In today's episode, Gina discusses the important tool of breathwork for calming anxiety. Specifically, breathwork is addressed in the frame of when it goes wrong: sometimes, trying to use breathwork with the wrong idea in mind can make anxiety worse. Listen in for a better understanding of how using breathwork in the wrong ways or at the wrong times can make anxiety worse, and how to use breathwork in a gentler way to help get the most benefit out of it.

Stillpoint Fridays is my once-a-week Friday note — a slower, more personal reflection that’s different from what I share on the podcast.

If you’d like a quiet place to land as the week winds down, you can join here: http://eepurl.com/bR2F9P or on our website anxietycoachespodcast.com and sign up for the newsletter.

Please visit our Sponsor Page to find all the links and codes for our awesome sponsors! https://www.theanxietycoachespodcast.com/sponsors/

Website https://www.theanxietycoachespodcast.com

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Learn more about anxiety What is anxiety?

Free Guided Meditation for Calming Your Anxious Mind 10-Minute Body-Scan Meditation for Anxiety

Quote:

The soft overcomes the hard; the gentle overcomes the rigid.

-Tao Te Ching 

Chapters

0:27 Breathwork Backfires

4:21 Why Breath Control Fails

8:34 The Shame Loop

9:35 Less Control, More Ease

13:55 Clinical Wisdom on Anxiety

14:58 Real-Life Breathing Shift

16:53 Softening the Exhale

Long Summary

In this episode we talk about when breathwork can backfire for anxious people and why controlled breathing sometimes increases stress instead of easing it. We explain that while breath awareness and structured techniques can be helpful for some, they can also become uncomfortable when they turn into a task that must be done correctly.

We describe how practices such as box breathing, 4-7-8 breathing, guided breathing apps, and other counted methods can lead to monitoring, checking, and pressure to perform relaxation. For people with high anxiety and heightened bodily awareness, focusing closely on the breath can amplify sensations like air hunger, chest tightness, dizziness, and muscle tension.

We also discuss the shame that can follow when a technique does not work as expected. Instead of feeling calmer, people may start thinking that something is wrong with them, which adds anxiety about anxiety and can make them give up on helpful practices altogether.

As an alternative, we suggest less control and less effort. We focus on a gentle, slightly longer exhale without counting, tracking, or trying to force calm. The emphasis is on reducing struggle, allowing the breath to soften naturally, and avoiding the expectation that the practice should immediately erase anxiety.

We close by noting that the goal is not perfect calm, but less self-judgment and less internal pressure. We encourage a simple experiment of noticing the next exhale and letting it be a little softer, with the reminder that sometimes the most regulating thing is to stop trying so hard to regulate.

#Anxiety #Breathwork #Mindfulness #PanicAttack #BoxBreathing #NervousSystem #MentalHealth #SomaticHealing #ACTTherapy #StressRelief #SelfCare #OvercomingAnxiety #Interoception #AnxietyCoachesPodcast #GinaRyan #Calm #EmotionalHealth #SelfAcceptance #HealingJourney #HolisticHealth #AirHunger #NervousSystemRegulation #ClaireWeeks #SomaticTracking #HypervigilanceRecovery #AnxietyTips #BreathworkBackfires #Parasympathetic #StopTryingToFixYourself #PermissionToSoften #LessControlMorePeace #AnxietySupport #MentalHealthAwareness #GentleHealing #DropTheStruggle #EmotionalRegulation #ItsOkayToJustBe #MindfulBreathing #SensoryOverload #HealingIsNotLinear #ACP

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In today's episode, Gina discusses health anxiety, especially in the context of the dreaded blood pressure reading at the doctor's office. It is important to remember that the blood pressure reading is simply information and the machine and entire process are not in themselves harmful, though they can be uncomfortable. Listen in for practical tips on how to disrupt the anxiety cycle that can form around blood pressure and other medical testing and start to feel more calm!

Stillpoint Fridays is my once-a-week Friday note — a slower, more personal reflection that’s different from what I share on the podcast.

If you’d like a quiet place to land as the week winds down, you can join here:  http://eepurl.com/bR2F9P or on our website anxietycoachespodcast.com and sign up for the newsletter.

Please visit our Sponsor Page to find all the links and codes for our awesome sponsors! https://www.theanxietycoachespodcast.com/sponsors/

Website https://www.theanxietycoachespodcast.com

Join our community Group Coaching Join our Group Coaching Full or Mini Membership Program

1:1 Coaching Learn more about our One-on-One Coaching

If you prefer to listen AD-FREE, try our Supercast premium access membership:

Learn more about anxiety What is anxiety?

