Life By Design Therapy

  Sometimes my body feels anxious before my mind does. A tight chest, a stomach that won’t settle, a racing heart out of nowhere. And I catch myself wondering, what if this could be anxiety? Anxiety doesn’t always start with spiraling thoughts. For many of us, it shows up in the body first, restlessness, tension, trouble sleeping, or a heaviness we can’t quite explain. That’s why “just calm down” rarely works. My mind might know I’m okay, but my body hasn’t caught up yet. It needs something different, grounding, breath, gentle movement, or touch to remind it that it’s safe. If your body feels on edge even when your mind seems calm, it might be anxiety showing up in its own way. And that’s not a flaw, it’s your nervous system asking for care. 🌿 💛 If this feels familiar, know you don’t have to figure it out alone. Therapy can give you the tools and support your body needs to find steadier rhythms. Contact us today to find out more info! https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/therapy-...

  I know what it’s like to live with anxiety; to feel your body tense up for no clear reason, to lie awake at night with your thoughts running in circles, or to carry that heavy sense of dread through your day. It takes me back to college during finals week. I can still remember the late nights with my roommates, trying to pull all-nighters, grabbing junk food and soda to push through, running on maybe four hours of sleep before doing it all over again. My body felt like it was in complete stress mode: exhausted, jittery, and constantly on edge. READ MORE https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/blog/is-this-anxiety-the-subtle-signs-you-might-be-missing

  Morning anxiety can feel like it takes over before your day even begins. Your heart’s racing, your thoughts are spinning, and your body feels like it’s already in survival mode. For many people, cortisol, the body’s stress hormone, peaks right after waking up. If you pair that with a nervous system already on alert, mornings can feel overwhelming before your day even begins. That’s why body-based practices can be so powerful in the morning. Instead of pushing through or trying to “calm down” with thoughts alone, you’re giving your nervous system what it actually needs: signals of safety and regulation. The practices in this post are designed to do just that: help your body recognize the present moment, interrupt the spiral, and create a calmer baseline to start your day. Save this post to try tomorrow morning 🌿 https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/

  Anxiety can feel different for everyone, but did you know there are clinical guidelines that help mental health professionals recognize when it’s more than everyday stress? According to the DSM-5, anxiety is marked by excessive worry that lasts most days for at least 6 months, is difficult to control, and shows up with symptoms like: 🌼 Restlessness or feeling on edge 🌼 Fatigue 🌼 Difficulty concentrating or a blank mind 🌼 Irritability 🌼 Muscle tension 🌼 Sleep disturbances Reading through these signs can be eye-opening, but it’s important to remember: this isn’t meant for self-diagnosis. Instead, it’s a way to notice patterns and give yourself permission to seek support if anxiety is taking up too much space in your life. At Life By Design Therapy™ , we specialize in somatic and holistic approaches to anxiety, helping you not only manage symptoms, but also understand and heal the root of what your body and nervous system are carrying. ✨ Do you recognize yourself in any of t...

  When anxiety hits in the moment, it can feel overwhelming, like your body has taken over before your mind even has a chance to catch up. That’s why I’ve found it helpful to have a few simple practices I can turn to right away. 🌿 Grounding brings me back into the present, reminding me that I don’t have to live in the past or the “what ifs” of the future. 🌿 Gentle movement , like stretching or walking, helps release the tension my body holds onto when I’m anxious. 🌿 Breathwork slows my heart rate and gives my brain a clear signal: “It’s safe to settle.” 🌿 Soothing touch , even something as simple as placing a hand over my heart, creates a sense of comfort and safety in my body. These aren’t about making anxiety disappear instantly, but about reminding your nervous system that you don’t have to stay stuck in high alert. One of the most powerful supports for me has been therapy, especially body-based therapy. At Life By Design Therapy™ , our therapists specialize in helping yo...

