I had a situation some years back that left me with a kind of PTSD. Very often I feel the need to withdraw just to get some peace and quiet. I work in the public and more than not I feel totally burned out, I just want some peace and quiet from the noise and chaos of my over sensitive self and the insane chaotic world view smeared into our faces daily. Recently I found a thing that seems to work alright, it’s a neurokinesis technique that helps relieve the negative/fearful looping pathways and I don’t feel so anxious and stressed out. Maybe I’m just tired of life always with the never-ending “have to’s”,,, where’s serenity? In the mean time I keep working on my triggers and take the time for peace and quiet when I need it. good video, thanks.
What helps my clients face fear is often recognizing the worst-case scenario for a given fear and accepting that, even in that worst-case scenario, they will come out of it OK. We discuss that they may never be completely, 100% comfortable with that potential, worst-case outcome, but it doesn’t have to drive their lives or their enjoyment of life. Also, the feeling after facing it is so sustaining and invigorating that they can feel confident in facing future fears.
I think it has to do with PART for me and my clients; I mean being present for what ever happens in my life, attuned to my emotions, resonating with them and trusting that I’ll survive. With my clients I do exactly the same, so there it is, that kind of dance as a result of an integrated relation.
1. Acknowledge “Interesting! I feel my body getting ready to (fight, flee, freeze)… 2. Assess “What is the danger? a. physical threat? b. emotional threat?”
3. Admit and reframe “I accept my habit to (shut down, flare up, distract) and know it’s ok… and I know that it is teaching me to…(lean in, walk through, fully connect with the process)…
I am concerned that this generally valuable mindfulness approach may not be so helpful to people who’s source of fear stems from traumatic experiences.
That surely will necessitate more nuanced treatment options.
The biggest eye-opener for clients is, that negative thinking and feelings are normal and that they are an important part of our survival. This liberated them from feeling bad about themselves or believing that they are somehow defective, which had crippled them in the past. And it motivates them more to work on to transform the relationship they have to their painful thoughts and feeling and learn to base their actions on what matters to them.
It was the same thing for me. I have taken many mindset seminars, claiming that control of the mind and control of “negative” emotions is possible. It never worked for me. And on top of not working it reinforced feeling bad about myself, because I was not able to control my mind to think positive. So this knowledge was liberating for me, and I experience this also with my coaching clients.
I appreciate all your help.
I will use your organization to help serve Clients.
My suggestion is: your voice is well modulated and your points clear and concise, so please know that it is good enough without the music in the background. Fine to have music intro and end of presentation.
I find your information very useful. 8 years ago I almost died from a surgery for diverticulosis that left me with 3 internal abcesses. The pain was intense, but even worse was the surgeons denial that the surgery left me with a hole in my colon which another doctor confirmed. I switched surgeons
It took 3 more reconstructive surgeries to correct the damage from the fistula over the course of 1.5 years!
The recovery was long and painful. To this day I suffer from pain from adhesions made worse by fear and mistrust of doctors.
Everytime I get belly pain from gas, my deep rooted fear puts me right back to the edge of life or death. This in turn gives me more gas and belly pain.
I have been scoped, MRI’d and CAT scanned. My physical wounds have healed but what remains is fear of relapse and extreme anxiety of dying, the root of all fear and anxiety.
I practice mindfulness and push myself to resume daily activities even if it requires stops to a restroom.
I will now practice your suggestion to allow the pain and work through the chronic anxiety.
I have a wonderful new doctor of Internal Medicine who is a spiritual person. She prayed over me to release the hatred I had for the surgeon and to forgive him. This was very therapeutic.
I look forward to your next little course on anxiety. Thank you. Marya Taylor
I
Thanks, My typical response to fear is the freeze or flight responses. Getting into fight seems to help. It reassures me that I can actually do something for myself. I also use Richard Miller’s iRest techniques to deal with fear. I alternate between feelings of fear and feeling safe and secure. It helps me break my fixation with fear and settle more deeply into the awareness that I am. He also proposes connecting with the felt sense of emotions, welcoming their message and asking them “What do you want? What do you need? What can I do for you in life? It helps.
