Sometimes it's helpful to focus on emotions and experiences that comfort you, especially if you're dealing with intense anxiety or trauma, said relationship and anxiety therapist Sara Weand, LPC, in Annville, PA. Tapping into feelings of safety and trust can help you feel empowered, she explained. If you can, it's helpful to go into vivid detail, added therapist Lauren Auer, LCPC, at Steadfast Counseling, which helps you reconnect with those feelings at a deeper level.
But if a happy or peaceful experience isn't coming to mind, try jotting down an inspiring quote or the lyrics to your favourite song, said Janika Joyner, LCSW, CCTP, of Higher Elevation Psychosocial Services. "Reading words that are meaningful and inspiring can uplift a person's mood and create a sense of peace," she explained.
Try these prompts:
- What is the best day you've had in recent memory? Get super detailed about everything that happened that day. Is it possible to replicate some of the elements of that day in the near future?
- Describe a situation or place that makes you feel safe, protected, loved, or calm.
- Write down the lyrics to your favourite song or a quote from a poem or inspirational post.