Reframing Anxiety: A New Perspective on Healing
The Truth About Anxiety
Anxiety is something many of us experience, yet we rarely stop to question how we talk about it. More often than not, we treat it as a flaw, something to be ashamed of or managed quietly. But what if we've been looking at anxiety the wrong way?
Anxiety isn’t a personal failure. It’s not a sign that you’re weak, broken, or incapable. In reality, anxiety is a signal—a message from your body that something needs your attention. The real issue isn’t the anxiety itself, but how we respond to it.
For years, we’ve been taught that the best we can do is cope—deep breathing, mindfulness, or grounding exercises. While these can help in the moment, they often only address the symptoms, not the root cause. True healing requires us to go deeper, to understand what anxiety is trying to tell us, and—most importantly—to stop identifying with it.
Are You Identifying With Anxiety?
One of the most subtle yet powerful ways we reinforce anxiety in our lives is through our language. Think about how often you’ve said, “I have anxiety.” It’s a common phrase, but have you ever considered what it actually means?
When we say, "I have anxiety," we begin to claim it as part of our identity. It becomes something that belongs to us, something ingrained in who we are. Over time, this mindset makes it harder to release, because we start to believe that anxiety isn’t just something we experience—it’s something we are.
But anxiety isn’t an identity. It’s a feeling, an emotion, a response to certain situations, just like excitement or sadness. When we shift our language, we shift our relationship with it. Instead of saying, "I have anxiety," try saying:
👉 "This situation has me feeling anxious."
This small yet powerful shift creates distance between you and the emotion. It reminds you that anxiety is temporary, something that comes and goes, rather than something that defines you.
Getting Curious About Anxiety: The Key to True Healing
Instead of trying to get rid of anxiety the moment it arises, what if we got curious about it?
Anxiety isn’t random. It shows up for a reason. Every anxious thought or feeling is an invitation to look deeper—to uncover what’s triggering it in the first place. When we identify our triggers, we gain the power to respond differently.
Triggers Are Not the Enemy
Many people see their triggers as something negative—something to avoid at all costs. But the truth is, triggers are not bad. In fact, they are necessary. They are little gifts, guiding us toward what still needs healing.
When we know our triggers, we can:
✔ Respond to them with intention instead of fear.
✔ Understand what is truly bothering us beneath the surface.
✔ Take the emotion out of the experience, making it feel less overwhelming.
And the best part? The more we expose ourselves to the same trigger while responding to it differently, the more we eliminate it as a trigger. Imagine living a life where the things that once sent you into a spiral no longer hold power over you.
How empowering is that? To know that you don’t have to be triggered into anxiety anymore?
Reframing Anxiety: A New Approach to Healing
By changing how we speak about anxiety, and by getting curious about why it shows up, we begin to change how we experience it. When we stop seeing it as an unshakable part of our identity, we take back control. Instead of feeling powerless, we can meet our anxiety with curiosity, asking:
What is my body trying to tell me?
Is there something I need to change in my environment, relationships, or habits?
How can I support myself through this moment instead of fearing it?
When we approach anxiety with awareness rather than resistance, we create space for healing. It no longer feels like an enemy we must fight but a message we can learn from.
A Mantra for When Anxiety Arises
Next time you feel anxiety creeping in, remind yourself:
"This feeling of anxiety is temporary, and I will allow it to ebb and flow."
By acknowledging it as a passing emotion rather than an identity, you begin to free yourself from its grip. You stop battling anxiety and start listening to it, which ultimately allows you to heal at a deeper level.
A New Relationship with Anxiety
We can’t eliminate anxiety entirely—it’s a natural part of life. But we can change how we relate to it. Instead of seeing it as a flaw or a permanent part of who we are, we can begin to see it for what it truly is: a signal, a message, a momentary experience.
When we reframe anxiety as something that moves through us rather than something that owns us, we reclaim our power. We stop being defined by it, and instead, we learn to work with it.
And in that shift, we create space not just for healing—but for freedom.
Written By: Courtney Lillie, Somatic Empowerment Coach
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