Free Guided Meditation for Calming Your Anxious Mind 10-Minute Body-Scan Meditation for Anxiety

Quote:

Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood.

-Marie Curie

Chapters

0:27 White Coat Anxiety

3:58 What It Really Means

7:12 Breaking the Checking Loop

9:01 Numbers Aren’t Judgments

11:49 Calm Before the Reading

14:50 Stop Chasing Perfect Numbers

16:46 Anxiety Before Appointments

18:54 Kindness Over Fear

Summary

In this episode we talk about white coat syndrome and the anxiety many people feel around medical appointments, blood pressure checks, and now also home monitoring. We explain that the nervous system can react with dread, stress, or panic before a reading even begins, and that this response is common and not a sign of weakness.

We look at how medical settings, the cuff, the numbers, and the waiting itself can become linked with danger through repeated fear and anticipation. We also discuss how home monitoring can sometimes extend the stress beyond the doctor’s office, turning what is meant to be useful information into an ongoing cycle of checking and distress.

We then focus on the anxiety loop that can form around blood pressure readings. Repeated checking may feel reassuring for a moment, but it often strengthens fear over time. We note that some people also have true hypertension, and that the goal is not to ignore medical care, but to reduce the tendency to treat every reading as an emergency or a judgment.

We offer practical ways to interrupt the cycle, including treating readings as information rather than a life-or-death event, preparing the nervous system before appointments with breathing, movement, prayer, or other calming practices, and avoiding repeated checks beyond what a physician recommends. We also encourage people to notice the meaning they attach to sensations, allow uncertainty, and return attention to the present moment instead of imagining worst-case outcomes.

We close by reminding listeners that the body is not the enemy and that calm can be practiced gradually. The episode ends with a message of self-kindness and a quote about understanding rather than fearing life.

#Anxiety #WhiteCoatSyndrome #BloodPressureAnxiety #HealthAnxiety #MedicalAnxiety #NervousSystem #StressCycle #PanicAttacks #ReassuranceSeeking #SelfAdvocacy #Mindfulness #BreathingExercises #Relaxation #CopingStrategies #ChronicAnxiety #AnticipationAnxiety #MedicalTrauma #HighBloodPressure #Hypertension #MentalHealth #EmotionalWellness #SelfCare #Compassion #GinaRyan #AnxietyCoachesPodcast #DoctorAppointments #MedicalPhobia #HealthMonitoring #FightOrFlight #HeartPalpitations #AdrenalineRush #SomaticSymptoms #CompulsiveChecking #UncertaintyTolerance #SelfSoothing #NervousSystemRegulation #MedicalGaslighting #PatientAdvocacy #SensoryProcessing #TraumaRespons #ACP

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In today's episode, Gina discusses a common theme of many individual's anxiety: rumination about self-existence and threats and uncertainty surrounding this existence. An interesting idea to consider is that these thoughts and feelings relating to existential anxiety can come up when changes are afoot and old coping patterns are no longer helpful. Listen in for tips and suggestions on how to handle this sort of anxiety and how you can use it (and the recovery tools) to grow into a more resilient, happier and stable you!

Stillpoint Fridays is my once-a-week Friday note — a slower, more personal reflection that’s different from what I share on the podcast.

If you’d like a quiet place to land as the week winds down, you can join here:  http://eepurl.com/bR2F9P or on our website anxietycoachespodcast.com and sign up for the newsletter.

Please visit our Sponsor Page to find all the links and codes for our awesome sponsors! https://www.theanxietycoachespodcast.com/sponsors/

Website https://www.theanxietycoachespodcast.com

Join our community Group Coaching Join our Group Coaching Full or Mini Membership Program

1:1 Coaching Learn more about our One-on-One Coaching

If you prefer to listen AD-FREE, try our Supercast premium access membership:

Learn more about anxiety What is anxiety?

Free Guided Meditation for Calming Your Anxious Mind 10-Minute Body-Scan Meditation for Anxiety

Quote:

We can’t calm the storm… so stop trying. What we can do is calm ourselves. The storm will pass.

-Timber Hawkeye 

Chapters

0:27 Existential Anxiety Explained

6:26 Growth Through Unsettling Change

8:47 Return to the Present

12:23 Grounding Practices That Help

16:36 Meaning in Small Moments

19:06 Final Quote on Calm

Summary

In this episode, we focus on existential anxiety and how it can show up as restlessness, dread, overthinking, and questioning of purpose, identity, and direction. We note that many people may feel unsettled, emotionally exhausted, or disconnected, especially in a fast-paced world filled with constant stimulation and comparison.

We discuss how these questions are a deeply human experience and are not a sign that something is wrong. We also describe how, in periods of growth or change, old coping patterns may no longer fit, which can make people feel more unsteady even when they are moving forward.

