If you are reading this, that means that you are looking for a solution just as I was many years ago and I would like to say, “Congratulations! You’re taking the first steps to healing.” How can I say so? Because, 15 years ago I was in the same place you are now, I was searching for something, anything that would help me regain control over my life. A period in my life riddled with anxiety, until I found visualization.
I was 25 years old and I was in love with a capital L. When I met Chris I was convinced he and I were destined to spend the rest of our lives together. When Chris accepted a job offer in the mid-west, I knew I would follow him wherever he went. So, I quit my job, left my friends and family behind, and moved miles away from home. At first, everything was perfect but then, slowly over time things took a turn for the worse.
It started slow, an incident here, an occurrence there but over time things escalated and they escalated quickly. My sweet, loving Chris turned into a physically and emotionally abusive stranger who, at the slightest provocation, would lash out at me. Every day that we lived together I was nurturing the anxiety that would encompass and control my daily life. When I finally woke up to the reality of my life, I realized it was time for a change and so I made a plan to move back home and enrolled in nursing school.
It took time before I realized that I was living with anxiety on a daily basis and it took an even longer time (years!) before I decided I needed to seek help. At first, I went to a psychologist and after a few sessions, I decided to heal myself. I started by reading every self-help book under the sun but not much changed. I kept searching for what would work for me and that is when I discovered visualization and guided imagery.
I came across the book “Mind Power Into the 21st Century” by John Kehoe and started using his techniques. The best thing I could have done for myself was to start every morning by visualizing my day. Fifteen years later, I still use the techniques and if there’s a moment in my day when my anxiety starts to grow, I just pause, put my hand on my heart, close my eyes and after a few deep breaths I am able to visualize the best possible outcome and my anxiety disappears.
I have now been a nurse for the past 10 years and I use visualization each day. It is how I set myself up for success and how I ensure my anxiety stays at bay. I have used visualization to envision my perfect life and use it as my guidepost for what I want my present and future to be. I also credit visualization with helping me know what kind of life I wanted to build for myself- a life filled with love and laughter, both of which I have in abundance thanks to my wonderful husband and son.
Using visualization doesn’t have to take a long time. For example, if I oversleep, I may do a quick visualization exercise. I’d picture myself at the end of my day, going to bed happy.
If you are looking for a way to manage your anxiety, I encourage you to try visualization. I believe visualization is a great tool to help decrease anxiety. Anxiety after all, is a feeling of fear, dread or uneasiness. Using visualization to proactively focus your thoughts on positive outcomes instead of negative ones can help with anxiety. It can also lead to physical benefits like slower breathing, decreased heart rate and a decrease of stress hormones. For an added boost, try using visualization right before falling asleep, visualizing yourself sleeping soundly through the night, waking up feeling refreshed and energized, ready to take on the day.
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