Avoidance Coping & The Anxiety Cycle
Katie McLaughlin, LPCC Katie McLaughlin, LPCC

Avoidance Coping & The Anxiety Cycle

While avoidance coping seems like a good option for fast anxiety relief, the problem with this strategy is that the relief we experience from avoidance coping is not only short lived, but this practice is actively leading to increased anxiety in the future.

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How To Deal With Anxiety In 5 Simple Steps
Katie McLaughlin, LPCC Katie McLaughlin, LPCC

How To Deal With Anxiety In 5 Simple Steps

Anxiety is our body’s natural protective mechanism, so if your hope is to completely eliminate it from your life, you’re going to be fighting an uphill battle. With that being said though, there are quite a few helpful tricks we can use every day to give ourselves the best chance at an anxiety free existence. Or at the very least, one where we feel confident enough in ourselves to manage the discomfort of anxiety in a way that actually supports our well-being.

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Grounding Techniques For Anxiety & Lowering Stress
Katie McLaughlin, LPCC Katie McLaughlin, LPCC

Grounding Techniques For Anxiety & Lowering Stress

Grounding techniques for anxiety are meant to bring you back to the present moment and to help you reconnect with the here and now. We can do this by refocusing attention on our breath, on our body, or on the environment we find ourselves in. When we can reconnect to the present moment, to what is actually happening right now, our brain is reminded that in this moment we are safe. Once our brain recognizes that we are, in fact, safe in this moment, our anxiety begins to decrease.

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