We explore how the anxious mind pulls us into regret about the past or fear about the future, and we suggest a simple response of noticing thoughts without fighting them. We emphasize that the present moment is where our power is, and that trying to solve everything at once usually increases distress.

We also share grounding practices that can support the nervous system, including meditation, journaling, walking outside without a phone, quiet time, prayer, breathing, nature, creativity, listening deeply, and resting without guilt. We explain that gratitude journaling can help retrain the mind to notice what is nourishing, meaningful, and supportive.

Finally, we reflect on the idea that meaning may be built through presence, kindness, connection, and daily living rather than one single grand purpose. We close by encouraging listeners to breathe, slow down, and remember that they do not need to solve their entire existence tonight.

#Anxiety #ExistentialAnxiety #MentalHealth #Mindfulness #Presence #Meditation #Grounding #NervousSystem #SelfCare #PersonalGrowth #SpiritualAwakening #EmotionalHealth #StressRelief #InnerPeace #CopingMechanisms #SelfReflection #Gratitude #Journaling #HealingJourney #ThomasMerton #TimberHawkeye #AnxietyRelief #SleepAnxiety #Overthinking #EmotionalExhaustion #LifePurpose #Consciousness #MentalWellness #Calming #Relaxation #HolisticHealth #Breathwork #MidlifeCrisis #Identity #SelfDiscovery #MentalClarity #MindfulnessPractice #PsychologicalWellBeing #EmotionalResilience #BurnoutRecovery #StressManagement #IntentionalLiving #SoulSearching #InnerCalm

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In today's episode, Gina discusses urge surfing as a technique for relating to our stress and anxiety differently, interpreting such signals less like immediate emergencies and more like fleeting, temporary conditions. Urges like overthinking, checking, and scrolling are included. We can use urge surfing to observe these often powerful urges, rather then simply reacting to them. Listen in and learn how to use urge surfing to your immediate benefit and give yourself more space and grace.

Stillpoint Fridays is my once-a-week Friday note — a slower, more personal reflection that’s different from what I share on the podcast.

If you’d like a quiet place to land as the week winds down, you can join here:  http://eepurl.com/bR2F9P or on our website anxietycoachespodcast.com and sign up for the newsletter.

Please visit our Sponsor Page to find all the links and codes for our awesome sponsors! https://www.theanxietycoachespodcast.com/sponsors/

Website https://www.theanxietycoachespodcast.com

Join our community Group Coaching Join our Group Coaching Full or Mini Membership Program

1:1 Coaching Learn more about our One-on-One Coaching

If you prefer to listen AD-FREE, try our Supercast premium access membership:

Learn more about anxiety What is anxiety?

Free Guided Meditation for Calming Your Anxious Mind 10-Minute Body-Scan Meditation for Anxiety

Quote:

You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.

— Jon Kabat-Zinn

Chapters

0:26 Urge Surfing Explained

4:33 How Urge Surfing Works

9:58 Practicing the Surf

16:34 Start Small, Stay Steady

Summary

In this episode, we discuss urge surfing as a mindfulness-based way to relate differently to anxiety, stress, and uncomfortable emotions. We focus on how this practice can help us stop treating every anxious feeling like an emergency and instead notice it as something temporary.

We talk about the common urges that come with anxiety, such as overthinking, checking, reassurance-seeking, scrolling, avoiding, and trying to escape discomfort. We emphasize that an urge is not the same as an emergency, and that we do not have to act on every impulse the mind produces.

We explain urge surfing by comparing emotions and urges to ocean waves that rise, peak, and fall. We note that much of the suffering comes not only from the feeling itself, but from resisting it, fearing it, or creating a story around it. Urge surfing teaches us to observe instead of reacting immediately.

We also describe how to practice it in daily life: pause, notice the urge, identify where it shows up in the body, use simple words for the sensations, and breathe while allowing the wave to move through. We mention that even short pauses and small moments of awareness can help retrain the nervous system and build self-trust.

We close by encouraging a gentle, gradual approach, especially when the practice feels difficult at first. We remind listeners that healing often happens through repeated small steps, and that we can learn to stay with discomfort instead of automatically fleeing it.

#Anxiety #StressRelief #MentalHealthMatters #Mindfulness #UrgeSurfing #NervousSystemHealing #EmotionalRegulation #SelfCare #WellnessJourney #Healing #Meditation #Calm #InnerPeace #MentalHealthAwareness #PersonalDevelopment #Grounding #MentalWellness #Resilience #SelfGrowth #MindfulLiving #Recovery #OvercomingAnxiety #StressManagement #Psychology #CopingSkills #EmotionalHealth #HolisticHealing #SelfLove #PeaceOfMind #AnxietySupport #Breathe #Presence #Awareness #MentalHealthSupport #HealthyMind #MindBodyConnection #SelfTrust #Podcast #AnxietyCoachesPodcast #Gentleness #Neuroscience #Therapeutic #CalmYourMind #Zen #DailyMindfulness #ACP #GinaRyan #AnxietyCoachesPodcast

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In today's episode, Gina shares a discussion and meditation designed to help you get calm and relax during the most anxious and upsetting moments. This is one of the shows you have been looking for! Use this podcast episode to release tension during those times when you are all wound up! A soothing guided meditation to help guide you out of your most anxious moments is included!

Stillpoint Fridays is my once-a-week Friday note — a slower, more personal reflection that’s different from what I share on the podcast.

If you’d like a quiet place to land as the week winds down, you can join here:  http://eepurl.com/bR2F9P or on our website anxietycoachespodcast.com and sign up for the newsletter.

Please visit our Sponsor Page to find all the links and codes for our awesome sponsors! https://www.theanxietycoachespodcast.com/sponsors/

Website https://www.theanxietycoachespodcast.com

Join our community Group Coaching Join our Group Coaching Full or Mini Membership Program

1:1 Coaching Learn more about our One-on-One Coaching

If you prefer to listen AD-FREE, try our Supercast premium access membership:

Learn more about anxiety What is anxiety?

Free Guided Meditation for Calming Your Anxious Mind 10-Minute Body-Scan Meditation for Anxiety

Chapters

0:26 Relaxing Feels Unsafe

2:41 Why Calm Feels Hard

7:24 Gentle Nervous System Safety

10:36 Guided Meditation Begins

12:47 Soften the Body Slowly

16:14 Set the Weight Down

20:24 Coming Home to Calm

Summary

In this episode we explore why relaxing can feel difficult for people with anxiety, even when they want relief. We discuss how chronic stress, overwhelm, trauma, caregiving, burnout, perfectionism, and long-term anxiety can train the nervous system to stay alert and treat slowing down as unsafe.

We look at common responses that can show up when someone tries to rest, meditate, or take a break. These include racing thoughts, restlessness, irritability, shallow breathing, muscle tension, urges to stay busy, and guilt around resting. We emphasize that these reactions do not mean a person is failing at relaxation.

We then focus on the idea of functional survival mode, where a person keeps managing life but does not fully shift into restoration. The episode explains that relaxation cannot be forced through pressure, shame, or overthinking, and that calmer states develop through safety, repetition, compassion, and small physical shifts like softening the jaw, shoulders, and breath.

The second half of the episode offers a guided meditation for moments when it feels hard to let go. We practice noticing the body, breathing gently, acknowledging tension without judgment, and treating the nervous system as a tired protector rather than an enemy. We also repeat supportive reminders about resting, setting down mental weight, and allowing softness without needing to earn calm.

#Anxiety #AnxietyRelief #NervousSystem #NervousSystemRegulation #MentalHealth #Mindfulness #Meditation #GuidedMeditation #StressManagement #ChronicStress #BurnoutRecovery #TraumaHealing #Hypervigilance #Relaxation #SelfCompassion #InnerPeace #EmotionalWellBeing #TraumaInformed #FightOrFlight #VagusNerve #Calming #MentalWellness #HolisticHealth #SelfCare #BreathingExercises #PanicAttacks #Overwhelm #SomaticHealing #DeepRest #PermissionToRest #EmotionalSafety #Overthinking #Perfectionism #PeoplePleasing #MentalExhaustion #MindfulnessPodcast #AnxietyPodcast #GinaRyan #AnxietyCoachesPodcast #MentalHealthAwareness #CopingMechanisms #PsychologicalSafety #GroundingTechniques #BodyAwareness #SomaticExperiencing #StressRelief #SpiritualGrowth #HealingJourney #ACP

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In today's episode, Gina responds to a listener question regarding grief and anxiety. Gina offers strategies for coping with the generally disturbing combination of grief and anxiety, particularly in the case of losing someone close to you. Gina underlines the particular emotions that are exhibited when experiencing grief as well as techniques that can be used to enhance and maintain support and self-care.

Stillpoint Fridays is my once-a-week Friday note — a slower, more personal reflection that’s different from what I share on the podcast.

If you’d like a quiet place to land as the week winds down, you can join here:  http://eepurl.com/bR2F9P or on our website anxietycoachespodcast.com and sign up for the newsletter.

Please visit our Sponsor Page to find all the links and codes for our awesome sponsors! https://www.theanxietycoachespodcast.com/sponsors/

Website https://www.theanxietycoachespodcast.com

Join our community Group Coaching Join our Group Coaching Full or Mini Membership Program

1:1 Coaching Learn more about our One-on-One Coaching

If you prefer to listen AD-FREE, try our Supercast premium access membership:

Learn more about anxiety What is anxiety?

Free Guided Meditation for Calming Your Anxious Mind 10-Minute Body-Scan Meditation for Anxiety

Quote:

Grief and gratitude are kindred souls, each pointing to the beauty of what is transient and given to us by grace.

-PATRICIA CAMPBELL CARLSON

Chapters

0:28 Grief and Anxiety Support

3:47 Common Grief Emotions

5:48 Facing Fear and Sadness

8:17 Physical Effects of Grief

10:17 Self-Care and Support

13:20 Letting Feelings Flow

15:41 Grief and Gratitude

Summary

In this episode we respond to a listener who is dealing with long-term anxiety and the recent death of her older brother. We focus on how grief can intensify anxiety and panic, and we discuss ways to stay supported during this time.

We explain that grief is individual and does not follow a fixed timeline. We note that people may grieve differently depending on the relationship, the type of loss, and their own resilience. We also say that grief can apply to many kinds of losses, not only death.

We then describe common grief reactions, including shock, numbness, anger, sadness, fear, and anxiety. We mention that physical symptoms can include insomnia, fatigue, and changes in appetite, and we encourage listeners to notice these responses without judging them.

We offer practical ways to cope, including meditation, short stress breaks, music, aromatherapy, prayer, and other calming rituals. We also encourage maintaining social support, reaching out to others when needed, and paying attention to sleep, exercise, food, and rest.

We close by encouraging journaling, doodling, crying, and other forms of emotional release. We emphasize that allowing feelings to move through can help the nervous system settle and support a return to calm.

#Grief, #Anxiety, #PanicAttack, #Loss, #Bereavement, #Mourning, #MentalHealth, #EmotionalWellness, #GriefSupport, #AnxietyRelief, #OvercomingPanic, #ShockAndNumbness, #GriefAnger, #DealingWithSadness, #OvercomingFear, #DealingWithUncertainty, #InsomniaRelief, #Fatigue, #SelfCare, #DailyRoutine, #StressManagement, #StressRelief, #Meditation, #Mindfulness, #StressBreaks, #Aromatherapy, #PetTherapy, #InspirationalQuotes, #SocialSupport, #TherapyWorks, #GriefCoaching, #SupportGroups, #PhysicalHealth, #ExerciseForMentalHealth, #Journaling, #CreativeRelease, #EmotionalExpression, #LetItFlow, #CopingMechanisms, #HealingJourney, #NervousSystemRegulation, #EmotionalRelease, #AnxietyCoachesPodcast #GinaRyan #ACP

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In today's episode, Gina discusses some of the more disturbing physical symptoms that anxiety can present us with. These symptoms can strike us at any time and often lead us to think there is something medically wrong with us. A range of these symptoms are explored: what causes them and what can be done to quiet them when we realize that anxiety is the cause. Listen in for great tips on how to reduce and eliminate some of anxiety's worst bodily sensations and symptoms!

Stillpoint Fridays is my once-a-week Friday note — a slower, more personal reflection that’s different from what I share on the podcast.

If you’d like a quiet place to land as the week winds down, you can join here:  http://eepurl.com/bR2F9P or on our website anxietycoachespodcast.com and sign up for the newsletter.

Please visit our Sponsor Page to find all the links and codes for our awesome sponsors! https://www.theanxietycoachespodcast.com/sponsors/

Website https://www.theanxietycoachespodcast.com

Join our community Group Coaching Join our Group Coaching Full or Mini Membership Program

1:1 Coaching Learn more about our One-on-One Coaching

If you prefer to listen AD-FREE, try our Supercast premium access membership:

Learn more about anxiety What is anxiety?

Free Guided Meditation for Calming Your Anxious Mind 10-Minute Body-Scan Meditation for Anxiety

Quote:

Self-compassion is simply giving the same kindness to ourselves that we would give to others.

-Christopher Germer

Chapters

0:26 Anxiety Dizziness Explained

3:25 Breathing and Carbon Dioxide

6:49 Body Tension and Triggers

8:41 Calming the Nervous System

10:06 Movement and Meditation

12:10 Healing Happens Gradually

14:08 Watch Caffeine and Stimulants

17:25 Change the Inner Script

18:36 Hope and Recovery

Summary

In this episode, we look at the dizzy, lightheaded, off-balance feeling that can happen when anxiety is high. We describe how these sensations can appear during everyday situations, how they can quickly trigger fear, and how that fear can intensify the symptoms.

