I don’t like rainy days and that’s how I teach people to think differently about anxiety.
Therapists are guilty in speaking in vague, fluffy language which can be inspiring but might late leave you thinking, “wait, what does that actually mean?”. Rainy days are perfect for practicing the mysterious concepts of “accepting what is” and “letting go”.
Rarely do we wake up hoping for rain all day. Especially on a Spring Friday. Instead, we stubbornly get out of bed, look out the window and immediately experience some emotion be it dread, frustration, annoyance, sadness, bitterness, anger, defeat, the list could go on. Whatever the emotion, our brain has very quickly analyzed that we did not want to expect rain and therefore produces an emotion congruent with that analysis.
Then something magical happens. We pout for a minute, say, “well shucks”, then we grab our jacket and rain boots and go about our day. And we take that for granted.
Don’t take that for granted today because that is the natural process our body and minds have for moving past anxiety and other negative emotions. It happens so naturally in this instance, we do not pay any attention to it.
When you looked out the window and saw the day was not what you wanted, your body invited you to attend to negative emotions. Then you 1. Factually observed the situation 2. Decided that you could not control or did not need to control it (accepted) 3. Committed towards turning your attention towards the rest of your day (letting go).
That’s it. That’s essentially the process for managing anxiety. Of course this is much simpler because we’ve experienced rain before. We’re not intimidated by it and we have confidence in our ability to manage a rainy day well, but it provides an excellent metaphor for the anxious process.
Your body has a way of “letting go” of anxiety and we use it ALL. THE. TIME without realizing it. Pay attention to your body when it’s working well and in your favor; not just when it goes off track.
About Ben
Ben Taylor is a counselor in Johnson City, TN. He provides counseling for adolescents, adults, and couples. He specializes in treating Anxiety related concerns including OCD, Panic, Social Anxiety, and PTSD. He also works closely with couples seeking to increase effective communication, navigate infidelity, and rekindle past romances.
Ben sets himself apart of other counselors by making therapy a more personal experience. He works well with clients new to therapy and challenges the notion of what it means to be in therapy. Ben strives to make therapy a more normal experience by developing a sincere interest in his clients, balancing humor and honesty, and offering a non-judgmental space for creating your ideal self. He takes pride in creating a counseling experience that is genuine enough for laughter and tears but honest enough to talk about what needs to be changed.
When you’re ready to experience counseling that moves you towards your ideal self or relationship, email Ben by clicking below.