{"id":36277,"date":"2017-11-08T06:00:37","date_gmt":"2017-11-08T14:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/?p=36277"},"modified":"2017-11-08T08:31:07","modified_gmt":"2017-11-08T16:31:07","slug":"how-leaning-into-your-anxiety-can-help-you-manage-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/how-leaning-into-your-anxiety-can-help-you-manage-it-1108174","title":{"rendered":"How Leaning Into Your Anxiety Can Help You Manage It"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"AWhen people call my office looking for relief from their anxiety<\/a>, I explain that we all experience anxiety from time to time because our bodies are wired for it. It\u2019s a neurobiological response that we inherited from our ancestors long, long ago. It\u2019s about safety. It\u2019s unlikely it will go away with a few tools or strategies.<\/p>\n

Anxiety peaks when we perceive danger. That danger could be concrete, like being in the path of a dangerous hurricane, where the risk of losing your property or your life is very real. Or the danger you sense might be less clear. Maybe someone\u2019s voice, a smell, or a song brings up uncomfortable feelings, leaving you feeling anxious. You might be able to pinpoint what made you\u00a0fearful<\/a> and anxious, but sometimes you get anxious and don\u2019t know why. When this happens, it\u2019s probably because an implicit memory has surfaced.<\/p>\n

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Find a Therapist for Anxiety<\/a><\/h2>\n\t
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What Are Implicit Memories?<\/h2>\n

Implicit memories<\/a> are memories that are stored in our unconscious<\/a>. Most of the time, we\u2019re not aware of them. They\u2019re usually triggered<\/a> by something in our environment\u2014a smell, a taste or sound, the way something feels in our hands or under our feet, or the way something looks. When they surface, our bodies react to the potential danger. We feel anxious but we\u2019re not sure why. We might feel like our anxiety came out of nowhere. What really happened was the body sensed a danger that was buried deep in our unconscious memory.<\/p>\n

So, how do we manage anxiety that is sparked by something we aren\u2019t fully aware of? First of all, it\u2019s important to keep in mind that anxiety serves a purpose. It alerts us to danger so we can protect ourselves. That\u2019s why it\u2019s not going to go away altogether. If we can be okay with the fact we will always have some anxiety, we can start to work toward managing anxiety when it feels out of our control.<\/p>\n

Be Curious About Your Anxiety<\/h2>\n

Before you begin, know it\u2019s important to take care of yourself while you explore what\u2019s happening. Take some slow, deep breaths; drink a cup of tea; get out your essential oils and diffuse them. Burn incense or a candle that smells good and be sure you\u2019re in a place that\u2019s comfortable and safe.<\/p>\n

The first step is to be curious about how your anxiety shows up. At first, try exploring how your body feels when you\u2019re not anxious. As you get to know your body\u2019s reactions to stress<\/a>, you\u2019ll start to become aware that your body tells you when your anxiety is ramping up.<\/p>\n

Next, you\u2019ll want to pay attention to how your body talks to you. You might ask yourself:<\/p>\n