Healing Anxiety Through Creative Expression and Self-Discovery

In this episode of the AnxietyRX Podcast, we're diving deep into the messy world of anxiety, family drama, and career blues. My guest, Michelle - another MBRX student - is an internal auditor who's been on quite a journey. She has tried everything from CBT to IFS to brain spotting to tackle her anxiety, and she's finally figuring it out. We're talking about how her job didn't quite fit and how family issues were adding to the stress, exploring the importance of self-awareness, the role of safety in therapy, and finding healthy coping strategies. Michelle's story is a real eye-opener. It's a powerful reminder that healing isn't always easy, but it's totally possible. Tune in to hear more! Thank you for listening and you can find me on IG: @theanxietymd if you have any questions. PS. If you would like to join the MBRX family of 4000+ anxiety WARRIORS who are shifting from coping with their anxiety to actually HEALING it, click the link below: https://www.theanxietymd.com/MBRX ______________________________ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction 01:38 - Discussion on Career 02:24 - Family Influence on Career Choices 03:52 - Loss of Connection with Self 08:04 - Mother's Death and Its Impact 09:44 - Anxiety After Mother's Death 10:39 - Career Misalignment and Grief 11:33 - Job Market Struggles 12:20 - Self-Awareness and Change 12:46 - Complaining and Mental State 14:41 - Childhood Trauma and Anxiety 15:05 - Mother Hunger and Attachment Issues 16:05 - Separation of Self and Anxiety 17:36 - Processing Grief and Moving Forward 17:42 - The Importance of Sports 18:27 - Exploring Anxiety's Roots 19:20 - Challenges with EMDR 20:18 - Referring to Inner Parts 20:44 - Discovering Brain Spotting 22:51 - Neuroscience of Anxiety 24:41 - The Illusion of Protective Anxiety 25:27 - Creating Safety in Therapy 27:19 - Combining Modalities 28:14 - Witnessing in Therapy 29:02 - The Role of the Body in Healing 31:45 - Future Aspirations in Therapy 32:29 - The Intersection of Mind, Body, and Spirit 33:19 - Reflecting on Personal Growth 35:52 - Exploring Maladaptive Patterns 37:36 - Healing Attachment Trauma 38:41 - Writing as a Healing Tool 39:38 - Identifying Sources of Grief 41:32 - Relationship Anxiety 42:33 - Recognizing Healing Potential 44:07 - Curiosity and the Unknown 49:52 - Trauma Bonds 51:29 - Morning Panic Attacks 52:33 - Self-Soothing Techniques 53:22 - Breathwork and Dysregulation 54:24 - Childhood Experiences and Breathing 55:26 - Finding Safe Breathwork 57:10 - Intellectual vs. Emotional Safety 59:02 - Healing Through Safety 01:01:36 - Using Poetry for Healing 01:03:51 - Right Brain and Poetry 01:05:27 - Incremental Healing