The Importance of Holding the Space

April 16, 2024May 8, 2024 Lisa Hutchison LMHC Empath Toolkit, grief/loss, psychology, relationships, trauma blog, counseling, endoflife, holdingthespace, mental-health, psychology, therapy

Holding the space is an energetic action, which allows others to express themselves freely and openly. During this activity, you listen attentively and non- judgmentally. This is not a time to interject your opinions or push your agenda. Holding the space is all about being present to another’s suffering, without giving a solution or resolution.

You must make a conscious effort to move your energy from the ego into the heart space. It can be challenging to hear difficult emotions and not try to fix them, make it better for someone, or distract yourself. Make sure you are not glancing or looking at your phone or digital device, this can also shut down the other person’s expression. No one wants to open up and be vulnerable, when they feel unimportant.

Think of the times, someone held the space for you. How did you feel? Most likely, you felt comforted and safe, even though your problems were not solved. You may have felt a release of emotional pressure and pain, resulting in relief.

Get Comfortable with Silence

Silence allows you to feel what others are experiencing and your own feelings. This is not easy work and can feel uncomfortable. It can be helpful to have a coach or therapist to talk to about what comes up for you, while helping others. These are opportunities to heal your own wounds.

It is okay during moments of silence to nod your head or say a short, “um hum”. This helps acknowledge you are with the person and listening. Silence within the sharing process, gives the space for others to process and feel what is going on within them, in that moment and time.

Paraphrasing- Using an Empathic Response

After the person has shared all they came to share, it may be helpful to paraphrase what you heard or simply give an empathic response, such as, “This sounds difficult.” When paraphrasing what another has said, you can check in to see if you are understanding correctly. Ask them, “Did I get that right?” If not, listen again to find a deeper clarity and understanding.

When to Hold the Space for Others

1. As a counselor, we hold the space throughout treatment. This begins at the initial consultation and whenever your client is expressing difficult or challenging emotions, such as grief, depression, or trauma.

2. At the end of life. There are numerous opportunities to hold the space, whether it is talking about end of life planning, anticipatory grief (grief that occurs before a death), holding vigil during the dying process, or after death care for the bereaved.

3. As a friend or family member, whenever they need to express difficult emotions. You may feel you know what is best, but the truth is you do not. Each person has their own journey and ways of navigating that journey. Trust in other people’s capacity to solve their own problems, use their intuition, and find their own way.

4. Holding the space for yourself. There are times you will need to step away and just be, in order to process and heal. You can do this through meditation or writing in a journal. Allow yourself to express all you need in a silence space of your choosing.

You may also want to read How to Maintain Your Energy While Helping Others

Lisa Hutchison LMHC is a Licensed Psychotherapist, Spiritual Coach, and End of Life Transition Specialist. She works for caring professionals, who want to prevent or treat compassion fatigue. Lisa empowers you to take as good care of yourself, as you do others.

Lisa Hutchison is the Amazon bestselling author of I Fill My Cup: A Journal for Compassionate Helpers , Shoot for the Moon: A Manifestation Journal for Compassionate Helpers, kindle book Setting Ethical Limits for Caring & Competent Professionals. and #1 Best Seller kindle book Counseling Patients at the End of Life. Get a FREE 10 page E-book; Why Compassionate People Run Out of Energy and What You Can Do About It at http://www.lisahutchison.net

How the Moon Supports Helpers to Manifest

March 19, 2024March 20, 2024 Lisa Hutchison LMHC astrology/moon, Empath Toolkit, manifestation, psychology caregiver, goal setting, healing, helpers, Moon manifestation, self-care

If you have not tried setting your goals to the moon cycle, give it a try. I have been using this method of manifestation for years. It not only keeps me focused twice a month on what I desire but I also have achieved many of my personal development goals.

Compassionate Helpers Do a Lot for Others

Compassionate people have a lot going on. I get it; some of you, despite your best efforts for self-care, find difficulty making your goals a reality, otherwise known as manifesting. Life happens, the kids get sick, the car breaks down, and bills pile up. Caretaking duties take over. You have to attend to what needs to get done, right now. The result is your personal development goals take a back seat, and your energy is left depleted. We all have had these moments of sleep-walking through life and awakening again.

Adding to these external stressors, the mind easily gets caught up in habitual behaviors, unhealthy habits, and distractions. In an effort to self-soothe, we distract ourselves with social media, shopping, food, people pleasing, etc. You may find yourself experiencing memory difficulties and concentration is-sues. It is not surprising that you might not know how to get from point A to point B, with your goal or find your motivation is lacking.