We explain some possible physical causes of anxiety-related dizziness, especially changes in breathing. When we breathe faster and more shallowly, carbon dioxide levels can drop, which may lead to lightheadedness, tingling, feeling unreal, chest tightness, unsteadiness, vision changes, or brain fog.

We also discuss other contributors, including muscle tension in the neck, shoulders, jaw, and scalp, as well as blood sugar swings, dehydration, sleep deprivation, overstimulation, and caffeine or other stimulants. We note that these sensations are real, but they are often linked to a dysregulated nervous system rather than a medical emergency.

We then share practical ways to help the body feel steadier: gentle diaphragmatic breathing, movement such as walking or stretching, meditation or quiet nervous system rest, reducing overall nervous system load, and paying attention to triggers like caffeine and lack of sleep. We also emphasize using non-catastrophic self-talk during symptoms.

We close by encouraging patience and self-compassion, noting that recovery often happens gradually as the nervous system learns safety again.

#AnxietyDizziness #Lightheadedness #AnxietySymptoms #PanicAttackRelief #AnxietyLoop #FightOrFlight #PhysicalAnxiety #Derealization #OvercomingPanic #AnxietyIsReal #AnxietySupport #NervousSystemRegulation #VagusNerve #SomaticHealing #CalmYourNervousSystem #NervousSystemHealing #BodyMindConnection #BreathworkForAnxiety #DiaphragmaticBreathing #SomaticAwareness #AnxietyRecovery #HolisticHealing #StressReduction #CaffeineFree #BloodSugarBalance #MindfulMovement #SleepDeprivation #DigitalDetox #Overstimulation #CalmTheMind #MindfulSelfTalk #SelfCompassion #MindfulnessPractice #AnxietyCoaching #MentalHealthMatters #InnerPeace #HealingIsLinear #AnxietyCoachesPodcast #GinaRyan #YouAreNotAlone

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In today's episode, Gina shares some key tips to help you strengthen your vagus nerve to help you feel safer and more stable. A description of how the vagus nerve connects the brain and body is included, as is how it can influence a range of anxiety related symptoms, including sleep and digestive problems. A number of ways you can strengthen your vagus nerve are also included. Helping signal to your brain that you are safe can go a long way to restoring your sense of peace and balance.

Stillpoint Fridays is my once-a-week Friday note — a slower, more personal reflection that’s different from what I share on the podcast.

If you’d like a quiet place to land as the week winds down, you can join here:  http://eepurl.com/bR2F9P or on our website anxietycoachespodcast.com and sign up for the newsletter.

Please visit our Sponsor Page to find all the links and codes for our awesome sponsors! https://www.theanxietycoachespodcast.com/sponsors/

Website https://www.theanxietycoachespodcast.com

Join our community Group Coaching Join our Group Coaching Full or Mini Membership Program

1:1 Coaching Learn more about our One-on-One Coaching

If you prefer to listen AD-FREE, try our Supercast premium access membership:

Learn more about anxiety What is anxiety?

Free Guided Meditation for Calming Your Anxious Mind 10-Minute Body-Scan Meditation for Anxiety

Quote:

Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor.

-Thich Nhat Hanh

Chapters

0:26 Vagus Nerve Basics

7:13 Breathing for Calm

9:59 Sound and Laughter

12:44 Meditation and Resilience

14:17 Gentle Movement Matters

15:37 Connection Heals

17:43 Small Reset Practices

19:25 Trusting the Anxious Body

20:59 Closing Thoughts

Summary

In this episode we talk about the vagus nerve and its role in anxiety recovery and nervous system healing. We explain that supporting the vagus nerve can help the body feel safer, which can also help the mind settle.

We describe the vagus nerve as part of the parasympathetic nervous system, traveling through the brain and body and connecting with the heart, lungs, digestion, vocal cords, face, and ears. We also explain that communication goes both ways between body and brain, so body tension, shallow breathing, fatigue, or overstimulation can affect how we feel mentally.

We review common anxiety-related symptoms that may be linked with nervous system dysregulation, including digestive issues, nausea, brain fog, sleep problems, heart palpitations, chronic tension, hypervigilance, panic symptoms, and feelings of disconnection. We also note that anxiety is complex and that understanding the body can reduce fear and self-blame.