I face my fears by frequently reminding myself I’ve already faced many before and come through many scary experiences stronger and wiser… I remind myself I can do it again…this too shall pass…
This was a helpful refresher for me. I find the first thing I and my clients need to do is slow down and simply focus on slow deep breaths. Then as Tara suggests I would get them to identify where in their body is the most intense sensation they are naming as fear. As she does, I would encourage them to breathe into it and see how it goes. Sometimes this can get a bit overwhelming so I may direct them to refocus their attention elsewhere in the here and now, say for instance to look around the room and name various objects they see. Then I might get them to listen to any sounds in the background. This helps ground them and reduce the overwhelmingness. I may ask them to then see if there is anywhere in their body that they can identifying as having strength, (ie. could be their hands, arms or legs) and allow their attention to rest there for a while. Eventually we could return to the original area where they experienced fear and see what’s happening now.
Body awareness is fundamental to release. I feel there are varying levels of ‘shut down’ inhibiting awareness of what is stored where. Being in nature or with animals allows ( for myself anyway) to be still long enough to ‘listen’. CTM ( Chinese Traditional Medicine) acknowledges emotions stored in different parts of the body which-if not addressed or an over abundance of stimulation ie: fear, anxiety occur, such things will manifest somatically. Explains a lot and certainly enhances the idea of acknowledging physical sensations and releasing- as I understand it.
I enjoy these short info pods. Keep it up.
First is giving room for the fear. Making space for it. Often with fear I or my clients have a tendency to collapse and create a small box around the fear. In so doing fear takes up most of the space. By creating a bigger box the fear has less influence and takes up less space. So breathing and creating space in the lings and diaphragm ; exercize; or some activity that I feel comfortable with; and then talking with someone about the fear and giving it space by letting it out and often reframing the fear into an opportunity to speak about what I would suggest to someone else with a similar fear; and/or creating new feelings alongside the fear by choosing to do something I enjoy or that is new for me and enriching my feeling “bank”
I’m a phsycotherapist and also suffer from anxiety. I’ve been searching for several ways to feel stable, there are good moments even years and there are horrible days, even months of constant fear with a lot of symptoms. I created a method that includes techniques and excersises, actually it helps. But, sometimes not to me. Today helps me to observe and let myself cry, do a little of EfT and try to be compassive. Thanks for leting me know Im not alone. Very Very useful class.
Hugs. Being in Nature. Time-outs. Taking deep breaths. Talking things over with someone with whom I feel safe. Nurturing others (people, cats, other creatures, plants even) Inspirational reading or talks. Your RAIN process.
For myself, I first have to acknowledge the fear. For many of my clients, this is a problem. They do not want to appear “weak”, so oftentimes they deny it’s fear that is driving them.
I am a Christian, and the scripture that declares that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. Facing fear in my life has ment standing up inside and choosing power over fear, through Christ, love and a sound mind. Not running, or fighting, or my favorite, withdrawal, I stand up for myself, verbally or emotionally. There is also a scripture that has helped, Whatsoever things are true, pure and of good report, think on those things. Fear is rarely about something true or good, stopping the fearful thought or reaction is sometimes a constant battle, but there is the reward of peace to think on truth only. Thanks, the talk was very helpful, I am a retired social worker and I agree the fear is the root of so many emotions.
“When fear rules, we become judgemental and hypervigilant . . .” A light came on when I heard that statement, that’s why I become so much more judgemental about little things when there is already conflict in my relationship about bigger things. This realization will help me recognize when I am feeling fear, and hopefully by offering myself kindness and compassion I can choose a different response that won’t serve to further widen the gap between us.
Thank you for this.
