Strategies To Heal Your Anxiety | Mel Robbins Podcast Clips

TL;DR

Learn how to heal anxiety by reconnecting with your younger self and addressing stored trauma through tools such as visualizing positive memories and using play to activate both the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems.

Transcript

I want to go back to Carrie's question and talk about specific tools that you can use to start to address this now that we know what we're dealing with we'll be right back hey Mel I'm a 53 year old woman a creative leader with to the outside world at least a so-called great career I guess you'd say but with crippling anxiety and exhausting overthin... Read More

Key Insights

• 🤔 Healing anxiety involves recognizing that thinking maintains coping mechanisms and that true healing requires reconnecting with the body.
• 🖐️ Tools such as visualizing positive memories and using play can help access and heal childhood trauma.
• 👋 Going back to the best moments of our lives and engaging in play activates both the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems.
• 👾 Play can be a safe space to metabolize trauma and shift the association of a victimhood to resilience.
• 🤪 Going through the healing process slowly and seeking professional help for significant trauma is crucial.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does anxiety originate and why is it important to address childhood experiences?

Anxiety often stems from childhood experiences that were painful or made us feel unsafe or separate. Addressing these experiences is important for healing as they hold the root causes of our anxiety.

Q: How can visualizing positive memories help in the healing process?

Visualizing positive memories, such as a happy moment from childhood, can create a connection with our younger selves. This connection allows us to provide the love and support that our inner child needs, assisting in the healing process.

Q: Why is play considered an important tool for healing trauma and anxiety?

Play activates both the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems simultaneously, allowing us to safely experience sensations associated with trauma. By engaging in play, we can gradually weaken the negative feelings and associations tied to trauma.

Q: What precautions should be taken when addressing significant trauma?

For individuals with significant trauma, seeking the guidance of a therapist or somatic therapist is recommended to avoid potential re-traumatization. Working with a professional ensures a supportive presence during the healing process.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Anxiety begins in childhood and healing involves revisiting painful moments and addressing stored trauma.

• Specific tools include printing out a photo of your younger self or visualizing positive memories to create a connection.

• Play is a crucial tool for healing as it activates both the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems.