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Writer's pictureJulie Cochrane

Anxiety ... and Connection




Anxiety can feel like a constant companion, whispering “what ifs” and keeping you on edge, making it hard to relax or enjoy life fully. If you’ve experienced this, you may also know how isolating anxiety can feel — as if you’re trapped in a loop of worries that no one else fully understands. But here’s a perspective that may resonate: anxiety often has roots in disconnection. Whether it’s a disconnection from yourself, others, or the present moment, these gaps can fuel the cycle of anxiety. Re-establishing these connections can be a powerful way to ease anxiety. In this post, we’ll explore how disconnection fuels anxiety and how reconnecting with these areas can offer calm and clarity. As a Rapid Transformational Therapist (RTT), I’ve seen how RTT, a form of hypnotherapy, can help people get to the root of their anxiety and rebuild these connections for lasting relief. Anxiety and Disconnection from Self

One of the main ways anxiety impacts us is by making us feel out of sync with ourselves. Racing thoughts, constant self-doubt, and the sense of always needing to do more or be better can all be signs of disconnection from your authentic self. Research shows that people struggling with anxiety often feel like they’re in a constant tug-of-war with their inner thoughts, and they find it challenging to settle into a sense of calm and control (Hoge et al., 2021).

RTT can play a vital role in addressing this disconnection. By guiding you into a relaxed state, RTT helps you explore what’s really going on beneath the surface — the subconscious beliefs, past experiences, and self-doubt that fuel anxious thoughts. RTT works by identifying and releasing these deep-rooted issues and replacing them with a stronger, more compassionate connection to yourself. Research supports the effectiveness of hypnotherapy techniques like RTT in reducing anxiety symptoms by fostering self-awareness, relaxation, and emotional resilience (Landry et al., 2020).

The Power of Connecting with Others

Social connection is another area where anxiety often plays a tricky game. Anxiety tells us it’s safer to keep our fears to ourselves, but isolation only strengthens anxiety. Studies show that people who have strong social support tend to cope better with stress and experience lower anxiety levels (Gariépy et al., 2019). Supportive relationships create a safe space to share worries, gain perspective, and feel understood — all of which can reduce anxiety’s impact.

However, anxiety often creates a cycle where you pull away from others, feeling misunderstood or fearing judgment, which only amplifies feelings of isolation. RTT helps address relational anxieties by exploring the roots of these fears and providing a safe, supportive way to work through them. By addressing past relational patterns or barriers, RTT makes it easier to form healthy connections with others, offering a sense of safety and support that weakens anxiety’s grip. The right relationships can be a grounding force, helping you feel more secure and less reactive to anxious thoughts.

Finding Calm in the Present Moment

Anxiety often keeps us focused on “what ifs,” pulling us out of the present and keeping us in a cycle of worry about the future. This disconnection from the present is a hallmark of anxiety and can make it hard to fully experience life as it unfolds. Mindfulness practices, which emphasize staying in the here and now, are proven to help reduce anxiety. Recent research shows that combining mindfulness with hypnotherapy techniques like RTT can reduce anxiety by grounding you in the present (Zhou et al., 2021).

In RTT, we work together to guide your mind into a deeply relaxed, focused state, where those racing thoughts start to quiet down. This practice of “retraining” your focus helps you develop the skill of returning to the present moment, even when anxious thoughts begin to creep in. The more connected you are to the present, the less power anxiety has over your mind, making space for peace and clarity.

Building Self-Compassion as an Antidote to Anxiety

A powerful tool in easing anxiety is self-compassion. Anxiety often comes with a harsh inner critic — the voice that says, “Why can’t I handle this?” or “I should be stronger.” This self-criticism only makes anxiety worse. Practicing self-compassion, however, can provide a healing shift. Research shows that self-compassion is highly effective in reducing anxiety by creating an inner foundation of resilience and understanding (Inwood & Ferrari, 2018).

RTT helps foster this self-compassion by working with the subconscious mind to replace self-critical thoughts with affirmations of kindness and acceptance. By letting go of judgment and allowing for understanding, RTT helps create a foundation for lasting relief from anxiety. Instead of battling with self-doubt, you’ll find a deeper sense of patience and inner support, empowering you to handle life’s challenges without spiraling into anxiety.

Looking Ahead

Anxiety thrives in environments of disconnection — from ourselves, others, and the present. By re-establishing these connections, you can create a sense of calm and resilience that brings lasting relief. RTT offers a unique and powerful approach to fostering these connections, helping you heal the roots of anxiety and regain a sense of peace and control in your life.

In the next post, we’ll explore the connection between depression and isolation. Depression, much like anxiety, is often fueled by feelings of disconnection. We’ll look at how reconnecting with yourself and others can offer support, hope, and a renewed sense of purpose. Stay tuned as we continue this journey toward connection and well-being.

References

Gariépy, G., Honkaniemi, H., & Quesnel-Vallée, A. (2019). Social support and protection from depression and anxiety: A systematic review of current literature. Journal of Affective Disorders, 245, 53–65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2018.10.023

Hoge, E. A., Bui, E., Palitz, S. A., Schwarz, N. R., Owens, M. E., Johnston, J. M., ... & Simon, N. M. (2021). The effect of mindfulness meditation training on biological acute stress responses in generalized anxiety disorder. Psychiatry Research, 295, 113597. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113597

Inwood, E., & Ferrari, M. (2018). Mechanisms of change in the relationship between self-compassion, emotion regulation, and mental health: A systematic review. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, 10(2), 215–235. https://doi.org/10.1111/aphw.12127

Landry, J. M., Frey, B. N., & Campbell, T. S. (2020). A review of the effectiveness of hypnotherapy for anxiety-related disorders. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 75, 102293. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2020.102293

Zhou, Y., Liu, X., Li, Z., Xu, H., & Xu, M. (2021). Mindfulness meditation combined with hypnotherapy for anxiety reduction in young adults: A randomized controlled trial. Behavior Research and Therapy, 143, 103889. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2021.103889

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