  Sometimes I notice anxiety in my body before I even realize what’s going on in my mind. My shoulders creep up toward my ears, my jaw gets tight, or I catch myself holding my breath. Have you ever felt that too? Anxiety has a way of settling into the body. Your nervous system is always scanning for cues of safety or danger, and when it thinks something’s off, it shifts you into survival mode, whether or not there’s a real threat. The tricky part? We often don’t notice it until tension has already built up. That’s why body-based ( somatic ) practices matter so much. They give us a way to check in and release what anxiety is holding onto. When I soften the space between my eyes or let my jaw unclench, I can feel my body sigh with relief. When I roll my shoulders down and away from my ears or place a hand on my chest to breathe deeply, it’s like sending my nervous system a reminder: “You’re okay right now.” Even small shifts, like tightening and then spreading your fingers, or pausin...

  Have you ever noticed your heart racing at random times, or your stomach tightening even when nothing is “wrong”? Or maybe your thoughts always seem one step ahead of you, rehearsing conversations, preparing for worst-case scenarios, or circling around a worry you just can’t shake. If so, you might wonder: Is this anxiety, or just stress? I want you to know that anxiety doesn’t wear just one face, and it doesn’t always show up as panic attacks or uncontrollable worry. Sometimes, it’s subtle, woven into your body, your thoughts, your emotions,  in ways that can leave you feeling both restless and worn out at the same time. Talk therapy can be a helpful way to slow things down. It gives you space to reflect, make sense of your experiences, and put words to the feelings that sometimes feel overwhelming. Talking things through can bring clarity and can quiet the mental noise when anxiety shows up. But anxiety doesn’t always start in your thoughts. More often than not, the very ...

  When my anxiety spikes, I used to think the only way through was pushing harder with my thoughts. But what I’ve learned is that anxiety isn’t just in the mind; it lives in the body too. And when I support my body, my whole system begins to settle. 🌻 Grounding helps me feel my feet on the floor and reminds me I’m here in the present and I can come out of the racing thoughts and mental loops. 🌻 Moving gently, like stretching, walking, or even unclenching my fists, lets tension release instead of building. 🌻 Breathing deeper slows down the rush inside, like I’m giving my nervous system a place to settle. 🌻 Spending time in nature always shifts something for me. It’s like my body remembers how to soften when I’m surrounded by calm. 🌻 Journaling helps untangle the loops in my head, putting them on paper so they don’t spin endlessly. 🌻 And when I keep some rhythm in my days, even something simple like morning tea or stepping outside at lunch, my nervous system feels steadie...

  If you’ve spent years fighting your body, this is for you. This isn’t about self-love. This is about survival. If the mirror feels unfamiliar… If compliments make you uncomfortable… If you’ve spent years hiding in plain sight — That’s not vanity. That’s your nervous system remembering how it stayed safe. Pulling back. Numbing out. Disappearing a little. You didn’t choose that. But you can choose something different. 🌿 At Life By Design Therapy ™, we help you reconnect with your body, not to perform, but to help you feel safe, steady, and present in who you are. Click the link in our bio to book a call with us today. https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/somatic-therapy

  Do you ever feel like everything is just “too much”… or you feel totally shut down?** That might be your nervous system speaking. And if you want to know how to reduce these moments in your life, we need to talk about your Window of Tolerance, and why it matters in healing. When you’re within your window, you feel present, calm, and clear-headed. You can think, respond, and stay connected to yourself and others. But when life gets overwhelming (especially after trauma or chronic stress), your body may swing outside that window into one of two states: 🔥 Hyperarousal — anxious, panicked, emotionally flooded 🧊 Hypoarousal — numb, shut down, disconnected, exhausted, frozen Neither of these means something is wrong with you. They’re protective states your body learned to use to survive. But they can make it hard to function. However, I want you to know that your window of tolerance can grow . With the right support, like somatic therapy , body-based practices, and safe relation...