I can face fear because I know that it is not a never ending experience and I have found that as I walk through fear I always get to the other side. In the past I saw fear as an insurmountable wall I had to get over, or as a never ending experience, with constant suffering, which I might never get through.. but now I see it as just another emotion waiting to be experienced, acknowledged and accepted and walked through that definitely does have a beginning and and end if I just keep walking through it..
Wonderful presentation. I think my introduction to mindfulness training has been central to recognizing how fear ( in its many forms) operates subconsciously in myself and patients and as Tara states, remains in control. Being able to stay with the sensations that emotions elicit, for longer and longer periods of time, identifying where their energies move within the body is key to being able to move forward into letting go of their control. Self compassion, self soothing and nurturing are follow ons to this process.
I find that acknowledgment of my fear to a trusted friend or coach helps. They remind me to breathe, relax my body’s areas of tightness, and let go of some of my fear response.
Hi. My name’s Jeanette, Life Coach, MDiv. I help moms who lose their temper. The very first step my clients take in overcoming fear is trusting me because they feel ashamed of losing their temper. I think fear is also related to our sense of authority – our own authority and the authority of others. And one very helpful step is to re-frame how we see our parents. If we can come to see them as normal people who did the best they could, it can help us to overcome fear and issues around authority. It allows us to give up the useless power struggles we’re engaged in and helps us to feel empowered instead of like a victim. I tell my clients that they’ve done the best they could (and so did their parents). It works in tandem – they learn how to have compassion for themselves and their parents at the same time.
IFS parts work! Befriending the parts that are afraid and then step by step healing them. IFS moves clients from coping to healing and truly resolving the source of the fear, which is most often rooted in the past. Mindfulness is a key part of the process. But there is no need to stop there! Self healing is available with skilfull prompting from the therapist.
Hi
For myself, it is definitively chosen acceptance with no judgement.
I started this when years ago I developped a rare condition.
It has been a massive shift for me and I reached peace. A weight lifted from my shoulders. I have to remind myself from time to time that I can offer this to myself and what a relief …
For the persons who come to work with me in therapy, it will be different from each of them; though acknowledgement with no negative judgement is often a strong key. Checking the bodily responses and sensations; workkng in letting them change, move. Moving their body so they don’t stay ‘stuck’; conscious breathing can be useful; smiling & raising arms, rephrasing, revisiting a first strong fear can be intetesting, EMDR can be used etc etc etc , it so depends on one’s situation, where they are on their therapeutic path, whhow they feel when they are in my therapy room.
Pia.
I am looking forward to the next video! A quick body scan works well for me, and the most useful for me is Divided Breathing. It forces me to focus on my breath more than just regular breathing, and helps to stop my mind from spinning. Pinpointing where it is in my body also helps, as then I can focus on relaxing that part of my body. I am learning, as she said in the video, to also ask what I need in those moments but it depends on the level of fear/anxiety that I am at. If it is lower, I can go there and it helps. If it is higher, all rational thought goes out the window, so that doesn’t work!
I have practised somatic awareness for a long time now. As a sufferer of early childhood developmental trauma my fear and anxiety comes on so strong from habitual patterning as a child it hijacks me. I feel my ego, that was entrenched so concretely as a child is fighting a war with my new found awareness of it. My days are very mindful and I have managed to turn my behaviour completly around. No longer do I feel anger, spitefullness, envy etc yet its like my cell memory, my ego rears its ugly head periodically it comes to the surface with bayonet drawn. “How dare you ignore me! I then get thrown into a chronic anxiety cycle which I cannot control. It is unwarranted externally, it is something subconsious that hijacks me. Without help I get very sick, exhausted, unmotivated, adrenilen and cortisol surging until I beat it. It is frighting for me as I am aware that I have no reason to be fearful but it sits down in my soma just waiting for its next battle on the front line which can surface, usually when through my practices,working with the heart and throat, communication. I wish more CBT and therapists dealing with PTSD were accessable in Australia. Mine has admitted this prisoner doesn,t want to budge but I will keep strong and resilient . One day its going to find it may as well just resolve.
