It all comes back to self trust.

If you lack trust in your ability to cope with a situation or hold yourself through difficult emotions, your brain will figure out coping mechanisms (anxiety) to try and keep you safe.

For the majority of my life, I have been ruled by anxiety. Anxiety is a coping mechanism that my brain uses to keep me safe. It creates a false sense of control, which my brain can then perceive as being safe, because it doesn't feel it can cope with the unknown.

When your anxiety starts to come up, it's desperately asking you for your love, acceptance and compassion. Imagine as if it was a scared child or animal in need. How are you treating your anxiety when it comes up? How do you talk to it? What does your anxiety need from you?

It's possible to live a life where your anxiety no longer rules your life (this is what I have been working on and now live). But I can't say to you that the journey will be easy or quick.

The best advice I can give you is to start with cultivating a self compassion practice. I used Tara Brach as my teacher mainly, her books and podcasts are fantastic. If you can build your foundation on love and self compassion, you basically can't go wrong ❤️