I suffer bi-polar disorder, with the down side being chronic anxiety, so extreme that I become fearful of the fear itself that I I wake up with. When it takes a hold I cannot control the cycle unless I am treated with medication and removed from the home enviroment, I am triggered not by my enviroment but a build up of stresses around family. As a sufferer of Early childhood developmental trauma I practice a great deal of somatic awareness (Reg Ray) focusing around self compassion and loving kindness. I also see a therapist who has trained under Peter Levines methods.
That is for me, I used to lived without fear, but now my belly hurt, I have anxiety grip my heart, and body, I am at the end of my baccalauréat, university, I lived on loan and bursary, 2 kids and now I have to chose to follow for a master degree or work…..I believe God gonna help throught that , I believe it will turs out ok, but I have a lot to pay…I am alone ….ok the worst I whatch your video but my competer did not have a sound…the phrases I can read on the screen was good,…
I face fear by thinking about the courage my young son showed when he faced the shooter that came into his first grade classroom and used his last moments on earth to save 9 of his classmates. I know we all have that courage we just have to be aware of it, and practice it!!
Thank you for the video I enjoyed it very much, it was very informative.
When I’m dealing with clients that have anxiety, most are unaware of what is causing the anxiety however, some may have identified the feelings of fear. I work with the client in first understanding the purpose of anxiety/ fear. Once they have the understanding of the purpose of the emotion, then the client is more willing to explore the root cause of their anxiety.
I accept what is and adapt as best as I can. I have supportive friends and family and they help me through difficult circumstances. When I need to, I get counseling so as not to over burden others. I don’t do drugs or alcohol to cope. I do self care. E.g., art, journaling, singing, dance etc. I admit and take responsibility for the good and challenging parts of me.
Thank you for this helpful video on mindfulness. Mindfulness can be a good tool among others for the healing of fear. In my work as a nutrition counsellor I often find fear or trauma as the root for autoimmune diseases like colitis, gastritis, Hashimoto-thyreoditis. Regular practice of mindfulness can build like a ground and a bridge for clients to connect to their body and develop self-compassion and step by step a fearless heart to the sensations and emotions experienced in their body. With PTSD or reactivated complex trauma, a simple body scan or breathing exercise can be way too much for a client. Building a safe connection and exercises to connect to resources like a spot in the body what feels well, can be necessary before connecting with an overwhelming experience of fear where neither another being nor the own body can be experienced in a reassuring way. I recommend trauma-sensitive initial interview before suggesting to locate strong fear in the body and breathe into it.
Thank you, Tara and Ruth, for giving us this opportunity to think about what I feel is the most important work in my life. What helps me face fear is a growing mindfulness off the cushion (the cushion is, of course, where the mindfulness started– as well as regular CBT and somatic trauma therapy), of how fear operates in my life out there in the world as I do my anger, depression, and mistrust dance (which is pretty much all the time).
I tell clients “your brain is working exactly the way it’s suppose to. It’s trying to protect you with these overwhelming feelings. So turn & face them, have appreciation for your brain doing a good job. And then let your brain know you’ve got this….it can stop being hypervigilant for a bit.” And then we explore calming techniques, combinations of techniques & self compassion & empathy. Looking forward to your 3-step process for addressing anxiety. Thank you.
Ever since I heard that Fear is the memory of pain it has helped me explain it to my students, specially when it comes to parent’s fear of them leaving. I am transitioning counselor from high school to college and empowering a student that’s suffering parental fear and because of that they find themselves in cage where they have to be good and obey against their most inner desire of becoming someone that’s not like their parents, I often loose the battles against a weeping mother that strongly believes her child will be lost forever if she looses sight of them. Huge challenge I have since I am here to empower and provide resources. I think I’m my case the chronic fear my students face is even an extension of their parents’ fear. How to deal with it indirectly?
Thinking through possible conaequences after writing down facts to get a balanced view. Being confident that the path I choose is the best in a situation regardless of the outcome.
Lovely intro to this topic by Tara Brach. Thanks for making this info available widely and freely. That is very generous.
With my clients (and myself) I use a breath exercise and a guided exercise on coming into sense experience.
Then we focus on unhelpful thoughts and thought patterns and challenge these.