How the Moon Cycles Can Help You

Many people, who are sensitive and compassionate, naturally tune into nature and this includes the New and Full Moons. People, like you, find they relax, heal, and experience personal growth when connecting with nature. In fact, many people report an awareness of emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual effects from the increasing and deceasing energy during the lunar cycle.

You may have noticed more energy during a full moon or an inward pull when the moon is in a new phase. It is these phases of the Full and New Moon that offer opportune moments to let go of what no longer serves you or to formulate fresh goals and plans for your life.

Generally, there are twelve Full and New Moons a year. You can learn to create a healthy habit by writing your goals out twice a month.

A New Journal Offering

I am excited to announce, I have created a journal called Shoot for the Moon: A Manifestation Journal for Compassionate Helpers.

Shoot for the Moon will help you learn about the moon’s energy, how it helps you manifest, increase your self-awareness, learn what goals are best to set at which phase of the moon, and have an opportunity to practice a variety of techniques to heal psychologically and spiritually. Through this journey of letting go and creating, you will attract the people, situations, and things you desire.

I am going to supply you with many practices to connect within during the New and Full Moons, including numerous reminders. I encourage you to try all the activities. Feel how these exercises work for you and your life, then intuitively follow what steps get results for you. The best way to achieve your goals is finding the system that works for you and repeating it again and again.

What is unique about this book is I have combined it with over twenty years of experience as a psychotherapist. These are the practices I have successfully accomplished with my clients as a licensed mental health counselor and spiritual coach.

If you are interested in this Journal for yourself or a friend, it is available starting today to purchase on Amazon. Click here to learn more about Shoot for the Moon book and where to purchase it!

Lisa Hutchison LMHC is a licensed psychotherapist and spiritual coach. She works for caring professionals, who want to prevent or treat compassion fatigue. Lisa teaches you practical methods to refill, rejuvenate, and protect your energy, while achieving your personal development goals.

The Importance of Telling Your Story

January 18, 2024 Lisa Hutchison LMHC creativity, psychology, writing books, coping skills, creativity, fiction, healing, personalgrowth, speaking, therapy, writing

“You own everything that happened to you. Tell your stories.”–Anne Lamott, Author

Writing or talking about your personal stories helps you process, gain a sense of self-control, and find meaning in your experiences. Some people write in a journal to express their thoughts and feelings. This can be cathartic and a good record of past events. What you will find interesting, is that overtime, you may feel differently about the stories you write. When this occurs, it often shows where you have made personal growth.

The Power of Others

I have found it is the sharing of stories with others, that heals you the most. This can be done in a confidential therapy session, talking with a friend, or through publication. It is when you are seen, held space for, and acknowledged, you move forward on your healing journey.

My Journey with Story Telling

I have written and talked about several personal stories and experiences. Through my telling of stories, I have healed and helped others on similar journeys. Some of these stories were told to friends, others through speaking events, some stories are published in magazines, while others are in books.

One story was about my Mom’s positivity, strength, and faith following a severe stroke, which left her entire right side paralyzed. For me, I felt guided to share with others how she coped against adversity but I also needed to process what happened to me. I talked about my stories with a couple of friends, did several talks, and wrote. If you are interested in reading more about Mom’s story, called Focusing on What We Have, it can be found in Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Power of Positive: 101 Inspirational Stories about Changing Your Life through Positive Thinking and Chicken Soup for the Soul: For Mom, with Love: 101 Stories about Why We Love Our Mothers.

Another story I have shared was when my husband and I became lost in the woods of Newfoundland, Canada, while on vacation. Through this experience and a miraculous series of synchronistic events, we met a new friend- twice! We still keep in touch once a year with this friend around Christmas time. This story, entitled. A Found Friend, can be read in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Believe in Miracles: 101 Stories of Hope, Answered Prayers and Divine Intervention

Writing About Your Life

Often we want to tell our stories but do not know where to begin. It can feel overwhelming looking at an entire life of experiences. One exercise I have taught in my writing classes is break your life down into tens. It is exactly how it sounds. Type or write down the numbers of your life in a series of tens, for example 1-10, 10-20, 20-30, until you arrive at your current age. Next, write down memories for each span of time. Pick one memory and write a story.

