Can I start by asking you a question-

When was the last time you felt truly safe and relaxed? And then for you to ask yourself several questions: where were you at the time, what was it that made you feel safe, were you listening to something in particular? A certain vibe, doing anything?

I still struggle to physically identify symptoms of anxiety, but I recognize them in my behavior now. I didn't realize how "easy" it was to trigger your amygdala into reacting for you, because I was always living in a sort of survival mode. Therapy aside (my therapist taught me how to be curious about myself and how to recognize and deal with trauma responses)- what helped me the most was recognizing you literally can't access the rational part of your brain (prefrontal cortex) when you are upset, but you can train yourself to change your reactions and get to your rational side sooner (this is what mindfulness practice can do).

I love sharing this TikTok, that along with starting to read "Nurturing Our Humanity" by Robert Sapolsky has really helped me understand my own and others' behavior so much more... It's really freeing, in a way! But I think the Trauma healing part is really important if that is something you struggle with. I don't know why I never realized how much my childhood could affect me as an adult.

I don't know if any of this was obvious to you but I've pieced it all slowly together over the last year and a half and it's really helped me feel so much better.

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRqypxeK/