Three ways to reduce anxiety
Hi! My name is Tunise James and I have been with the practice since it first opened its doors in 2015. I can still remember the first group I was asked to facilitate. I was nervous, but instantly fell in love with the group dynamic due to its profound capacity for growth and healing. I was hooked!
Since that first group back in 2015, I have literally provided therapy to 100’s of individuals and couples in group settings. Through these invaluable experiences I have discovered that most people suffer from anxious thoughts and feelings on a daily basis.
In fact, so many people report experiencing chronic anxiety that it has been referred to as the ‘Modern Epidemic’ of our time.
Over the years I have implemented a myriad of anxiety reducing strategies and have found the following three components to be the most effective in reducing anxiety.
Mindfulness: Mindfulness skills have long been identified as the most effective way to manage anxious thoughts and feelings. Anxiety is typically caused or exacerbated by our minds' ability to leave our body and time travel to another time and place more stressful than the one we are in. In contrast, the present moment is typically quite stress free. Therefore, the ability to keep both body and mind in the present moment reduces anxiety significantly. What many people do not know is that mindfulness can be practiced in motion and at rest.
Movement: Movement is another well-known anxiety reducer. When we are intentionally moving, we are able to get out of our head and feel in our bodies, which not only helps you to stay present in the moment, but opens a portal for stuck emotions to flow through. Movement also eases the discomfort that painful emotions induce while increasing endorphins, the happy hormone.
Community: When experiencing anxiety it is common to feel alone in your experience, which can lead to embarrassment and withdrawal from one’s community. Therapy groups reduce one’s sense of isolation and shame as your experience is normalized, understood and supported by a loving, accepting community of like-minded individuals.
To receive more info about the DBT group I facilitate to engage and cope with anxiety, request a free consultation today!
-Kayle
