Something therapists hear often is “I don’t want to let my emotions take over and get the best of me”. You might have grown up in a family where emotions were not expressed or talked about so feelings like anxiety, sadness, anger, or shame can feel overwhelming, even intolerable. We naturally want to avoid them or fix them to make that discomfort go away. But if we learn to tolerate uncomfortable emotions, we are more likely to feel a sense of calmness and less self judgement.
Read MoreFinding ways that work for you when it comes to managing anxiety is incredibly empowering. We all experience anxiety in different forms, and while it's impossible to fully eliminate anxiety from our lives, we can build a personal toolkit to help manage it in a healthy way. Here are some potential tools to consider to manage your anxiety:
Read MoreAll emotions act as signals, a “red alert” in response to external stimuli. Guilt arises when we feel we’ve violated our ethics or morals. Can you identify “guilt” as the emotion you’re feeling, and understand what it’s in response to? My clients express remorse over mistakes, hurtful actions, or inaction. Guilt also stems from failing to meet expectations—whether from parents, oneself, or others. Not all guilt is the same and may manifest differently for each person. A key part of letting go is understanding where these feelings come from and acknowledging their impact.
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