Anxiety can show up during big events or small day-to-day tasks. Intellectually, you may dread doing the budget every month trying to make sure everything is covered. However, your body only knows the language of “danger/no danger.” The stress experienced from managing the budget also lands in your body. Anxiety therapy in St Petersburg, FL can help you find ways to encourage your body to shed the stress and manage anxiety when it creeps in.
Emily and Amelia Nagoski, authors of Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle, describe the ways we can help our bodies process the stress and anxiety we hold.
The body doesn’t understand when the budget is balanced and task complete, it understands body activities such as jumping jacks or a hug. Emily and Amelia remind us to speak the body’s language to complete the stress cycle. Here are a few suggestions they offer:
Moving your body!
The recommendation is twenty to sixty minutes most days, but sometimes this looks like playing in the pool with your kids, dancing around your room to a favorite song, or taking a break to stand up, tense your muscles and then release them into relaxation. Why exercise and body movement? It is an effective way to tell your brain that you are now safe and have survived the “threat.” The “threat” in this case sometimes looks like the day-to-day stresses we encounter.
Take a breath!
Taking deep breaths helps your body regulate. This is especially helpful when the anxiety is causing your body to feel panic or something similar. Breathe in for a four-count, then exhale for six counts. Repeat until you feel your body calming down.
Letting the tears flow!
Have you ever had a big, intense cry and afterwards felt a sigh of relief? Like a weight being lifted. Or taken a long nap after? Sometimes crying is viewed as “unproductive,” but this is a way of completing the stress cycle!
Let’s get creative!
The arts and creative expression are often “socially acceptable” ways to move through emotions. Songs can elicit strong responses, artwork can instill awe, and engaging in your own creating or storytelling allows you to move through emotions. This allows your emotions to release instead of storing up in your body.
Laughter!
Being able to laugh deeply helps our body relax and connect to others. Even remembering times that you have laughed so hard it hurt can be beneficial. Bring on the smiles.
Affection!
Engaging in a hug with someone you trust, love, and respect has been shown to lower blood pressure and release oxytocin. Oxytocin is a hormone that helps us create bonds with others and lower our heart rate. The benefits come from an intentional embrace lasting at least 6 seconds. This doesn’t have to involve romantic attraction – a hug from a trusted family member or friend also has these benefits. With the challenges of the pandemic and social distancing, petting an animal can also help stabilize your heightened anxiety. People have also found this level of support from spiritual and religious beliefs. Finding comfort in feeling supported and loved by a Higher Power. These forms of connection help tell our body we are safe and supported.
Positive Human Interactions!
The pandemic has limited our usual social activities, challenging our ability to interact with others. But Emily and Amelia describe these interactions as simple as complimenting someone in line at the bank or wishing your barista a nice day!
Anxiety and stress are unfortunately common experiences in our daily life – not to mention the increased stress we’ve collectively experienced living through a global pandemic.
Integrating these practices into your life collaborates with your body in real ways to relieve anxiety and continue to complete the stress cycle.
If you are integrating them with anxiety therapy in St Petersburg FL, the two can build off of each other offering you more peace and relief.
However, dealing with the stress and completing the stress cycle doesn’t necessarily mean that the stressor has disappeared. The therapists at ME-Therapy are passionate about partnering with you to find ways to decrease anxiety. We collaborate to identify and explore ways to address the stressor(s). Anxiety can feel daunting and limit what you want to do. Therapy for anxiety in St. Petersburg, FL, can help open areas for you to thrive!
Ready to Start Anxiety therapy in St. Petersburg FL?
Beginning the journey back to peace is easier than most of the things we’re all doing right now! Counseling does not have to wait. You can get the mental health support you need with a skilled therapist in St. Pete or with online therapy in Florida. To begin, just follow these simple steps:
- Contact us to request an appointment
- Meet with one of our experienced therapists.
- Get support & begin your journey toward mental wellness & connection today!
Other Mental Health and Wellness Services at ME-Therapy
Therapy can take many forms. At our St. Petersburg therapy & wellness clinic, we want to will help your mind but also want to feed your soul. This means our therapists and wellness team take a holistic approach to your wellbeing. In order to do this, our therapists offer individual therapy for women, therapy for men, trauma therapy, and holistic, spiritual therapy. In addition to standard marriage counseling & couples therapy, our relationship therapists also provide sex therapy, affair recovery counseling and poly-friendly kink aware therapy.
All of these services can be provided in-person at our St. Petersburg, FL counseling clinic or anywhere in the state with online therapy in Florida. If you have any questions about therapy, please visit our FAQ page! Also, you may consider reading more of our blog posts to get to know us a bit better. Finally, thank you for allowing ME-Therapy to be a part of your life journey!
