Anxiety and Trauma

Feeling a certain amount of stress is a normal part of everyday life. We are human after all and, although we may not like to think about it, being human involves feelings of vulnerability which can lead to feelings of stress and fear.

Sometimes, however, feelings of fear become overwhelming. Your body may hurt and feel tense and rigid most of the time. Negative thoughts may occupy your mind seemingly beyond your control. You may be having trouble sleeping or not be sleeping very much at all. You also may find it difficult to spend time with other people and to engage in activities that you enjoy. When feelings of fear are impacting your ability to experience joy, peace, and contentment in your life, therapy can be helpful.

In Therapy I Will Support You By:

• listening deeply and nonjudgmentally to your experience and feelings. Sometimes your fears will lessen when you share them with someone else who really hears what you are saying. When you share your fears you are no longer holding them all by yourself; your circle of support becomes wider.
• exploring with you where your fear is coming from. Feelings of fear and anxiety can come from many sources such as
  • low self-esteem or confidence.
  • difficulty in pursuing your passion in life.
  • existential questions about life and death.
  • living through a traumatic event. Something terrifying may have happened to you or to someone close to you (such as sexual and/or physical abuse, a natural disaster or being in a war, being the victim of a violent crime, and/or a car or plane crash) and this fear may be stuck in your body. When fear is stuck in your body you may find yourself thinking about the traumatic event often and you may have the experience of reliving the event when something happens that reminds you of it. Gentle body-centered psychotherapy can help you access a sense of safety and strength within and then to connect with and heal the parts of yourself that have been shut down from fear. EMDR (see About) can also be helpful here.
• helping you develop a self-care program to work with fear and anxiety in the moment, when it arises, as well as over time. Here we will look at what practices help your mind and body to feel safe. These practices may include allowing yourself to feel your feelings, tuning into what is happening in your body, relaxation techniques, mindfulness exercises, physical exercises, and nutrition.