A few years ago, I decided to learn to swim as an adult. I had to face my fear of swimming. After successfully completing the course, I went on vacation. There was a lake near the resort and I wanted to swim to the other side. Fear came back. I totally focused on each stroke at a time. I noticed every breath I was taking and also observed the fear transforming into the fuel I needed to swim. This was a pivotal moment in my emotional development: I realized that fear is not energy to be shut down but it is a life affirming force allowing the best of me to emerge. Thanks for your inspiring video.
I fear flying and am taking a long trip next week. I find tapping helpful for this visualising those who care for me and a safe place where I can go in my mind. I use mindfulness techniques to help clients and myself to become curious about fear and what it feels like in the body / that it can just become a cluster of sensations that we call ‘fear’
The concepts were familiar to me, but the language was new. I will use the image of the tree with fear and avoidance at the root with me clients. Thank you.
knowing where fear is in my body, what it feels like, learning to regulate and understand flight, fight and freeze.. bringing compassionate awareness and to the places that feel the fear offering a new way into it. using my breath, and taking many pauses in between, knowing that it is in the here and now. learning to hold both places within, and honoring the times when fear takes over and moving through it. No part left out.
Slowing down, making intentional choices, and reminding myself that my current fearful state is not new. I have been here before. When given the space and time, I know I make smart and compassionate choices that enrich my life. This may sound easy, but some days, it take a tremendous amount of energy. Therefore, I honor the work of of mindfulness by celebrating myself every time I succeed at choosing over reacting. I celebrate by telling myself that this is the life I have always wanted.
The first step for me was to become aware that I was actually experiencing fear, feeling emotionally threatened and saw myself rolling into Fight, Flight or Freeze without being able to stop. Then, I developed understanding by learning about possible reasons for first feeling fear in childhood. Feeling gratitude to know some roots of my habituated fear experiences has also been helpful.
Your point about allowing room for the presence of fear supported by mindful breathing & thinking/questioning makes sense to me. Thanks for your free video!
Making a habit of recognizing “small fears” and taking action helps me to face the bigger ones. I was afraid of going down a water slide in an amusement park that spit me out over a swimming pool. I did it and survived. It was exciting, so I did it again and again. I learned to anticipate the possibilities of a good outcome.
Doing something that brings me joy, that engages a different part of myself: Getting into a natural world of trees, rocks, seashore; dancing; being with a good friend; feeling my breath. It’s base of support and a chance to reset.
This was excellent and I could identify myself as well as for my clients. My fear slips into anger altho I am really not angry but feel more out of control. Many clients withdraw from fear or deny it completely and struggle all together being vulnerable to it at all. I see a client who has PTSD and was in the special forces of the Navy. He was very upset to find out that he has the “D” in PTSD. He did not want a “disorder.” He is excessively hyper vigilant and struggles, as you said so well, with intimacy. This was super helpful as now I have another way to help him see the reasons that intimacy is something that he has then gets rid of and denies that he even wants it. Very helpful. Any comments from you are definitely needed. Thanks
This will help me to remember not to fear the process and although it’s hard work facing the hurt and pain, it is the only way to eventually break free. A friend is just trying to go to the doctors for help I encouraged them to watch it as they are frightened to go and face the problems 🙂
Concentrating on the goodness of my motives , the rewards expected and the inevitable shortness of life
I had a situation some years back that left me with a kind of PTSD. Very often I feel the need to withdraw just to get some peace and quiet. I work in the public and more than not I feel totally burned out, I just want some peace and quiet from the noise and chaos of my over sensitive self and the insane chaotic world view smeared into our faces daily. Recently I found a thing that seems to work alright, it’s a neurokinesis technique that helps relieve the negative/fearful looping pathways and I don’t feel so anxious and stressed out. Maybe I’m just tired of life always with the never-ending “have to’s”,,, where’s serenity? In the mean time I keep working on my triggers and take the time for peace and quiet when I need it. good video, thanks.
