As a kid, you carried an invisible weight that sat heavily on your chest, a constant reminder of the turmoil around you.
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You learned to brace yourself for the unpredictability that defined your home life, where each day felt like a roll of the dice—uncertain and fraught with hidden dangers.
In that chaos, recognizing a truly good day seemed almost impossible, lost among the shadows of fear and confusion.
But now--you are a grown-up and you do have that home of your own...
but you are far from feeling better.
Your relationships are suffering.
Your mind is working against you.
Your body is rebelling.
You know that rebellion. That tightness in your chest, your heart racing, the endless cycle of overthinking, shame spirals, and the instinct to hide, what happens?
What do you do right at this moment?
Do you think to yourself:
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I'm so tired of this happening.
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I'm so screwed up.
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I need to calm down.
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I have to get rid of this feeling.
And then you:
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Do anything to distract yourself.
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Dodge anything and anyone that might make it worse.
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You try to think your way out of it.
Ok, hear me out.
What if I told you that your body thinks it's keeping you safe, but it is actually keeping you trapped in a vicious cycle?
Not speaking up. Not taking up space. Staying alert. And stuffing it all down....
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Were ways to cope with the abuse. They helped you survive.
Your body and mind were working hard to keep you safe. Staying small, silent, and on-edge worked in the past--and our bodies are excellent at repeating what works.
Learn more about the different types of anxiety on my blog here
Problem is, you are safe now but your brain & body still aren't sure.
And that makes sense-- it feels scary to challenge the ways that helped you survive your childhood and to seek out new sources of safety. That's where anxiety steps in--alerting you to unhealed wounds.
Coping Skills for Anxiety
Building skills for resiliency, confidence, and functioning
Developing Coping skills might be for you if...
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You were raised in an unstable or chaotic home, which has made it harder for you to self-soothe and regulate your emotions as an adult.
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You may have developed a reliance on self-destructive behaviors or harmful substances to cope with the current distress in your life.
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You are now prepared to explore new strategies for managing your thoughts and feelings, as well as improving how you engage in your relationships.
There are coping skills for just about anything!
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Anxiety (including relationship anxiety and social anxiety)
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Intrusive thoughts and overthinking
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Work stress and burnout
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Mood swings and self-sabotage
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Imposter syndrome and paranoia
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Self-esteem issues and learning to love yourself
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Letting go and accepting reality
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Perfectionism and people-pleasing tendencies
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Resentment and jealousy
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Challenges in establishing and maintaining boundaries
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Tolerance of unhelpful behaviors and the urge to withdraw
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Managing heightened sensitivities
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