Therapist Tip
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 pausing to notice and relax the weight of your larger muscle groups, can create a moment of regulation in the middle of a stressful day.
I don’t think of these practices as a way to “get rid of” anxiety. For me, they’re a way to come back into my body, little by little, so I don’t feel so stuck in my head.
✨ Which of these practices does your body seem to need most today?
Comments
Post a Comment