Becoming a therapist is a nod to my younger anxious self. 

As a teenager I had regular panic attacks which were all related to my phobia of being sick. This stayed with me throughout my adult life as well as general anxiety that would flare up at various times. I kept this well hidden and as a result never really found a way to control it, or understand my anxiety.

My anxiety levels were turned up again after a miscarriage as I developed a fear of not being able to get pregnant again. I found huge comfort in Hypnotherapy and this allowed me to overcome this fear. As a result I became pregnant, which I am eternally grateful for.

Fast forward to Covid and I found myself battling with Long Covid and many health issues, my anxiety was again very difficult to manage. 

The variety of symptoms, none of which could be explained by health professionals, caused me to be highly anxious.

This time I used Solution Focused Hypnotherapy which was hugely helpful, as it allowed me to understand my anxiety and why it kept being triggered. 

I was able to focus on what I could control, rather than what I couldn’t. 

This helped me to recover, and most importantly manage my anxiety.

I still get anxious, at various times during the day but I understand it now and how to control it. I take all this learning and compassion for myself and for my clients into my work. 

I know how debilitating anxiety can be. 

If anyone reading this is suffering with anxiety please know it is possible to get control, and not only that, find out who you are in the process. 

One of the wonderful things about the brain and the nervous system is that we can readapt. However we cannot change what we are not aware of. 

Having some regular check in points with yourself can help bring consciousness to your behaviour and thinking patterns. 

My anxiety led me to find out I am autistic and have ADHD. I now understand myself a lot better and use this understanding to help others.

Sometimes we are led to understand ourselves in challenging ways. 

Opportunities come in strange packages. 

If we train our mind to see challenges as a door to further understanding of ourselves and others then we can take back control.

3 strategies that help me manage my anxiety

1. Reassure myself that this is a primitive survival response. My brain and body are trying to protect me from a perceived threat. Anxiety cannot harm me.

2. Focus on my breathing as a way of reducing the stress response in my body. 2 short inhales and 1 longer exhale. This helps me to focus on the moment and not on my racing thoughts.

3. I have developed a list over time that I refer to when I feel overwhelmed and if I feel anxiety taking hold. It helps. It looks like this:

(List is not in any particular order, nor is it the full list )

Play music

Dance

Cry if you need to

Sing

Walk outside

Meditate

Use Self Hypnosis

Have a sleep

Eat

Drink water

Text or talk to a friend

Ask for a hug

Stroke the cat

Change my clothes

Take a moment to realise what has gone well so far today

What is on your list and how do you prompt yourself to use it?

I would love to know your coping strategies.