Gaining perspective, self-talk.
What helps my clients face fear is often recognizing the worst-case scenario for a given fear and accepting that, even in that worst-case scenario, they will come out of it OK. We discuss that they may never be completely, 100% comfortable with that potential, worst-case outcome, but it doesn’t have to drive their lives or their enjoyment of life. Also, the feeling after facing it is so sustaining and invigorating that they can feel confident in facing future fears.
Positive message of Hope for overcoming unjustified fear.
I think it has to do with PART for me and my clients; I mean being present for what ever happens in my life, attuned to my emotions, resonating with them and trusting that I’ll survive. With my clients I do exactly the same, so there it is, that kind of dance as a result of an integrated relation.
Loving support.
1. Acknowledge “Interesting! I feel my body getting ready to (fight, flee, freeze)… 2. Assess “What is the danger? a. physical threat? b. emotional threat?”
3. Admit and reframe “I accept my habit to (shut down, flare up, distract) and know it’s ok… and I know that it is teaching me to…(lean in, walk through, fully connect with the process)…
I am concerned that this generally valuable mindfulness approach may not be so helpful to people who’s source of fear stems from traumatic experiences.
That surely will necessitate more nuanced treatment options.
The biggest eye-opener for clients is, that negative thinking and feelings are normal and that they are an important part of our survival. This liberated them from feeling bad about themselves or believing that they are somehow defective, which had crippled them in the past. And it motivates them more to work on to transform the relationship they have to their painful thoughts and feeling and learn to base their actions on what matters to them.
It was the same thing for me. I have taken many mindset seminars, claiming that control of the mind and control of “negative” emotions is possible. It never worked for me. And on top of not working it reinforced feeling bad about myself, because I was not able to control my mind to think positive. So this knowledge was liberating for me, and I experience this also with my coaching clients.
I appreciate all your help.
I will use your organization to help serve Clients.
My suggestion is: your voice is well modulated and your points clear and concise, so please know that it is good enough without the music in the background. Fine to have music intro and end of presentation.
I find your information very useful. 8 years ago I almost died from a surgery for diverticulosis that left me with 3 internal abcesses. The pain was intense, but even worse was the surgeons denial that the surgery left me with a hole in my colon which another doctor confirmed. I switched surgeons
It took 3 more reconstructive surgeries to correct the damage from the fistula over the course of 1.5 years!
The recovery was long and painful. To this day I suffer from pain from adhesions made worse by fear and mistrust of doctors.
Everytime I get belly pain from gas, my deep rooted fear puts me right back to the edge of life or death. This in turn gives me more gas and belly pain.
I have been scoped, MRI’d and CAT scanned. My physical wounds have healed but what remains is fear of relapse and extreme anxiety of dying, the root of all fear and anxiety.
I practice mindfulness and push myself to resume daily activities even if it requires stops to a restroom.
I will now practice your suggestion to allow the pain and work through the chronic anxiety.
I have a wonderful new doctor of Internal Medicine who is a spiritual person. She prayed over me to release the hatred I had for the surgeon and to forgive him. This was very therapeutic.
I look forward to your next little course on anxiety. Thank you. Marya Taylor
I
Thanks, My typical response to fear is the freeze or flight responses. Getting into fight seems to help. It reassures me that I can actually do something for myself. I also use Richard Miller’s iRest techniques to deal with fear. I alternate between feelings of fear and feeling safe and secure. It helps me break my fixation with fear and settle more deeply into the awareness that I am. He also proposes connecting with the felt sense of emotions, welcoming their message and asking them “What do you want? What do you need? What can I do for you in life? It helps.
