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Feeling anxious? You're not alone. And how do we treat it? Whether it's for you, someone close, or just out of curiosity, understanding the basics of anxiety paves your way to coping. Let's unravel this together!

Anxiety isn't just ordinary, it’s universal. We all worry from time to time. As I said, you are not alone. Sometimes, just knowing that helps. Being with others dealing with the same issues absolutely helps as well. Yet, there’s a thin line where anxiety transforms from passing concern to a shadow that weights heavily onto your joy, your passions, your life. Anxiety becomes a problem when it interferes with daily life or causes you to avoid going to certain places or doing certain things making it hard to enjoy life.

Anxiety often creates an anxiety-loop – thinking and acting in a way that makes you feel trapped in overwhelm. You may feel your heart rate increase, your breath shorten, your muscles feel drawn tight. Every thought is unsettling; blurring your focus, making it harder to think, to concentrate. We often worry about worst-case scenarios, and assume that they are most likely to happen. And we feel uncertain about our ability to cope, control, or even recover from these things if they do happen.

Our actions buckle in anxiety’s hold. We avoid those things that cause us to feel anxious, or we may obsess over every little detail trying to find comfort and relief in repetition. We're not chasing joy but running from discomfort. In other words, we often do these things because they make us feel less bad – not because they make us feel better.

What causes anxiety? Anxiety can come about because of many different reasons. It might arise in anticipation of a big event or a buildup of ongoing stress may trigger it - a job that demands too much, financial pressures, or the profound ache of loss. Stress could be a part of your personality woven into your being. Perhaps your anxiety comes from childhood or adulthood trauma.

Remember, anxiety wears many masks and what's true for one may not be true for everyone.

Conquering Anxiety: Your Strategy for Calm

Regaining peace of mind. Managing anxiety includes understanding and learning about anxiety. Using the wonderful tools of mindfulness, relaxation techniques, and correct breathing techniques as daily practices. Try making adjustment to your diet* (of course checking with your doctor for both diet and exercise), get moving with exercise*. Work on yourself by building self-esteem, your self-worth. Practice loving kindness. Click the link for my 3-minute meditation. And find solidarity in one of my support groups.

When you feel an anxious thought start, say to yourself, “I feel anxious,” with a calm certainty. You're not branding yourself an 'anxious person'. You're simply recognizing a momentary thought. This shift is pivotal. It requires mindfulness to achieve. It requires practice, like anything else you want to get good at. You're just witnessing these thoughts, like witnessing clouds drifting across the sky. You are acknowledging their presence: "This is an anxious thought." This insight gives the feeling less power, gradually unraveling, unwinding you from anxiety's hold.

Once you get good at recognizing the onset and its power will be stripped, you will be able to shift your energy to what's within your reach - what you can make changes in. A transformational step in breaking the anxiety loop is facing fear, facing the unknown. Every time you do this, you'll nurture confidence, quiet worry, and build self-confidence. Unraveling, unwinding anxiety, liberating your spirit.

Transform Your Mind, Transform Your Life: Discover the serene capacity of mindful meditation to manage and reduce anxiety. Regular meditation practice is a valuable tool in your journey to alleviate anxiety and improve overall well-being. This practice is a path toward inner tranquility. By enhancing self-awareness and encouraging acceptance of your thoughts and feelings with loving kindness, you open yourself up to relaxation.

Joining one of my support groups or getting one-on-one coaching can help with your anxiety. Also, listening to my micro meditations, Micro Meditations For Anxiety, Untangling, Unwinding Anxiety Micro Meditation Podcast*. Three minute meditations will help you to overcome stress, anxiety, and numerous obstacles we face in our lives. You can watch the YouTube video. And, you can join my live meditation on meetup.

Transform your anxiety into a manageable aspect of your life. Step by step, we'll reclaim the life anxiety has concealed, shadowed, taken from you. While anxiety may always whisper in the background, you have the power to silence its disruptive chatter. I am here to guide you. Together, we'll navigate the difficulties of your experiences, ensuring anxiety no longer dictates your journey. You're not alone; I offer support and understanding. Discover the path to tranquility and take back control. Let’s unravel, unwind the knots of anxiety together.

*Apple Podcast

*Spotify

*Podcast Player: