Anxiety

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Anxiety and stress are normal in small amounts. They are what motivates us, help us to feel accomplished and tell us to double check a behaviour or choice for safety. 

When anxiety or stress build up or become too much to handle, we enter fight or flight mode. We can get angry, lash out, get scared, run away, freeze, disassociate and do any number of other behaviours that our body may consider a coping strategy. When no options are available, or when our fear is toward the anxious feelings themselves we can also have panic attacks. These feel really unpleasant (to say the least!) and can leave you feeling shaky or drained for the rest of the day.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy are methods we use to help treat anxiety and stress. We learn to change the way we think and behave, as well as learn to become more comfortable with the feeling of anxiety itself. When we stop fearing anxiety and learn to hold it gently with understanding, then we can go back to using it to help us!

Who knew?! Sometimes the things we fear are the things that get us the farthest!