I face my fears by frequently reminding myself I’ve already faced many before and come through many scary experiences stronger and wiser… I remind myself I can do it again…this too shall pass…
Loved the velcro, teflon analogy. Making room for the fear, disarming it by noting it.
This was a helpful refresher for me. I find the first thing I and my clients need to do is slow down and simply focus on slow deep breaths. Then as Tara suggests I would get them to identify where in their body is the most intense sensation they are naming as fear. As she does, I would encourage them to breathe into it and see how it goes. Sometimes this can get a bit overwhelming so I may direct them to refocus their attention elsewhere in the here and now, say for instance to look around the room and name various objects they see. Then I might get them to listen to any sounds in the background. This helps ground them and reduce the overwhelmingness. I may ask them to then see if there is anywhere in their body that they can identifying as having strength, (ie. could be their hands, arms or legs) and allow their attention to rest there for a while. Eventually we could return to the original area where they experienced fear and see what’s happening now.
…communicating through it with others 🙂
Body awareness is fundamental to release. I feel there are varying levels of ‘shut down’ inhibiting awareness of what is stored where. Being in nature or with animals allows ( for myself anyway) to be still long enough to ‘listen’. CTM ( Chinese Traditional Medicine) acknowledges emotions stored in different parts of the body which-if not addressed or an over abundance of stimulation ie: fear, anxiety occur, such things will manifest somatically. Explains a lot and certainly enhances the idea of acknowledging physical sensations and releasing- as I understand it.
I enjoy these short info pods. Keep it up.
Once I can help them see that they are not alone with the fear, they can open up to it. A sense of non-judgement assists this.
The breath, movement
I think it helps to see fear as an enemy – that needs to be recognised, understood and, hopefully … overcome … if we are to win the War.
First is giving room for the fear. Making space for it. Often with fear I or my clients have a tendency to collapse and create a small box around the fear. In so doing fear takes up most of the space. By creating a bigger box the fear has less influence and takes up less space. So breathing and creating space in the lings and diaphragm ; exercize; or some activity that I feel comfortable with; and then talking with someone about the fear and giving it space by letting it out and often reframing the fear into an opportunity to speak about what I would suggest to someone else with a similar fear; and/or creating new feelings alongside the fear by choosing to do something I enjoy or that is new for me and enriching my feeling “bank”
I’m a phsycotherapist and also suffer from anxiety. I’ve been searching for several ways to feel stable, there are good moments even years and there are horrible days, even months of constant fear with a lot of symptoms. I created a method that includes techniques and excersises, actually it helps. But, sometimes not to me. Today helps me to observe and let myself cry, do a little of EfT and try to be compassive. Thanks for leting me know Im not alone. Very Very useful class.
Working on my emotional literacy level and knowing that I have someone in my life that provides me with a secure attachment.
I try and clear my mind and do some EMDR.
Teach them CBT skills
I do shadow work through the enneagram with clients
Hugs. Being in Nature. Time-outs. Taking deep breaths. Talking things over with someone with whom I feel safe. Nurturing others (people, cats, other creatures, plants even) Inspirational reading or talks. Your RAIN process.
For myself, I first have to acknowledge the fear. For many of my clients, this is a problem. They do not want to appear “weak”, so oftentimes they deny it’s fear that is driving them.
I am a Christian, and the scripture that declares that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. Facing fear in my life has ment standing up inside and choosing power over fear, through Christ, love and a sound mind. Not running, or fighting, or my favorite, withdrawal, I stand up for myself, verbally or emotionally. There is also a scripture that has helped, Whatsoever things are true, pure and of good report, think on those things. Fear is rarely about something true or good, stopping the fearful thought or reaction is sometimes a constant battle, but there is the reward of peace to think on truth only. Thanks, the talk was very helpful, I am a retired social worker and I agree the fear is the root of so many emotions.
