Erica Bailey

Part of what has helped me with recognizing I have anxiety is obviously being in therapy, but coming to understand where those anxious thoughts come from has helped me have compassion for that side of myself.

So when I'm ruminating over these experiences or having nightmares about how my first day of class is going to go, I can recognize that that's my body's way of trying to prepare me for those situations, trying to walk through the worst case scenario so that when it happens, you know, I won't be so surprised.

So when I'm ruminating over these experiences or having nightmares about how my first day of class is going to go, I can recognize that that's my body's way of trying to prepare me for those situations, trying to walk through the worst case scenario so that when it happens, you know, I won't be so surprised.

So when I'm ruminating over these experiences or having nightmares about how my first day of class is going to go, I can recognize that that's my body's way of trying to prepare me for those situations, trying to walk through the worst case scenario so that when it happens, you know, I won't be so surprised.

And of course, that's really not effective and I never feel prepared for those experiences. But recognizing the source of that and where it comes from has helped me approach that side of myself with more kindness and acceptance and has even sort of lessened its impact on my daily life.

And of course, that's really not effective and I never feel prepared for those experiences. But recognizing the source of that and where it comes from has helped me approach that side of myself with more kindness and acceptance and has even sort of lessened its impact on my daily life.

And of course, that's really not effective and I never feel prepared for those experiences. But recognizing the source of that and where it comes from has helped me approach that side of myself with more kindness and acceptance and has even sort of lessened its impact on my daily life.

Exactly. One example is I get anxious when I first wake up in the morning and, you know, I'll feel really anxious when I'm in my kitchen making my coffee. And what I sort of tell my body is like, I know that you feel like there's a tiger in the room, but there's not a tiger in the room.

Exactly. One example is I get anxious when I first wake up in the morning and, you know, I'll feel really anxious when I'm in my kitchen making my coffee. And what I sort of tell my body is like, I know that you feel like there's a tiger in the room, but there's not a tiger in the room.

Exactly. One example is I get anxious when I first wake up in the morning and, you know, I'll feel really anxious when I'm in my kitchen making my coffee. And what I sort of tell my body is like, I know that you feel like there's a tiger in the room, but there's not a tiger in the room.

I'm just making my coffee and, you know, we're going to get through this coffee and then we're going to approach our day with some calm and just kind of take it one step at a time.

I'm just making my coffee and, you know, we're going to get through this coffee and then we're going to approach our day with some calm and just kind of take it one step at a time.

I'm just making my coffee and, you know, we're going to get through this coffee and then we're going to approach our day with some calm and just kind of take it one step at a time.

Absolutely. And recognizing where that comes from and sort of where its bases are irrational can help me take it less seriously almost. That's part of where the idea that there's a tiger in the room makes me feel better is my body's having a really strong reaction that's sort of divorced from reality. And to the extent I can maybe poke fun at it or lessen its impact, I can almost embrace it and it

Absolutely. And recognizing where that comes from and sort of where its bases are irrational can help me take it less seriously almost. That's part of where the idea that there's a tiger in the room makes me feel better is my body's having a really strong reaction that's sort of divorced from reality. And to the extent I can maybe poke fun at it or lessen its impact, I can almost embrace it and it

Absolutely. And recognizing where that comes from and sort of where its bases are irrational can help me take it less seriously almost. That's part of where the idea that there's a tiger in the room makes me feel better is my body's having a really strong reaction that's sort of divorced from reality. And to the extent I can maybe poke fun at it or lessen its impact, I can almost embrace it and it

feels less serious. It feels less all consuming and it's still a part of myself, but it's one I can approach with more grace.

feels less serious. It feels less all consuming and it's still a part of myself, but it's one I can approach with more grace.

feels less serious. It feels less all consuming and it's still a part of myself, but it's one I can approach with more grace.

People often talk about conversations, especially with friends or close others, as a way to feel more authentic or moments where they really felt like themselves. Part of why that happens, I think, is people give you the space to explore those feelings, to talk about them in more detail. And they'll often ask questions or have you look at that problem from a new angle.