ACT - A Gentler Approach To Anxiety
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy offers a gentle, compassionate and mindful approach to both our internal and external experiences. It empowers us to align with our values and to cultivate self-compassion as we respond to our inner world (ie. our thoughts, emotions, memories, etc.).
As we practice Acceptance & Commitment Therapy, whether it be for anxiety, depression, stress-management, self-esteem, etc., we are choosing to turn towards our experiences with curiosity and acceptance, rather than constantly trying to change them.
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.
How Core Beliefs Are Formed And What You Can Do About It
Your thoughts actually come from these things called Core Beliefs, and understanding how Core Beliefs are formed through our experiences is another key component to both knowing yourself better and to feeling more in control.
Start At The Root: Natural Anxiety Relief With Relaxation Techniques
Similarly for the nervous system, when we engage in these calming activities, our nervous system is being taught what to do in order to calm down. Also, the nervous system is being taught that it CAN calm down
Exercise and Mental Health: 3 Biological Benefits of Physical Activity
At some point or another, I am sure you have heard about the great benefits of exercise, especially for improving and maintaining mental health. Sometimes hearing something is beneficial isn’t enough of a reason to give it a shot, so here are 3 backed-by-research reasons why exercise improves our mental and emotional well-being.
Where Does Anxiety Come From?
When the brain perceives the body to be in danger, it sends out both physical signals and cognitive signals in an attempt to save you from whatever danger it believes you to be in. These signals can look like ‘what if…’ thoughts, rapid heart rate, sweating, shallow breathing, etc.. These signals are strong and uncomfortable…for a good reason. Your brain is doing everything in its power to get you away from the threat. If these signals were pleasant, we probably wouldn’t be as apt to get into action, right?
The Impact Of Gut Health On Mental Health
The human body is a complex machine; every organ and cell working and being impacted by all other organisms in the body. This is why the concepts of Holistic Wellness and Healing are so important – they take into consideration the entire body and how the inner workings of the body are interacting with one another.
Using the Vagus Nerve To Calm The Nervous System
Our brain is constantly observing our surroundings, making meaning and attempting to ensure our body’s safety. When our brain observes a possible threat, it immediately turns on the body’s threat response system (AKA Fight/Flight/Freeze). It doesn’t even matter if the threat is real, our brain would rather be safe than sorry.
The Secret to “Controlling” your Emotions
When we feel emotional pain and it feels like it will never end, it is not necessarily that first emotion that is causing us distress. It definitely could be, don't get me wrong. We humans certainly have the capacity to experience incredibly painful emotions, each of which are valid to experience no matter the circumstances. The aspect of this pain cycle that I want to focus on, though, is our secondary reaction.
Breathing Techniques For Stress Management
The good news is that there are so many different ways to regain control of your breathing, therefore increasing feeling calm and grounded. One of the options you have is to practice something called Belly Breathing. Basically this is simply a practice of sending your breath all the way down to your lower abdomen, rather than breathing solely into your chest.
5 Easy Ways to Practice Mindfulness
Mindfulness
Another popular term floating around these days that advertises incredible life change. But what is mindfulness and how can it really change your life? Let’s start with the basics.
Mindfulness is a state of being present and aware in the moment. With all of the chaos that life tends to bring, this idea of being still enough to even notice what’s around you may seem out of reach.