nervous energy harness the power of your anxiety

Take a moment to think about your anger, even if it makes you feel uncomfortable. “I’ve learned that pushing myself to talk before I’m ready tends to lead to an argument that could have possibly been avoided,” she tells SELF. For her, stepping away might mean waiting to respond to a text message or focusing on a completely different activity like taking a shower, listening to music, or simply soaking in the sun-anything that’s soothing.

Marcelle Craig, LMFT, the founder of Amplify Connection Therapy in California, is also a fan of this approach. “So if I’m able, I remove myself from the triggering situation and use a grounding technique.” This includes any strategy that calms the body and helps her return to the present, such as sniffing some essential oils or changing into cozy clothes. “Often, my anger and frustration come feeling overwhelmed,” she tells SELF. “Anger is often the first layer of emotion, protecting or masking other emotions like disappointment, overwhelm, hurt, hunger, guilt, or shame.” By physically moving away from the situation-say, going into another room, heading out for a brisk walk, or cutting a call short-you’ll give yourself some space to start unearthing those layers, which will help you recognize why you’re mad and what you may need to feel better.įor social worker Amanda Frey, LCSW, stepping away offers another benefit: It allows her to get out of her head for a second. Let’s talk more about this in an hour/at dinner/tomorrow.” Atmakuri tells SELF. If she’s interacting with another person and they’re playing a role in how she’s feeling, for example, she might tell them, “I need some time to reflect on what we’re talking about. When Anusha Atmakuri, LPC, the founder and CEO of Antara Counseling and Wellness in Austin, feels anger bubbling up, her first instinct is to step away from whatever’s fueling it. To find out, we spoke with six therapists from different backgrounds and asked about the go-to coping skills that truly help when they’re feeling furious.

Nervous energy harness the power of your anxiety