Learning More

If you are interested in writing about your life stories, I offer numerous creative writing classes over the phone, through Google Duo, or in person. To learn more, set up a free 30 minute consult call through my email at lisadhutch@verizon.net

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. I thank you in advance for your purchases.

How Do you Tell Your Stories?

Lisa Hutchison LMHC is a licensed psychotherapist, spiritual coach, and creative writing teacher. She works for caring professionals, who want to prevent or treat compassion fatigue. Her specialty is teaching personal expression, assertiveness, and boundary setting. Lisa is the Amazon bestselling author of I Fill My Cup: A Journal for Compassionate Helpers , the kindle book Setting Ethical Limits for Caring & Competent Professionals. and #1 Best Seller kindle book Counseling Patients at the End of Life. Get a FREE 10 page E-book; Why Compassionate People Run Out of Energy and What You Can Do About It at http://www.lisahutchison.net

How to Focus on the Good

December 19, 2023January 5, 2024 Lisa Hutchison LMHC Empath Toolkit, psychology focus, gratitude, healing, hope, mindfulness, positivity, self-care

Life has many challenges. It is easy for the mind to focus on what is lacking and wrong. In fact, we are predisposed to do this, to help us survive. Most of us are not in life and death situations but our brains don’t know this. When you stay stuck in this kind of limited perspective, it blocks the flow of love, peace, abundance, good health, and joy, from entering your life.

When I talk about “the good,” I am not taking about a false sense of optimism. Looking on the bright side or being overly optimistic can cause harm to yourself and others, in certain situations. It is unrealistic to deny feelings of fear, anger, and sadness that you need to experience.

We need to accept that there are some despicable events occurring in our world and it is important to speak out against injustice. To only focus on this side of life and people, blocks out your good. We cannot change external circumstances, places, or people but we can change our focus when it comes to our thinking. This is where we can take personal responsibility.

Ways to Focus on the Good

Write out a list of all you are grateful for. Gratitude increases the flow of good feelings by focusing on what you have.
Make a list of what is good about you. Often we compare ourselves to others and come up short. Refute that inner critic with all the good you do and the good of who you are.
Practice mindfulness. Be in the present moment. Use your five senses to embrace the wonder and beauty of where you are right now.
Watch a feel good movie. Movies that are inspirational can be a great start. When you watch how other’s overcome challenges, it can motivate you to do the same. If you do not resonate with inspirational films, you may prefer a comedy. What better way to feel good then to laugh!
Practice spirituality. Meditation and prayer can help lift your mood. Turning to a power greater than yourself, can give you hope and strength.
Surround yourself with positive people. Spend time with the healers, helpers, and artists, of the world. Be around those who look to make a positive change in society.
Take time to rest. Resting gives your body, mind, and spirit, space to process. Just be without taking in other’s opinions and energies.

How do you focus on the good?

Lisa Hutchison LMHC is a licensed psychotherapist, spiritual coach, and creative writing teacher. She works for caring professionals, who want to prevent or treat compassion fatigue. Her specialty is teaching stress management, assertiveness, and boundary setting. Lisa is the Amazon bestselling author of I Fill My Cup: A Journal for Compassionate Helpers , the kindle book Setting Ethical Limits for Caring & Competent Professionals. and #1 Best Seller kindle book Counseling Patients at the End of Life. Get a FREE 10 page E-book; Why Compassionate People Run Out of Energy and What You Can Do About It at http://www.lisahutchison.net

How to Bust Through Four Kinds of Writer’s Block

November 17, 2023 Lisa Hutchison LMHC creativity, psychology, writing creativity, psychology, writersblock, writingskills

Every writer at times faces the dreaded, writer’s block. You sit down at the computer and come up with nothing, zilch, or nada. The first step in busting through writer’s block is understanding where it is happening within your emotions, mind, body, and spirit.

The Four Kinds of Writer’s Block

Emotional Blocks- Emotionally, you experience fears about putting your thoughts out into the world. I am here to assure you that it is normal for a writer to experience some form of fear, at one point or another, in the writing process. If you weren’t feeling fear, you would not be growing.

Some examples of these fears are a fear of failure, a fear of criticism, a fear of rejection, and a fear of being visible. These fears only block you, when you resist or ignore them. Once you become aware of which fears are holding you back, you can work to sit with with each one. Acknowledge them, feel them, learn from them, and then let them go.

Mental Blocks- Mentally, you have critical thoughts about your writing. Many people refer to this experience as their inner critic. An inner critic is your own critical voice or thoughts, which create doubt and insecurity about your writing ability.

