The Shift That's Changing How I Handle Anxiety

Hey friends,

I never really struggled with anxiety—until I turned 50. Suddenly, the smallest things felt overwhelming, and I had no idea why.

Turns out, midlife can bring anxiety even if you’ve never experienced it before. Hormonal shifts, life changes, and uncertain futures all play a role. Looking back, I realize I had anxiety for years—I just stayed busy to avoid feeling it. But eventually, that strategy stopped working. During that season, I developed a sort of toolbox for anxiety. I’ve been able to keep it in check for the most part since then.

Lately, anticipatory anxiety has become greater for me. I tried taking care of myself and using all of my usual tools for anxiety, but still found myself feeling helpless. This struggle actually led me to develop a strategy that I'm calling Action Tames Anxiety. I wrote about it on the blog. I hope you’ll check it out and let me know what action you’re taking. It sure is keeping me from spiraling.

Earlier this week, I was taken back to the season of the Covid Pandemic. A lot of what I have been feeling has reminded me of my experiences during that time. I remember an album coming out, Peace by Bethel Music, that helped me and my clients. The album is faith-based, but I will also provide non-faith-based options below. This video explains the how and why behind the album.

I was familiar with Bilateral Stimulation because I use a technique called EMDR in counseling. EMDR is a type of psychotherapy that helps people process and heal from traumatic memories by focusing on a disturbing memory while simultaneously engaging in bilateral stimulation, like rapid eye movements, tapping, or sounds alternating between ears. I knew that EMDR was effective, but I had not heard of Bilateral Music. By alternating music or rhythms between the left ear and right ear, bilateral music is believed to alleviate feelings of anxiety through its effect on the brain and nervous system. Bilateral music's rhythmic and alternating nature stimulates the brain's hemispheres, promoting synchronization and balance. It's fascinating! And it works!

During the pandemic, one sweet 10-year-old client was losing sleep because of debilitating anxiety. Her mom started playing the Peace album in her room, and she was able to break the cycle of insomnia!

I decided to find the Peace album in my Spotify account, and it's been helping!

Here are a few other playlists that I like: 🎧 Focus/Study/Work/Bilateral Stimulation - ADHD Hyperfocus Stimulance These are helping my ADHD! 😊 🎧 CALM - Good for sleep or relaxation.

Try it out and let me know what you think! By the way, it's best to listen with headphones for the full effect.

P.S. This past week in the Free Midlife With Purpose Facebook Group, my guest, Kelly Andrews, shared a simple but highly effective technique from Heart Math. I feel like we can use all the tools we can get these days. Be sure to go watch the replay in the Guides section of the group.

If you haven't joined yet, what are you waiting for? We passed the 100-member mark this week! 🎉 It's a great community of women in midlife, filled with guides, live teachings, and lots of encouragement and support. And, when you join, you can catch the replay from Kelly’s teaching. Join here!

That’s it for this week! I would love to know what you’re struggling with, and what tools are helping you. Remember, I read all my emails so just hit reply!

Cheering you on,
Lisa