The third useful approach is resourcing yourself-intentionally choosing to do things that make you feel good. These can range from simple hobbies to spiritual practices and visualisations.
I find these three usually ‘do the job’ in terms of overcoming anxiety and panic.
Thank you for your elegant and eloquent video. I’m building with the help of amazing survivors a Psychosocial program for a large Burn Center. Mindfulness will be an essential piece among the Alternative Therapies.
I would like to incorporate some of your material in our program.
I’m grateful for your contributions to the field of trauma.
María Rivell MD
My desire to experience what it’s like on the other side – needs, wants and desires. I do make an effort to override thy physical effects of fear which would otherwise be debilitating for me. In recent years I have also identified that where fear has consumed me I have gone into ‘avoidance’ Mode. That led me to experience a shrinking world of spontaneity, and inadequate. My mantra now is two fold I am worth it, and if you never go there, you will never know!
It helps me to cultivate awareness of the intergenerational context of my fears, and to understand the reality of trauma in my family history. This attitude helps me to feel compassion toward myself and others I encounter in my life. I try to begin again each day.
Thank you, I found this very helpful. I tried tapping a few months ago and find it better than mindfulness for me. I seem to speak out what is bothering me while tapping without planning to. I never fully understood mindfulness except to stop and think of only the present which I could not master. I have a tendency to ruminate after a bad experience and then turn it to a pain in my body such as my feet or etc. then I obsess about that area of my body and go through months of trying to find a physical reason to no avail. Then I realized it was psychological and now I accept that after doing this about 4 times in my life. I actually met dr. Sarno who wrote many books confirmed. Now I accept.
Wonderful resource. I already refer many clients to Tara’s podcasts, and they—like me—deeply appreciate how she brings forth this universal wisdom. Thank you. I will likely share some of this today with a client.
What helps you face fear? The question assumes I am not my fear and I am sometimes avoiding it and sometimes attending to it. Sometimes I use the RAIN method – thanks! Sometimes I use Focusing and say – hello – to it. Or whatever else I can think of.
Hi, thanks for the great video. I have Complex-PTSD and I’ve been working with a Trauma counsellor. I still experiencing fear, to some degree everyday but I’ve learned too that facing the fear really does help. At first it can seem overwhelming when you just sit with it but the longer I sit there and watch it wash over me in waves (thats what it feels like) it begins to get less. I don’t feel as overwhelmed by it. It’s challenging at first but my confidence has definitely grown in recognising it and then not letting it take hold. Just sit still, close your eyes and be mindful. Carol
I use trauma focussed strategies for many of my most affected clients and teach them to use an app to assist them with slow, regular, steady meditation or mindfulness practice if they can manage it. Many of them have little safety in their lives so their fear is real. The ones that do best prioritise their self care to the best of their ability and feel increased dignity and capacity as a result.
Facing fear – many of my clients deny it is there, rationalize reasons to justify belief that they have “already dealt with it” and”have moved on” and won’t/can’t go near even exploring physical sense of fear
Breathing and yoga help a bit. But does this mindful acceptance of fear also help those with PTSD, somatoform pain and/or dissociative identity disorder? It’s hard to be mindful when dissociated, for example, although accepting and breathing into the pain does help the somatoform pain – so I can see the parallels there with what you are suggesting…
Emotional support and talk therapy helps me. Most difficult part is breaking down to the core of the fear. What is it that I’m deeply afraid of? I’m still searching.
Thank you for this video. I currently have anxiety when thinking about the prospect of meeting up with certain friends. Facing them is sometimes quite a fearful idea. I’m trying not to avoid them as it’s not going to get better that way. Facing them is the way forward I know.
I am a Realtor and I founded a nonprofit for victims of domestic violence that include a child that was injured.
There are real worries to contend with and there is a huge monster of fear to deal with in the client’s PTSD condition. Separating real present fear from far-reaching potential fear is difficult. To be able to think clearly in my job as a Realtor and also help the DV victims efficiently I must be very mindful. I accomplish this with one hour of meditative prayer. I start with singing along with a beautiful worship song on youtube then read the bible, talk to God ABOUT EVERYTHING! Then close with a worship song.
I have been doing this for a long time and what has happened is that when I hear the worship songs it immediately puts me into a mindfulness calm. So if I am suddenly confronted with a tremendously stressful situation I just sing along with one of my worship songs.