“When fear rules, we become judgemental and hypervigilant . . .” A light came on when I heard that statement, that’s why I become so much more judgemental about little things when there is already conflict in my relationship about bigger things. This realization will help me recognize when I am feeling fear, and hopefully by offering myself kindness and compassion I can choose a different response that won’t serve to further widen the gap between us.
Thank you for this.
I can face fear because I know that it is not a never ending experience and I have found that as I walk through fear I always get to the other side. In the past I saw fear as an insurmountable wall I had to get over, or as a never ending experience, with constant suffering, which I might never get through.. but now I see it as just another emotion waiting to be experienced, acknowledged and accepted and walked through that definitely does have a beginning and and end if I just keep walking through it..
Wonderful presentation. I think my introduction to mindfulness training has been central to recognizing how fear ( in its many forms) operates subconsciously in myself and patients and as Tara states, remains in control. Being able to stay with the sensations that emotions elicit, for longer and longer periods of time, identifying where their energies move within the body is key to being able to move forward into letting go of their control. Self compassion, self soothing and nurturing are follow ons to this process.
I find that acknowledgment of my fear to a trusted friend or coach helps. They remind me to breathe, relax my body’s areas of tightness, and let go of some of my fear response.
Hi. My name’s Jeanette, Life Coach, MDiv. I help moms who lose their temper. The very first step my clients take in overcoming fear is trusting me because they feel ashamed of losing their temper. I think fear is also related to our sense of authority – our own authority and the authority of others. And one very helpful step is to re-frame how we see our parents. If we can come to see them as normal people who did the best they could, it can help us to overcome fear and issues around authority. It allows us to give up the useless power struggles we’re engaged in and helps us to feel empowered instead of like a victim. I tell my clients that they’ve done the best they could (and so did their parents). It works in tandem – they learn how to have compassion for themselves and their parents at the same time.
IFS parts work! Befriending the parts that are afraid and then step by step healing them. IFS moves clients from coping to healing and truly resolving the source of the fear, which is most often rooted in the past. Mindfulness is a key part of the process. But there is no need to stop there! Self healing is available with skilfull prompting from the therapist.
Hi
For myself, it is definitively chosen acceptance with no judgement.
I started this when years ago I developped a rare condition.
It has been a massive shift for me and I reached peace. A weight lifted from my shoulders. I have to remind myself from time to time that I can offer this to myself and what a relief …
For the persons who come to work with me in therapy, it will be different from each of them; though acknowledgement with no negative judgement is often a strong key. Checking the bodily responses and sensations; workkng in letting them change, move. Moving their body so they don’t stay ‘stuck’; conscious breathing can be useful; smiling & raising arms, rephrasing, revisiting a first strong fear can be intetesting, EMDR can be used etc etc etc , it so depends on one’s situation, where they are on their therapeutic path, whhow they feel when they are in my therapy room.
Pia.
I am looking forward to the next video! A quick body scan works well for me, and the most useful for me is Divided Breathing. It forces me to focus on my breath more than just regular breathing, and helps to stop my mind from spinning. Pinpointing where it is in my body also helps, as then I can focus on relaxing that part of my body. I am learning, as she said in the video, to also ask what I need in those moments but it depends on the level of fear/anxiety that I am at. If it is lower, I can go there and it helps. If it is higher, all rational thought goes out the window, so that doesn’t work!
I have practised somatic awareness for a long time now. As a sufferer of early childhood developmental trauma my fear and anxiety comes on so strong from habitual patterning as a child it hijacks me. I feel my ego, that was entrenched so concretely as a child is fighting a war with my new found awareness of it. My days are very mindful and I have managed to turn my behaviour completly around. No longer do I feel anger, spitefullness, envy etc yet its like my cell memory, my ego rears its ugly head periodically it comes to the surface with bayonet drawn. “How dare you ignore me! I then get thrown into a chronic anxiety cycle which I cannot control. It is unwarranted externally, it is something subconsious that hijacks me. Without help I get very sick, exhausted, unmotivated, adrenilen and cortisol surging until I beat it. It is frighting for me as I am aware that I have no reason to be fearful but it sits down in my soma just waiting for its next battle on the front line which can surface, usually when through my practices,working with the heart and throat, communication. I wish more CBT and therapists dealing with PTSD were accessable in Australia. Mine has admitted this prisoner doesn,t want to budge but I will keep strong and resilient . One day its going to find it may as well just resolve.