These negative thoughts are a normal experience not only for writers, but all human beings. Our brains are naturally geared towards looking at the negative, in an effort to keep us safe. This was much more useful in the dangerous hunter-gatherer times. Today, our mind can go into overdrive with misperceived dangers. Acknowledge this voice, listen to the message, and thank it for protecting you. Then move on with your writing.

Traumatic Blocks-Trauma can and will impact your writing skills. Physically, your brain, will shift from the cerebral cortex to the limbic system, when it experiences traumatic stress. This means your higher reasoning skills are now under the influence of fight, flight or freeze mode. When you experience trauma, burnout, or compassion fatigue, seek out a qualified therapist. Once your start processing the trauma, the writing will flow again.

Spiritual Blocks- Spiritually, you become blocked when you are disconnected from your intuition. You find it difficult to hear your inner voice or perhaps you have heard it and discounted it. Too much analysis can lead to writing paralysis. It is important to get out of your head and back into your heart and soul. Sit with a journal, pray, and listen to the guidance you receive. Write down any and all impressions. Make sure you, watch for synchronicities and signs.

I am happy to announce, I will resume teaching writing classes in person, starting in Spring of 2024. I will continue to offer all my writing classes by phone and virtually.

Lisa Hutchison LMHC is a licensed psychotherapist, spiritual coach and creative writing teacher. She works for caring professionals, who want to prevent or treat compassion fatigue. Her specialty is teaching stress management, assertiveness and boundary setting. Lisa is the Amazon bestselling author of I Fill My Cup: A Journal for Compassionate Helpers , the kindle book Setting Ethical Limits for Caring & Competent Professionals. and #1 Best Seller kindle book Counseling Patients at the End of Life. Get a FREE 10 page E-book; Why Compassionate People Run Out of Energy and What You Can Do About It at http://www.lisahutchison.net

Projections: These are Your Feelings, Not Mine

October 12, 2023October 12, 2023 Lisa Hutchison LMHC Empath Toolkit, psychology, relationships boundaries, coping skills, psychology, relationships, self-care

Projection is a psychological defense mechanism. Freud discovered when some people were in therapy they would transfer their feelings, thoughts or actions onto someone else. This projection process gets activated in order to protect the person from undesirable or uncomfortable feelings. The goal of treatment is to teach the client how to sit with what is bothering them.

The surprising thing is, most people don’t realize they are projecting their feelings, thoughts or actions onto other people because it is subconscious. Projection isn’t personal, yet it can be difficult for an empathic person to recognize because they take everything to heart. This is why, it is important to learn how to recognize these occurrences, in order to protect your energy and mental health.

The Problem with Projections

1. An assumption and/or blame can worsen a simple conflict and turn it into a big old mess.

2. It is unhealthy to be around a person who projects their pain onto you because as a compassionate person, it places you at risk for accepting and taking it into your system. You could internalize blame, shame, anger or anxiety, which isn’t true for you.

What are Some Factors that Play a Part when Others Project?

1. They are feeling sensitive and defensive about what someone says or does. On some level, they have been triggered by a past event.

2. Rather than take responsibility for overreacting or making assumptions, they blame other people for what they have said or done. This is done to avoid uncomfortable feelings.

3. When someone is projecting, they lack empathy. They do not have the ability to put themselves in other people’s shoes.

How to Respond to Others’ Projections

1. You have to become aware of the projection. A good indicator is the response does not match the situation. It feels over-reactive.

2. Take some deep breaths. Stay calm.

3. Set boundaries and correct any assumptions the other person has made about you. You can say, “I disagree. What I said was …” This may help them gain an insight into their behavior and take responsibility.

4. If the other person has not taken responsibility, it is time to move on from the conversation and/or relationship.

How to Cut Down on Projecting onto Others?

1. When you feel reactive emotionally, it is not the time to respond. Take some deep breaths.

2. Journal what happened- just the facts. Describe objectively what happened and what was said.

3. Re-formulate your response and take responsibility for your part. Keep it short and sweet.

4. If you need further help go to a licensed counselor, who can be objective with the situation.

How Do you Deal with Projections? (Whether they are your own or someone else’s)

Lisa Hutchison LMHC is a licensed psychotherapist and spiritual coach. She works for caring professionals, who want to prevent or treat compassion fatigue. Her specialty is teaching stress management, assertiveness and boundary setting. Lisa is the Amazon bestselling author of I Fill My Cup: A Journal for Compassionate Helpers , the kindle book Setting Ethical Limits for Caring & Competent Professionals. and #1 Best Seller kindle book Counseling Patients at the End of Life. Get a FREE 10 page E-book; Why Compassionate People Run Out of Energy and What You Can Do About It at http://www.lisahutchison.net

