EASY ANXIETY HACKS
“ The best use of creativity is imagination. The worst use of creativity is anxiety.”
― Deepak Chopra
Introduction:
Hello, Hello, Fellow Messy Fishes (old blog name for the OG readers)!
I've been hearing a lot of questions about panic attacks and managing physical anxiety lately, and I've also had my own experiences with anxiety symptoms in the past few weeks. So, I thought it would be helpful to share some of my favorite, most effective anxiety hacks—strategies that have consistently yielded powerful results for clients of all ages, genders, and life experiences. These techniques work every time! I’m no gatekeeper, so here are the tools to help you reclaim your peace. Use them, share them, and let’s get you feeling better
Visualization: Your Brain’s Superpower
Visualization is the #1 favorite among my clients, and for a good reason—it WORKS. This technique is a game-changer, even for those who might be more resistant to therapy or the other strategies I’ll mention. If you have to choose just one to try, THIS IS IT!
Here’s how it works: Close your eyes and visualize a place that makes you feel safe, peaceful, grounded, joyful, and warm—all those cozy feelings. Focus on engaging your senses in this place. What colors do you see? How does your body feel here? What smells, sounds, or tastes can you imagine? Immerse yourself completely in this visual. You can do this for 30 seconds or 5 minutes—whatever feels right for you. As you do, take deep breaths and focus your mind on the visual.
This works because our brain doesn’t know the difference between a real experience and one that we vividly imagine. If you're caught up in thoughts about past traumas or worst-case future scenarios, your brain and body react as if those things are happening right now, escalating anxiety into full-blown panic attacks. Visualization helps reset this response. Your brain tells your body you’re safe in this peaceful place, which immediately deescalates the panic or fear. It’s a quick, effective way to stop a panic attack in its tracks.
Tapping: Reprogramming Your Nervous System
You might have heard of something like this—it’s similar to EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) tapping. Tapping helps reprogram your nervous system’s responses, reducing your physical reactions to stress. It’s especially effective when you’re aware of your triggers and want to diminish the likelihood of a future panic attack.
To do this, start by using your fingertips to tap your chest at a medium speed 10 times while taking deep breaths and thinking about the stressful situation. Then move to the back of your neck, shoulders, temples, and the top of your head, tapping each area as many times as you like. This technique helps your body process stress safely and is great for preventing panic attacks. It’s also one of my favorite ways to regulate my nervous system, along with cold showers!
Storytelling: Rewriting Your Inner Subconscious Narratives
If you’ve been following me for a while, you know I’m a huge advocate of storytelling as a healing tool. This process helps you explore and process the root causes of your anxiety, whether they stem from past events or fears about the future.
In a journal, write the story of your past experiences or future fears in the third person. If you’re writing about a past event or trauma, tell the story in detail and allow yourself to feel and express all the raw emotions through the characters. This lets you explore your feelings without triggering your ego.
If you’re focusing on future fears, storytelling can help you reframe your mindset, creatively problem-solve, and find relief from anxiety about upcoming events. The more complex or scary the situation feels, the more creatively you should write it. Once you’ve written the story, read through it and identify how the main character (you!) overcame their problems. Use this as a springboard in your self-help, therapy, or coaching journey.
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These strategies are incredibly powerful, and I hope they become a valuable part of your toolkit for managing anxiety. They’re tools I wish I had years ago when I was struggling with my own mental health. Even now, when life gets overwhelming, and my anxiety starts creeping in, I turn to these techniques to help me regain my balance.
But let’s be real—while these strategies are amazing, sometimes you need more than just a quick fix. If you’re dealing with intense anxiety and feel like it’s taking over your life, my Intuitive Therapy Program can help you break free from the cycle of anxiety for good. This 15-week 1:1 program is designed to help you become symptom-free, experience better relationships, and find the happiness and confidence to create and live the life you’ve always dreamed of. Using The Intuitive Therapy Method, we combine psychology and psychotherapy with intuitive and energetic healing methods, plus nervous system work tailored to your unique needs. The results? A complete life transformation, even if traditional talk therapy hasn’t worked for you.
Remember, you don’t have to let anxiety control your life. If you’d like help navigating and getting out of the cycle of anxiety, book a Mental Health Clarity Session with me. I’m here to help you take back your life.
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Let me know how these strategies work for you! I love hearing your experiences, and I’m here to support you however I can. Anxiety can make you feel like your life isn’t your own, but together, we can change that.
Happy Healing !
Your Local Intuitive Therapist,
Annamarie Green