Considering the situation, and realizing that FEAR is False Evidence That Appears Real, I am able to rationalize what level of respect is warranted. In the present, what is needed from me.
It’s not easy facing fear. For me this „going beyond fear“ needs a lot of intelligent and mindful skills from the therapist to be there in times of high felt danger to help the nervous system finding a good way out to calm down even in challenging settings. But I know, that it is possible and is so much relieving. And then new experience can arise and makes meeting each other meaningful. Thank you for this video!
Dear Ruth. Thank you for sharing this. I am a psychotherapist and use meditation, including mindfulness, for myself and with my clients. I think the more people are aware of mindfulness as a helpful and simple strategy to practice the better.
Thank you for allowing free access to this video. As a trainee counsellor in placement, this has been incredibly helpful advice. I have a specific client in mind who I think will benefit from this, and this video has helped give me to tools to explain fear. Warm regards Lisa
Use of affirmation
Working with “perception”
Courage!
Presence of mind
Having a self enquiry phrase like “is it a shadow or a tiger”
Working with somatic experience
Thank you, helpful as always.
This ties in closely with the spiritual act of the Welcome Practice – notice what is in the body, label the emotion and say ‘welcome fear/anxiety/resentment’ – accept it and allow it to be there. As you say, there is plenty of room! Then it will start to go, and just let it go.
I suffer bi-polar disorder, with the down side being chronic anxiety, so extreme that I become fearful of the fear itself that I I wake up with. When it takes a hold I cannot control the cycle unless I am treated with medication and removed from the home enviroment, I am triggered not by my enviroment but a build up of stresses around family. As a sufferer of Early childhood developmental trauma I practice a great deal of somatic awareness (Reg Ray) focusing around self compassion and loving kindness. I also see a therapist who has trained under Peter Levines methods.
Working on my body to get grounded in my physical Being. Expressing my fear. Sharing with someone I trust. Breathing deeply.
That is for me, I used to lived without fear, but now my belly hurt, I have anxiety grip my heart, and body, I am at the end of my baccalauréat, university, I lived on loan and bursary, 2 kids and now I have to chose to follow for a master degree or work…..I believe God gonna help throught that , I believe it will turs out ok, but I have a lot to pay…I am alone ….ok the worst I whatch your video but my competer did not have a sound…the phrases I can read on the screen was good,…
This was very good in content as well as easy to listen to your lovely voice!
I face fear by thinking about the courage my young son showed when he faced the shooter that came into his first grade classroom and used his last moments on earth to save 9 of his classmates. I know we all have that courage we just have to be aware of it, and practice it!!
Thank you for the video I enjoyed it very much, it was very informative.
When I’m dealing with clients that have anxiety, most are unaware of what is causing the anxiety however, some may have identified the feelings of fear. I work with the client in first understanding the purpose of anxiety/ fear. Once they have the understanding of the purpose of the emotion, then the client is more willing to explore the root cause of their anxiety.
I am looking forward to your next videos.
This makes complete sense because when we avoid our fear, we give it more power to control us.
I accept what is and adapt as best as I can. I have supportive friends and family and they help me through difficult circumstances. When I need to, I get counseling so as not to over burden others. I don’t do drugs or alcohol to cope. I do self care. E.g., art, journaling, singing, dance etc. I admit and take responsibility for the good and challenging parts of me.
Staying in touch with positive reminders by reading or participating.
Thank you for this helpful video on mindfulness. Mindfulness can be a good tool among others for the healing of fear. In my work as a nutrition counsellor I often find fear or trauma as the root for autoimmune diseases like colitis, gastritis, Hashimoto-thyreoditis. Regular practice of mindfulness can build like a ground and a bridge for clients to connect to their body and develop self-compassion and step by step a fearless heart to the sensations and emotions experienced in their body. With PTSD or reactivated complex trauma, a simple body scan or breathing exercise can be way too much for a client. Building a safe connection and exercises to connect to resources like a spot in the body what feels well, can be necessary before connecting with an overwhelming experience of fear where neither another being nor the own body can be experienced in a reassuring way. I recommend trauma-sensitive initial interview before suggesting to locate strong fear in the body and breathe into it.
Thank you, Tara and Ruth, for giving us this opportunity to think about what I feel is the most important work in my life. What helps me face fear is a growing mindfulness off the cushion (the cushion is, of course, where the mindfulness started– as well as regular CBT and somatic trauma therapy), of how fear operates in my life out there in the world as I do my anger, depression, and mistrust dance (which is pretty much all the time).
Acknowledging higher power. Reading scripture. Time in nature…walk in park or sitting quietly in area.
I tell clients “your brain is working exactly the way it’s suppose to. It’s trying to protect you with these overwhelming feelings. So turn & face them, have appreciation for your brain doing a good job. And then let your brain know you’ve got this….it can stop being hypervigilant for a bit.” And then we explore calming techniques, combinations of techniques & self compassion & empathy. Looking forward to your 3-step process for addressing anxiety. Thank you.
Ever since I heard that Fear is the memory of pain it has helped me explain it to my students, specially when it comes to parent’s fear of them leaving. I am transitioning counselor from high school to college and empowering a student that’s suffering parental fear and because of that they find themselves in cage where they have to be good and obey against their most inner desire of becoming someone that’s not like their parents, I often loose the battles against a weeping mother that strongly believes her child will be lost forever if she looses sight of them. Huge challenge I have since I am here to empower and provide resources. I think I’m my case the chronic fear my students face is even an extension of their parents’ fear. How to deal with it indirectly?
Thinking through possible conaequences after writing down facts to get a balanced view. Being confident that the path I choose is the best in a situation regardless of the outcome.
Being confident that the path I choose is the best in a situation regardless of the outcome.
Lovely intro to this topic by Tara Brach. Thanks for making this info available widely and freely. That is very generous.
With my clients (and myself) I use a breath exercise and a guided exercise on coming into sense experience.
Then we focus on unhelpful thoughts and thought patterns and challenge these.
The third useful approach is resourcing yourself-intentionally choosing to do things that make you feel good. These can range from simple hobbies to spiritual practices and visualisations.
I find these three usually ‘do the job’ in terms of overcoming anxiety and panic.
Hope that’s useful,
Geraldine (Dublin)
Thank you for your elegant and eloquent video. I’m building with the help of amazing survivors a Psychosocial program for a large Burn Center. Mindfulness will be an essential piece among the Alternative Therapies.
I would like to incorporate some of your material in our program.
I’m grateful for your contributions to the field of trauma.
María Rivell MD
A very valuable 8 minutes watching this. Thank you. Look forward to more.
My desire to experience what it’s like on the other side – needs, wants and desires. I do make an effort to override thy physical effects of fear which would otherwise be debilitating for me. In recent years I have also identified that where fear has consumed me I have gone into ‘avoidance’ Mode. That led me to experience a shrinking world of spontaneity, and inadequate. My mantra now is two fold I am worth it, and if you never go there, you will never know!
great presentation. Being present and mindful, brings us closer to acceptance of all the ocean of life offers. thank you.
It helps me to cultivate awareness of the intergenerational context of my fears, and to understand the reality of trauma in my family history. This attitude helps me to feel compassion toward myself and others I encounter in my life. I try to begin again each day.
Thank you, I found this very helpful. I tried tapping a few months ago and find it better than mindfulness for me. I seem to speak out what is bothering me while tapping without planning to. I never fully understood mindfulness except to stop and think of only the present which I could not master. I have a tendency to ruminate after a bad experience and then turn it to a pain in my body such as my feet or etc. then I obsess about that area of my body and go through months of trying to find a physical reason to no avail. Then I realized it was psychological and now I accept that after doing this about 4 times in my life. I actually met dr. Sarno who wrote many books confirmed. Now I accept.
Wonderful resource. I already refer many clients to Tara’s podcasts, and they—like me—deeply appreciate how she brings forth this universal wisdom. Thank you. I will likely share some of this today with a client.
What helps you face fear? The question assumes I am not my fear and I am sometimes avoiding it and sometimes attending to it. Sometimes I use the RAIN method – thanks! Sometimes I use Focusing and say – hello – to it. Or whatever else I can think of.