#anxiety #anxietyrecovery #nervoussystemregulation #vagusnerve #vagaltone #parasympathetic #mentalhealth #emotionalregulation #stressmanagement #somatichealing #mindfulness #breathwork #diaphragmaticbreathing #longexhales #wellness #emotionalwellbeing #somaticexperiencing #hrv #resilience #socialconnection #laughtertherapy #gentlemovement #grounding #vagusnervestimulation #humming #gutbrainaxis #Gina Ryan #AnxietyCoachesPodcast #ACP

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In today's episode, Gina answers a listener question about how longer days in the summertime can actually seem to make himself more anxious. This is contrary to the pattern more commonly observed of less light in the winter months causing more depression and anxiety. The importance of regular sleep is discussed as well as how the darkness (more plentiful in winter months) can actually provide a sense of closure and comfort at the end of the day. Listen in for advice on how to adapt to the lengthening of the daylight hours during spring and summer!

Stillpoint Fridays is my once-a-week Friday note — a slower, more personal reflection that’s different from what I share on the podcast.

If you’d like a quiet place to land as the week winds down, you can join here:  http://eepurl.com/bR2F9P or on our website anxietycoachespodcast.com and sign up for the newsletter.

Please visit our Sponsor Page to find all the links and codes for our awesome sponsors! https://www.theanxietycoachespodcast.com/sponsors/

Website https://www.theanxietycoachespodcast.com

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Learn more about anxiety What is anxiety?

Free Guided Meditation for Calming Your Anxious Mind 10-Minute Body-Scan Meditation for Anxiety

Quote:

Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself and know that everything in this life has a purpose.

 — Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

Chapters

0:26 Light and Anxiety

5:12 Seasonal Nervous System

11:46 Summer Overstimulation

14:50 Calming Evening Rituals

18:49 Honor Your Rhythm

Summary

In this episode we respond to a listener email from Bill in the northeastern United States about how increasing daylight in spring and summer affects his anxiety. We discuss his experience of feeling more pressure to be productive, more FOMO, and more difficulty sleeping when the evenings stay light longer.

We explore how light can influence the nervous system. We explain that humans are naturally attuned to sunrise and sunset, and that longer daylight can affect melatonin, energy levels, emotional regulation, and the sense that we should keep going. For some people, especially anxious or sensitive nervous systems, this extra stimulation can feel dysregulating.

We also talk about the opposite experience in darker months. We note that many people feel more settled when darkness comes earlier because it creates a sense of closure, fewer expectations, and more permission to rest. We contrast that with the cultural pressure around summer to be active, social, and constantly making the most of the day.

#AnxietyCoachesPodcast #GinaRyan #AnxietyRelief #NervousSystem #MentalHealthAwareness #SummerAnxiety #SeasonalAffectiveDisorder #ReverseSAD #SelfCare #Mindfulness #SleepHygiene #ProductivityPressure #FOMO #HSP #HighlySensitivePerson #NervousSystemRegulation #WellnessJourney #RestIsProductive #EmotionalWellbeing #SelfCompassion #HealthyRhythms #InnerPeace #CalmMind #SpringEquinox #SummerSolstice #MentalHealthMatters #ACP

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In today's episode, Gina discusses how to deal with intrusive thoughts, especially as they manifest for people with anxiety. Intrusive thoughts can be very common for individuals with overstimulated minds and bodies. They can be highly disturbing, as well. Listen in for tips on how to address your intrusive thoughts: calm the mind, thoughts and body.

Stillpoint Fridays is my once-a-week Friday note — a slower, more personal reflection that’s different from what I share on the podcast.

If you’d like a quiet place to land as the week winds down, you can join here:  http://eepurl.com/bR2F9P or on our website anxietycoachespodcast.com and sign up for the newsletter.

Please visit our Sponsor Page to find all the links and codes for our awesome sponsors! https://www.theanxietycoachespodcast.com/sponsors/

Website https://www.theanxietycoachespodcast.com

Join our community Group Coaching Join our Group Coaching Full or Mini Membership Program

1:1 Coaching Learn more about our One-on-One Coaching

If you prefer to listen AD-FREE, try our Supercast premium access membership:

Learn more about anxiety What is anxiety?

Free Guided Meditation for Calming Your Anxious Mind 10-Minute Body-Scan Meditation for Anxiety

Quote:

The mind is a wonderful servant but a terrible master.

-Robin Sharma

Chapters

0:26 Intrusive Thoughts Explained

6:41 Contain the Thought

10:42 Allow the Feelings

13:56 Return to the Present

16:41 Practice Self-Compassion

Summary

In this episode, we talk about intrusive thoughts and how they can feel shocking, disturbing, and isolating. We explain that these thoughts are common, especially when the nervous system is anxious or overstimulated, and that the distress they cause does not mean they reflect who we are.