How to Bring Autumn into Your Life Using the Five Senses

September 18, 2023 Lisa Hutchison LMHC Empath Toolkit autumn, mindfulness, presence

I have been noticing a small resistance within myself in regards to the changing seasons. I find as I am growing older, time is speeding up much faster than I want it to and I really enjoyed our first summer in our new home. Rather than drag my feet into autumn, I wanted to embrace the beauty of this unique season.

Living in New England, Autumn has many treasures to delight the five senses. In fact, many tourists come here to see the changing leaves and partake in a variety of activities. In this blog, I will take a journey through the five senses and share with you how to savor the energy of Autumn.

Connecting with the Five Senses

Through the sense of smell, we connect with one of our strongest senses. A smell can take you back to a specific point in time and a memory. There are also studies which determine certain scents can affect our moods. Scents are very subjective. This means what one person finds appealing, another could find repulsive. Find the scent that brings you the most pleasure. For me, the scent of autumn is best represented by pumpkin spice. This past weekend, I found a perfect pumpkin spice candle scent, at a local fall festival.

Our next strongest sense is our sight. Unfortunately, in this current world we are often too distracted by our phones to notice the beauty all around us. Yes, take a picture or two and then put the phone away. I want you to really notice the details of what you see, the colors and the dimensions. The sight of autumn, for me, is the changing leaves but I also enjoy a beautiful wreath. I recently purchased this one below. I found I like the branches more fanned out. The sight coming down the driveway looks great! Here is the Amazon link , if you are interested.

Taste is another sense that can bring us back to the past. A part of tasting is still smelling, as our mouth and nose are in very close proximity. Again, our sense of taste is subjective. For me, one taste of Autumn is apples, which I combine with touch. Apple picking is a favorite activity of ours. I love walking through the orchards and picking out which apples speak to me. There are many recipes you can make with apples, my favorite is homemade apple sauce.

The sounds of autumn can be represented by walking through a pile of fallen leaves. I feel there is no better sound then the shuffling of feet through crisp leaves.

As you can see often one activity, such as apple picking, can combine multiple senses. Have fun this autumn and play with what works for you. Whether you live in New England, another part of the country or world, find your own ways to bring the season of autumn into your life.

How are you bring Autumn into Your Life?

Taking Space in Relationships is Necessary

August 29, 2023 Lisa Hutchison LMHC Empath Toolkit, psychology, relationships boundaries, codependent, relationships

Healthy relationships can withstand time being spent together and time spent apart. Making and taking space can bring balance to any relationship. When done with intention and love, time apart, can be healing for all parties.

What’s the problem with too much time together?

Too much time together, prevents each person from learning and growing about themselves, as individuals. How will you discover you own wants and needs if you are constantly thinking of someone else and what makes them happy? To tell the truth, we cannot make anyone else happy, that is an inside job.

As an empathic person, it is essential to release other people’s energies, in order to connect within your self and to the Divine. You may already be carving out alone time on a regular basis because of this reason.

In codependent relationships, one person often plays a more passive role trying to appease the other. A great deal of energy is spent focusing on others, resulting in a loss of self. This dependency can lead to an abusive relationship or be a sign the person is in an abusive relationship.

How to Take Space

It is normal in every relationship to take space here and there. You may be going through major changes, illness, stress, grief and need alone time to process. It is okay to put more focus on your own needs and wants during these times.

In dysfunctional relationships, a conversation about taking space can either be heard and respected or could damage it. Some people, who are insecure may feel threatened by a change in dynamic. This is not a reason to not take space. In these types of situations, a behavioral approach without explanation would work best. For example, seeing each other less frequently or spending less time with the person when you see them, letting their call go to voicemail and then returning the call a few hours or a day later, when you feel emotionally ready.

If you have a healthy relationship, you can have an honest talk about what you are experiencing and how you value your connection but need more alone time.

When Taking Space is Unhealthy

Taking space is unhealthy when you do not maintain open communication or you ignore the other person. In extreme cases of abuse in which your boundaries are not respected, you do not have to give any explanation. I am finding with some clients that their is confusion between abusive behavior and behavior you just don’t like. If you don’t agree with what someone says, it isn’t healthy to ghost or give others the silent treatment. This is emotional abuse and not okay.