Hi, thanks for the great video. I have Complex-PTSD and I’ve been working with a Trauma counsellor. I still experiencing fear, to some degree everyday but I’ve learned too that facing the fear really does help. At first it can seem overwhelming when you just sit with it but the longer I sit there and watch it wash over me in waves (thats what it feels like) it begins to get less. I don’t feel as overwhelmed by it. It’s challenging at first but my confidence has definitely grown in recognising it and then not letting it take hold. Just sit still, close your eyes and be mindful. Carol
I use trauma focussed strategies for many of my most affected clients and teach them to use an app to assist them with slow, regular, steady meditation or mindfulness practice if they can manage it. Many of them have little safety in their lives so their fear is real. The ones that do best prioritise their self care to the best of their ability and feel increased dignity and capacity as a result.
although feeling fear, when you step through it, it is not nearly as bad, and you can think how to handle it.
Facing fear – many of my clients deny it is there, rationalize reasons to justify belief that they have “already dealt with it” and”have moved on” and won’t/can’t go near even exploring physical sense of fear
Yes! Sweet Jesus, worlds apart have found common ground. Thank you ?
Merci beaucoup pour votre grande generosity de partager ainsi votre savoir et votre expérience clinique.
Breathing and yoga help a bit. But does this mindful acceptance of fear also help those with PTSD, somatoform pain and/or dissociative identity disorder? It’s hard to be mindful when dissociated, for example, although accepting and breathing into the pain does help the somatoform pain – so I can see the parallels there with what you are suggesting…
Emotional support and talk therapy helps me. Most difficult part is breaking down to the core of the fear. What is it that I’m deeply afraid of? I’m still searching.
Thank you for this video. I currently have anxiety when thinking about the prospect of meeting up with certain friends. Facing them is sometimes quite a fearful idea. I’m trying not to avoid them as it’s not going to get better that way. Facing them is the way forward I know.
I am a Realtor and I founded a nonprofit for victims of domestic violence that include a child that was injured.
There are real worries to contend with and there is a huge monster of fear to deal with in the client’s PTSD condition. Separating real present fear from far-reaching potential fear is difficult. To be able to think clearly in my job as a Realtor and also help the DV victims efficiently I must be very mindful. I accomplish this with one hour of meditative prayer. I start with singing along with a beautiful worship song on youtube then read the bible, talk to God ABOUT EVERYTHING! Then close with a worship song.
I have been doing this for a long time and what has happened is that when I hear the worship songs it immediately puts me into a mindfulness calm. So if I am suddenly confronted with a tremendously stressful situation I just sing along with one of my worship songs.
Trying to stay in present moment!Mindfulness is key!
Considering the situation, and realizing that FEAR is False Evidence That Appears Real, I am able to rationalize what level of respect is warranted. In the present, what is needed from me.
•EFT/tapping
•Preparedness (I gain confidence through competence)
•Mindful intentional breathing
•Walking or physical activity
It’s not easy facing fear. For me this „going beyond fear“ needs a lot of intelligent and mindful skills from the therapist to be there in times of high felt danger to help the nervous system finding a good way out to calm down even in challenging settings. But I know, that it is possible and is so much relieving. And then new experience can arise and makes meeting each other meaningful. Thank you for this video!
Dear Ruth. Thank you for sharing this. I am a psychotherapist and use meditation, including mindfulness, for myself and with my clients. I think the more people are aware of mindfulness as a helpful and simple strategy to practice the better.
Thank you for allowing free access to this video. As a trainee counsellor in placement, this has been incredibly helpful advice. I have a specific client in mind who I think will benefit from this, and this video has helped give me to tools to explain fear. Warm regards Lisa
Thank You for your generosity.
The Shadow is never far away
As Carl Jung once said, “When the diagnosis is correct, the healing begins. ?
Use of affirmation
Working with “perception”
Courage!
Presence of mind
Having a self enquiry phrase like “is it a shadow or a tiger”
Working with somatic experience
Excellent. I face fear with mindfulness. I breathe!! Thankyou Tara
This video helps! Sticking with mindfulness/meditation practice helps (I need to get back to it!)
Thank you, helpful as always.
This ties in closely with the spiritual act of the Welcome Practice – notice what is in the body, label the emotion and say ‘welcome fear/anxiety/resentment’ – accept it and allow it to be there. As you say, there is plenty of room! Then it will start to go, and just let it go.
support
Thank you for this generous share. Really resonates with and strengthens my belief in using mindfulness with clients more and more.
first aid somatic experience
Alcohol