We describe how intrusive thoughts can become repetitive when fear makes the brain treat them as important. This can lead to a loop of hypervigilance, self-monitoring, and more fear. We compare this to a survival response that stays active long after the original alarm has passed.

We then offer three steps for responding differently. First, we contain the thought instead of becoming fused with it, and we ask for actual evidence rather than reacting to fear. We note that a thought is not an intention, a prophecy, or an identity.

Second, we allow the physical sensations to rise and fall without adding panic. We name what is happening in the body, such as adrenaline or tightness, and remind ourselves that discomfort does not mean danger.

Third, we return to the present moment again and again through grounding and mindfulness. We mention simple practices like noticing the feet, breathing, sounds, textures, and nearby surroundings, and we emphasize that repeated returning is practice, not failure.

#AnxietyCoachesPodcast #GinaRyan #IntrusiveThoughts #AnxietyRelief #AnxietySupport #NervousSystemRegulation #NervousSystemHealing #AnxietyLoop #Overthinking #Catastrophizing #Hypervigilance #Mindfulness #GroundingTechniques #PresentMoment #SelfCompassion #MentalHealthMatters #AnxietyRecovery #CalmYourMind #InnerPeace #StressRelief #AdrenalineRush #MindsetShift #AnxietyTips #MentalWellness #HealYourAnxiety #Overwhelmed #BreakTheCycle #SelfKindness #EmotionalRegulation #MindfulLiving #ACP

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In today's episode, Gina explores small, simple actions that can help individuals calm anxiety. Through small, incremental steps, anxiety can be lessened, both in the immediate sense as well as the longer term sense. Many of these actions are easy to implement, such as stepping outside for some exposure to the sunlight. Listen in for many more easy to use actions you can start to use today and feel more peace and calm!

Stillpoint Fridays is my once-a-week Friday note — a slower, more personal reflection that’s different from what I share on the podcast.

If you’d like a quiet place to land as the week winds down, you can join here:  http://eepurl.com/bR2F9P or on our website anxietycoachespodcast.com and sign up for the newsletter.

Please visit our Sponsor Page to find all the links and codes for our awesome sponsors! https://www.theanxietycoachespodcast.com/sponsors/

Website https://www.theanxietycoachespodcast.com

Join our community Group Coaching Join our Group Coaching Full or Mini Membership Program

1:1 Coaching Learn more about our One-on-One Coaching

If you prefer to listen AD-FREE, try our Supercast premium access membership:

Learn more about anxiety What is anxiety?

Free Guided Meditation for Calming Your Anxious Mind 10-Minute Body-Scan Meditation for Anxiety

Quote:

Little by little, one travels far.

-J.R.R. Tolkien

Chapters

0:26 Introduction to Calmness

6:16 Small Daily Practices

10:40 The Power of Slowing Down

13:03 Gentle Self-Talk Techniques

15:46 Noticing the Pleasant Moments

17:00 Building a Safe Relationship

19:06 Closing Reflections

Summary

In today's episode of the Anxiety Coaches Podcast, I delve into the immensely powerful impact of small, consistent actions on managing anxiety. I emphasize how simplicity can be overlooked but is often the key to creating significant change. Many of us have the misconception that we need a singular breakthrough or dramatic technique to alleviate our anxiety, but I argue that it’s the gentle and consistent efforts that truly resonate with our nervous systems.

Our discussion revolves around the idea that our nervous system learns through patterns cultivated over time. I encourage listeners to embrace everyday activities that promote a sense of safety and comfort. By focusing on these small, repeatable actions, we can begin to shift the narrative of our minds and bodies from one of panic to one of calm. I highlight several everyday practices, each with the potential to help instill a sense of tranquility.

I walk listeners through practical strategies like stepping outside for a moment of natural light, which regulates our internal rhythms and signals the beginning of a new day. I discuss the benefits of letting our eyes rest on nature, allowing our nervous system to relax by stepping out of the constant scanning mode of detection. I stress the importance of unclenching our bodies throughout the day, gently letting go of tension even if just a little, and exploring the simplicity of lengthening our exhales to send calming signals to our bodies.

#AnxietyRelief #NervousSystemRegulation #Mindfulness #MentalHealthMatters #AnxietyCoachesPodcast #StressManagement #VagusNerve #CalmYourMind #SmallHabits #DailyMindfulness #Grounding #HealingJourney #SelfCareDaily #Breathwork #InnerPeace #MentalWellness #SelfCompassion #AnxietySupport #HolisticHealth #MorningRoutine #QuietAnxiety #HealthyMind #MindBodyConnection #OvercomingAnxiety #WellnessTips #SlowLiving #PeaceOfMind #EmotionalHealth #RelaxationTechniques #GinaRyan

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