A few years ago, I decided to learn to swim as an adult. I had to face my fear of swimming. After successfully completing the course, I went on vacation. There was a lake near the resort and I wanted to swim to the other side. Fear came back. I totally focused on each stroke at a time. I noticed every breath I was taking and also observed the fear transforming into the fuel I needed to swim. This was a pivotal moment in my emotional development: I realized that fear is not energy to be shut down but it is a life affirming force allowing the best of me to emerge. Thanks for your inspiring video.
I fear flying and am taking a long trip next week. I find tapping helpful for this visualising those who care for me and a safe place where I can go in my mind. I use mindfulness techniques to help clients and myself to become curious about fear and what it feels like in the body / that it can just become a cluster of sensations that we call ‘fear’
The concepts were familiar to me, but the language was new. I will use the image of the tree with fear and avoidance at the root with me clients. Thank you.
knowing where fear is in my body, what it feels like, learning to regulate and understand flight, fight and freeze.. bringing compassionate awareness and to the places that feel the fear offering a new way into it. using my breath, and taking many pauses in between, knowing that it is in the here and now. learning to hold both places within, and honoring the times when fear takes over and moving through it. No part left out.
Slowing down, making intentional choices, and reminding myself that my current fearful state is not new. I have been here before. When given the space and time, I know I make smart and compassionate choices that enrich my life. This may sound easy, but some days, it take a tremendous amount of energy. Therefore, I honor the work of of mindfulness by celebrating myself every time I succeed at choosing over reacting. I celebrate by telling myself that this is the life I have always wanted.
The first step for me was to become aware that I was actually experiencing fear, feeling emotionally threatened and saw myself rolling into Fight, Flight or Freeze without being able to stop. Then, I developed understanding by learning about possible reasons for first feeling fear in childhood. Feeling gratitude to know some roots of my habituated fear experiences has also been helpful.
Your point about allowing room for the presence of fear supported by mindful breathing & thinking/questioning makes sense to me. Thanks for your free video!
Bioenergetics ( being in the body )
ETT ( Emotional Transformation Therapy )
which works with the trauma through color and light
Trust and support
What helps you face fear?
Making a habit of recognizing “small fears” and taking action helps me to face the bigger ones. I was afraid of going down a water slide in an amusement park that spit me out over a swimming pool. I did it and survived. It was exciting, so I did it again and again. I learned to anticipate the possibilities of a good outcome.
Doing something that brings me joy, that engages a different part of myself: Getting into a natural world of trees, rocks, seashore; dancing; being with a good friend; feeling my breath. It’s base of support and a chance to reset.
This was excellent and I could identify myself as well as for my clients. My fear slips into anger altho I am really not angry but feel more out of control. Many clients withdraw from fear or deny it completely and struggle all together being vulnerable to it at all. I see a client who has PTSD and was in the special forces of the Navy. He was very upset to find out that he has the “D” in PTSD. He did not want a “disorder.” He is excessively hyper vigilant and struggles, as you said so well, with intimacy. This was super helpful as now I have another way to help him see the reasons that intimacy is something that he has then gets rid of and denies that he even wants it. Very helpful. Any comments from you are definitely needed. Thanks
This will help me to remember not to fear the process and although it’s hard work facing the hurt and pain, it is the only way to eventually break free. A friend is just trying to go to the doctors for help I encouraged them to watch it as they are frightened to go and face the problems 🙂
Giving words to the fear…..talking about it…..”normalizing” it…..