521: What Your Anxiety is Trying to Tell You


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Episode Summary

Anxiety can feel overwhelming, but when we understand what is really underneath it, we can begin to take our power back.

In this episode, I’m talking about how to end anxiety and become empowered. In The Adult Chair®, I define anxiety as the physical manifestation of unfelt emotions. Anxiety often shows up in the body through symptoms like shortness of breath, tightness in the throat, knots in the stomach, racing thoughts, or a rattled nervous system. But underneath those physical symptoms, there are usually emotions that need our attention.

When we are anxious, the ego often tells us to do more, fix more, think more, or keep pushing. But that only keeps us on the treadmill. The way out is to slow down, turn inward, and begin noticing what is happening emotionally and physically inside of us.

I walk you through two simple steps and five tools to help calm anxiety and bring you back into your Adult Chair®. These tools include mindfulness, deep belly breathing, time in nature, meditation, and journaling. Each one helps regulate the nervous system, move emotions through the body, and reconnect you with your power.

Key Takeaways

  • In The Adult Chair®, anxiety is defined as the physical manifestation of unfelt emotions

  • Anxiety often shows up through physical symptoms in the body

  • Thoughts can direct us into the past or future, which can create emotions that rattle the nervous system

  • Becoming aware of what anxiety really is helps us step back into our power

  • Feeling emotions is one of the most important steps in calming anxiety

  • The ego often tells us to do more, but the real healing begins when we slow down

  • Mindfulness helps bring us into the present moment and back into the Adult Chair

  • Slow belly breathing helps regulate the nervous system and activate the parasympathetic nervous system

  • Nature can help calm the body, mind, and energy field

  • Meditation teaches us to observe thoughts without reacting to them

  • Journaling helps move stuck thoughts and emotions out of the body and onto paper

  • Taking action is what helps us feel empowered

Unfelt Emotions

The true self is the authentic essence of who you are beneath the layers of protection, conditioning, fear, and adaptation. In The Adult Chair, the true self is the pure, unwounded part of us that existed before we began changing ourselves to gain love, approval, safety, or belonging.

Related Episodes

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110: Stopping Stress, Anxiety & Overwhelm from The Adult Chair
122: How to Stop Imploding, Stress, Anxiety and Ruminating Thoughts
507: Sadness, Anger, Fear: What Do We Do With Our Emotions?

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520: 5 Ways to Stop People-Pleasing and Be Your Authentic Self