more. I’m also creating an on-line DIY course, so stay tuned for that.
In the meantime, if you’re experiencing anxiety, I’m so sorry you have to go through this. But, trust me, there are ways to navigate it and tools that you can learn and use to make yourself feel so much better.
