break free from anxiety. Move forward alive, whole, and free.
Anxiety Therapy
Sound like you?
Struggling with feeling exhausted, overstimulated, and dysregulated
You are stuck in survival mode and feel yourself spinning out of control
You’re tired of feeling overwhelmed by the weight of anxiety
You deeply crave rest in mind, body, and spirit
Anxiety is stored in the body and your body longs for healing
Anxiety therapy is for you if…
You feel disconnected in mind, body, and spirit
You want to move from surviving to living life alive, whole, and free
HOw can I help?
Embodied healing can help you break free from the weight of anxiety and recalibrate your nervous system out of cycles of distress and into a place of rest.
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is more than fear and worry. It is a dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system that causes the body to get stuck in distressing cycles of response.
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Anxiety is defined as the body’s natural nervous system response to stress, danger, or perceived threats and is often dysregulated as a result of some stress or trauma experienced in life.
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Anxiety is a natural nervous system response that can be extremely helpful when regulated, however, it can become problematic when it is intense, invading, persistent, and keeps your nervous system stuck in survival mode.
Anxiety is known to activate the body’s adaptive biological and neurological survival features and distort the brain’s responses to stress and safety.
Whatever nervous system state you shift to in response to distress, you can learn how to regulate and shift back to a place of rest, safety, and connection.
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The Autonomic nervous system (ANS) is described through the Polyvagal Theory (by Porges and the Polyvagal Institute) and classifies the nervous system states as follows:
Ventral Vagal
Common body signals: Stable or normal heart rate and breathing.
Safe characteristics in this state: Safe, calm, relaxed, connected to self and others, curious, present, secure and grounded. Includes feelings of aliveness, wholeness, and peacefulness.
Sympathetic
Common body signals: Rapid heart rate and high blood pressure.
Safe characteristics in this state: Playful, cheery, energized and motivated.
Unsafe characteristics in this state: Fearful, anxious, stressed, and fight or flight (survival mode).
Dorsal Vagal
Common body signals: Low heart rate, fatigue, and low energy.
Safe characteristics in this state: Tranquil, meditative, and blissful.
Unsafe characteristics in this state: Freeze, shutdown, hopeless, lonely, overwhelmed, dissociated, numb, immobilized, and collapsed.
The Polyvagal Theory helps us understand that the ANS can be regulated and brought back to a place of rest. Therefore, allowing you to move through life with flexibility and safe regulation!
Common causes of anxiety…
Trauma
Pain
Stress
Major life events
Big life changes and transitions
Medical conditions
Genetics and hormones
Substances
Relationships
Distressing experiences
EVERYBODY experiences the pain of anxiety differently.
Common symptoms include…
Restlessness and irritability
Avoidance
Physical symptoms such as rapid heart rate, muscle tension, chills, panic attacks, chronic pain, and gut issues
Sleep problems
Overthinking and racing thoughts
Struggles with self-esteem, worth, insecurity, and shame
Overwhelming emotions and triggers
Difficulty with attachment and relationships
Spiritual struggles
Inner critic causing you to feel insecure, alone, and worthless
Chronic stress
Difficulties with resiliency
Brain fog and concentration struggles
Reactive, protective, and numbing behaviors
In our sessions together, we will…
Explore your experiences and patterns with anxiety
Process the deep roots and pain triggering anxiety
Learn how to regulate your nervous system response
At the end of the day, I want you to know:
Symptoms of anxiety don’t have to keep holding you back. There is life beyond where you are feeling stuck and healing is possible!
Healing is possible.
Healing is possible.
Questions on anxiety?
FAQs
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Together we will process your experiences, 5 senses, beliefs about yourself, and behaviors in each nervous system state to identify patterns that are deepening anxiety and distress.
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YES! It is my belief as a clinician and Christian that the human body was designed to be able to shift from distress to rest and break free from the cycles of anxiety.