5 Ways Body-Centered Therapy Alleviates Anxiety

If you have ever struggled with anxiety before, you know that it goes far beyond merely feeling nervous. Sometimes symptoms of anxiety can be so debilitating that you experience a panic attack and fear that you might need medical attention.

Yes, anxiety may be “all in your head,” but you feel it throughout your entire body. And thinking positive thoughts or telling yourself that it’s all going to be okay isn’t a magical cure.

Thankfully, body-centered therapy, is an effective treatment for many people with anxiety. Here are five ways that a body-centered focus can help you manage your anxiety symptoms and move forward on your healing journey.

1. Relieving Physical Symptoms

Anxiety impacts our emotional and mental well-being, but it’s also a physical experience. An anxious person may feel their heart start racing. They may have trouble breathing, they might lose their appetite, or they might feel nauseous.

Sometimes, anxiety can be so severe that it can lead to a panic attack, which can feel very similar to a heart attack.

Body-centered therapy is all about shifting your mindset and working with your body for a holistic approach to healing. By incorporating both the mind and body into the healing process, it treats both mental and physical symptoms of anxiety.

2. Awareness of the Mind-Body Connection

Many of us view our minds and our bodies separately. But if you’ve dealt with anxiety, you may have already begun to see how they are connected.

Those anxious thoughts can translate into uncomfortable physical symptoms in which body-centered therapy can help relieve. But the benefits go deeper than just physical relief.

Body-centered therapy also teaches us more about the importance of the mind-body connection. It helps you recognize the physical sensations or symptoms that arise in connection with the thoughts and emotions you are experiencing.

3. Practicing Deep Breathing

Even people who don’t have anxiety take shallow breaths frequently. But taking deeper breaths can help you stay calm and centered.

One crucial aspect of body-centered therapy is learning to breathe deeply and slowly, which naturally soothes your nervous system. And deep breathing is not something that you can only practice during a therapy session—it’s a skill that you can work on at any time.

For example, if you’re on the bus during your morning commute, spend a few minutes focusing on your breathing. Doing dishes? Concentrate on your breath. Going to a walk? It’s the perfect time to incorporate the breathing techniques that you learn in body-centered therapy.

4. Improving Posture

When you’re feeling anxious and insecure, you might be inclined to slouch. If you’re nervous around people you don’t know or feel guilty when you’re taking up space; your instinct is often to try to shrink yourself physically.

But standing and sitting with poor posture all day can make you feel cramped. By practicing body-centered therapy and becoming more comfortable and confident in your body, you’ll find yourself standing a little taller as you go about your day.

5. A Good Night’s Sleep

Anxiety can keep you up at night. You may find yourself tossing and turning as you mull over your worries. Perhaps you get stressed out as you think about your to-do list, or wake up in the middle of the night and have trouble falling back asleep.

Body-centered therapy can be very relaxing, and as you learn to let go of your thoughts and clear your mind, you may have an easier time falling asleep each night. Another hour or two of sleep each night can also reduce anxiety symptoms.

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Interested in trying body-centered therapy to alleviate your anxiety? We’re here to help. Contact us today to discuss your options and schedule a session.