Anxiety can take a toll on your body and mind. Do you notice that you suddenly feel “alarm” in your body that causes your heart to beat faster, palms to sweat, or your body tense as you go into “fight, flight or freeze” mode? This is your body signaling you that you are in danger. Breathing exercises are one techniques that works fast to calm you down. As you become curious about your anxiety, you become aware of when and where it happens and patterns relating to it. 

The political crisis in our country compounds personal and emotional struggles in our lives and undermines our feeling of financial and mental safety. Therapy provides a safe place to vent and process our thoughts and emotions related to the constant shocks to our system from reading or hearing about the news.

Client- centered talk therapy is a helpful way to find the roots of your anxiety. Anxiety frequently starts in childhood whether due to traumatic events, dysfunction in the household or problems at school. Some of the anxiety that is still physically”trapped” in your body can be brought into the open through curiosity and compassionate inquiry into your past.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is another modality designed to support you when you ruminate about the past, present or the future. CBT teaches you to label negative thought patterns, counter them with healthier ones and not project them into the future. Clients are given the opportunity to systematically desensitize themselves to fears. Building self esteem and self confidence in therapy will assist in facing and managing your anxiety and fears.  

Mindfulness and self compassion. Women have higher rates of anxiety than men which has been linked to brain chemistry and hormonal fluctuations but there are also pressures in the U.S. for women to be thin and pretty and kind. Women are hard on themselves and often try to ba perfect and please those around them. Mindfulness is about staying in the present moment without judgment. Self compassion is about being kind to yourself and building feelings of self worth and self confidence.

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