  Therapy, from the comfort of home. ✨ Whether you’re navigating overwhelm, working through past wounds, or facing a big life transition, we are here to support you. Our online therapy sessions make support accessible, convenient, and safe, no matter where you are. 💻🕊️ Ready to take the next step toward healing? 👉 Book your free phone consultation today! https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/online-therapy

  If you’ve ever looked in the mirror and felt disconnected, or found yourself shrinking when someone really sees you…this is for you. Maybe it’s a weird feeling you can’t quite put into words. You catch your reflection and something just feels...off. You find yourself pulling back during conversations, bracing yourself when someone’s gaze lingers too long, or getting caught up in food, clothes, or movement without fully understanding why. It’s easy to assume these are just “confidence issues.” But they’re not surface-level, and they’re not about being dramatic or vain. More often than not, they come from something deeper like early experiences, long-held stress, or a nervous system that learned how to keep you safe by disconnecting. You didn’t ask to feel this way, and none of this means something’s wrong with you. But I want you to know that there is a way through it. And it doesn’t start with forcing yourself to feel confident. It starts with helping your body feel safe. To lear...

  If you’ve ever felt numb, checked out, or like you’re just going through the motions, this post is for you. Disconnection from your body can happen for so many reasons…stress, overwhelm, trauma, or just the weight of trying to hold it all together. And when it happens, it’s not your fault. It’s your nervous system doing what it’s learned to do to keep you safe. But you don’t have to stay disconnected. 🌿 These 3 simple tools are designed to gently bring you back to yourself, no pressure, no perfection, just presence. Somatic healing isn’t about forcing anything. It’s about learning how to feel safe again. ✨ Slide through for a few starting places when you feel far away from your body, and want to return. https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/

  Have you ever looked in the mirror and felt shame? Or maybe you’ve found yourself hiding behind baggy clothes? If so, this post is for you… Struggling with body image isn’t just about how you see your body, it’s about how your body feels to live in. And when your body has held pain, trauma, or criticism for a long time, reconnecting with it can feel overwhelming. That’s where somatic therapy can support you. It’s not about forcing body love or positive thinking. It’s about creating safety from the inside out. Here are a few body-based tools that can support your healing: 🌿 Gentle Reconnection Start small. Place a hand on your heart. Feel your feet on the ground. You don’t have to love your body, just begin noticing it without judgment. 🌿 Boundary Setting Sometimes healing means giving yourself a break from the mirror. Or muting that account. Or saying no to conversations that leave you feeling smaller. 🌿 Pendulation Go back and forth between something that feels hard and som...

  Today is #WorldSuicidePreventionDay, which means it's time to have a real conversation about the warning signs of suicide. Suicide is preventable, but the warning signs are not always obvious. This month offers us all the opportunity to better educate ourselves on how to recognize suicidal ideation. Someone who is thinking about suicide might: ⚠️ Talk about wanting to die or having no reason to live. This can also include vague statements like "I just want it all to end." ⚠️ Feeling hopeless, desperate, trapped, or like a burden. Someone might say things like "They will be better off without me" or "Nothing is ever going to change." ⚠️ Withdraw from others. People contemplating suicide often isolate themselves or lose interest in activities they once enjoyed. ⚠️ Give away their prized possessions or get their affairs in order. This can include revising a will at the last minute or giving you something they love because they "won't need it an...

  Depression doesn’t always look the way you think it will. Sometimes depression is quiet. It’s not crying all day…it’s going through the motions, feeling numb, or waking up exhausted no matter how much sleep you got. It’s smiling on the outside while quietly struggling inside. If this sounds familiar, I understand, and I know how heavy it is to carry day in and day out. But I want to remind you that you don’t have to carry it alone. 🌿 At Life By Design Therapy ™, we offer gentle, body-based therapy to help you reconnect with yourself and start healing at your own pace. 💬 Save this reel as a reminder. Or share it with someone who needs to know they’re not broken, they’re human. https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/youtube