Nobody Taught Us That THIS Is What Is Needed To Calm Your Anxiety | Mel Robbins Podcast Clips

TL;DR

Learn the difference between coping with anxiety and healing it, and discover the importance of validating and reassuring oneself during periods of anxiety.

Transcript

so of course he felt nervous in the morning before he had to head into school sure plus the kid had dyslexia and ADHD all of which was not diagnosed so he's heading into a full day in a classroom where he physiologically neurologically is incapable of doing what is going to be asked of him and so his body before entering that situation sounds an al... Read More

Key Insights

• 😣 Children with undiagnosed learning disabilities may experience severe anxiety symptoms, requiring physical reassurance and validation rather than just changing negative thoughts.
• 🤕 Traumas experienced before the age of seven create body memories that can trigger alarm reactions in adulthood, leading to anxiety and panic.
• 😐 Practicing self-regulation techniques through locating safe and neutral places in the body can help individuals better manage anxiety and heal past traumas.
• 🥰 Healing anxiety involves reconnecting with the wounded inner child and providing them with validation, love, and understanding.
• 🫚 Coping with anxiety focuses on managing symptoms through cognitive strategies but may not address the root cause of the alarm system.
• 👪 Parents play a crucial role in helping children with anxiety by providing physical reassurance and validation before triggering situations.
• 🧑‍⚕️ Individual responsibility is essential in healing anxiety, as no one else can do it for you.

Questions & Answers

Q: How can a parent help a child with anxiety before heading into a triggering situation?

Parents can provide physical reassurance and validation by hugging and comforting their child, helping to quiet their alarms and regulate their nervous system before facing anxiety-inducing situations.

Q: Why do childhood traumas often stay with us and affect our present-day experiences?

Traumas create body memories that get encoded in the amygdala and can be triggered later in life, causing alarm reactions. The hippocampus, responsible for retrieving memories, may struggle to access these childhood experiences, making it seem like we have no memories when they are actually stored in the unconscious.

Q: Can practicing self-regulation techniques help in high-stakes situations like presentations or important meetings?

Yes, by locating the alarm in the body and practicing regulation techniques such as deep breathing and focusing on a safe place, individuals can train their unconscious mind to differentiate between past traumas and present circumstances, allowing them to regulate their nervous system and perform better in high-stress situations.

Q: What is the difference between coping with anxiety and healing it?

Coping with anxiety involves using thinking strategies to manage symptoms, while healing anxiety involves addressing the root cause by reconnecting with the wounded child within and providing validation, love, and understanding. Healing involves repairing the underlying alarm system instead of just bailing water.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Anxiety can be overwhelming, especially for children with undiagnosed conditions like dyslexia and ADHD, resulting in panic attacks and physical symptoms such as stomach rumbling and butterfly sensations.

• Traditional interventions often focus on changing negative thoughts, but what children really need during anxiety-inducing situations is physical reassurance and validation to calm their alarms.

• Trauma, especially when experienced before the age of seven, can create unconscious body memories that cause alarm reactions in adulthood. Bringing awareness to safe and neutral places in the body can help regulate the nervous system and heal past traumas.