Wrapping it up

Remember taking space when done with the intention of love is not selfish, abusive or wrong. It is an act of self and other care. If you are having difficulty creating boundaries of space, speak to a mental health professional to help you.

How do you take space in your relationships?

How to Remain Grounded When the World is Spinning

July 25, 2023July 25, 2023 Lisa Hutchison LMHC Empath Toolkit, grief/loss, relationships, trauma grounding, healing

I am finding myself in a state of overwhelm as I write this blog post. This entire year has been full of changes and transformation. The month of July has been particularly stressful. First off, my husband and I were exposed to COVID. Partly by a miracle, other part by being mostly outside, we did not get it and continue on our streak of health. I am grateful. During this time of testing and waiting, we received tragic news of a sudden death in the family. This was completely unexpected and we are still processing. I am also hoping that the jury duty I have been summoned to at the end of the month will be cancelled. If it doesn’t, I know I will be okay.

I, like many of you, are dealing with a lot personally. This is why I wanted to write about the importance of staying and/or getting grounded.

What is grounding?

Grounding is also known as Earthing. It is an energetic technique that connects your bodily energy to the electrical vibration of the earth. Grounding helps you to feel stable and secure. This is especially important when the events of the world and those around you are unstable.

Some ways to ground

Visualization- You can visualize your feet are connected to earth through a network of tree roots. Once you imagine the roots, see a red color of energy travel up them, through your feet and into your body.
Walk bare foot- The feel of your feet on the earth, grass, or sand can connect you to the vibration of grounding.
Eat foods that are grown in the earth- Think root vegetables, such as potatoes and carrots.
Eat meat- Some believe that eating meat which is a heavy protein helps you to ground because it focuses your energy down towards your stomach to digest.
Breathe from your center. Find the center of your body and focus your breath there. Stomp your feet a couple of times to make a connection to the earth. Breathe slowly in and out, as you feel the grounding energy enter your feet.
Drumming- Listen to or play some drums. The sound of the drum can replicate a mother’s heartbeat in the womb or the vibrations in the earth. Tapping into the subconscious through music is healing. I have been using my drum once again. Playing outdoors can increase the effects of grounding.
Have a Reiki healing session- Reiki helps to balance all your chakras, including the first chakra which is the root chakra. This connects you to the Earth.
Buy a grounding mat. A healer suggested a grounding mat to me. I admit, I was a little skeptical, at first. I bought one and it works great! My husband and I even tested the mat with an electrical tester tool and it showed it was grounding when plugged in. Here is the one I use : Hooga Grounding Mat for Sleep, Energy, Pain Relief, Inflammation, Balance, Wellness. Earth Connected Therapy.

How do You Ground Your Energy?

Why Anxiety Causes Poor Decision Making

June 30, 2023 Lisa Hutchison LMHC Empath Toolkit, psychology anxiety, decisionmaking, impulsivity, indecisiveness

I advise my clients to hold off on decisions when they feel panicked or too anxious. I realize there are times when decisions have to be made and you are feeling anxious. Most of the time, you are not under the pressure and time constraints you think you are. The problem with anxiety is we believe the lie that we have to decide right now or something bad will happen.

Anxiety and the Brain

Anxiety causes our brain to shift into fight, freeze or flight mode. These are great survival instincts, which protect you from danger. For day to day decision making, you want to get out of the primitive brain and access higher levels of reasoning. The primitive brain thinks in black and white, absolutes. This can actually increase anxiety by believing you only have a limited amount of options.

Too much anxiety weakens your empathic response for yourself and others. When you are stuck in anxiety, that is all you see and experience. This makes it difficult to put yourself in someone else’s shoes.

Anxiety Leads to Impulsive Decisions or Indecisiveness

Anxiety can cause you to jump into a decision, you later regret. Making an anxious decision can lead to more anxiety, when you face the repercussions of that decision. Impulsivity can cause damage to relationships, when you act without thinking.

The other side of the coin is anxiety can cause you to freeze and choose no action. What some people forget is choosing no action, is a choice.

What Can You Do?

Rather than make a decision, slow down your breathing. Ground your energy and find the center of your being. Sit with the anxiety, and breathe. If you feel too overwhelmed, do something to burn off the excess energy, such as go for a walk or write out your thoughts. If you haven’t written already, once the anxiety passes, write about your thoughts and/ or connect with a support person to clearly discuss your options.