“Heartbreak and grief are always a change you didn’t want.” – David Kessler
Change and Anxiety
Between the natural disasters and the powderkeg political landscape, practically everyone I know is grappling with overwhelming feelings. It’s deeply understandable. (I’m right there with you!)
If we look at the most stressful events in our lives – moving, divorce, job loss, financial insecurity, illness, retirement, and death of a loved one. Each one is fundamentally rooted in significant change. A change we probably didn’t ask for.
And yet, the nature of life is perpetual change. We experience it daily in subtle ways—our bodies evolving, traffic patterns shifting, even the rotating catalog on Netflix. But when change arrives as a tidal wave rather than a ripple, our nervous systems can interpret it as danger. This triggers our fight-or-flight response, flooding us with anxiety. While this response serves us brilliantly in acute emergencies, its sustained activation undermines our physical and mental well-being.
So, how do we find our footing when the ground falls out from beneath us, and legitimate worries leave us feeling untethered?
Create safety for yourself.
While this might sound deceptively simple, research reveals that your body and mind respond to perceived danger. The antidote? Inoculating yourself with a sense of safety.
Here’s how: Resourcing through Imagination.
Daydream: Transport yourself to a place of perfect safety and beauty. This could be your favorite beach at sunset, curled up in bed under a weighted blanket with coffee steam curling through the air, or surrounded by loved ones in a cozy living room filled with laughter and warmth. Choose whatever scene fills you with peace.
Your brain processes imagination and reality through the same neural pathways. The same regions activate whether you’re experiencing something directly or vividly imagining it.
Immerse yourself fully in this sanctuary. Let your senses come alive—what do you see, smell, hear, taste, and feel? How does this experience resonate emotionally? Do you feel relaxed, free, powerful, or loved? Explore these sensations and emotions without rushing. Enjoy your time here. This is your place.
When you return from this visualization, notice what elements of your current life echo those feelings of freedom, love, or calm.
Take time to appreciate the aspects of your present reality that nourish these same emotions.
Return to your sanctuary whenever overwhelm creeps in, and then connect that experience to your present moment.
You’re not just daydreaming—you’re actively building neural pathways to access safety in your everyday life. And you deserve it.
Elisabeth Jamison, a MindBody Grief Coach, is a certified Life Coach, Pilates instructor, and Reiki practitioner. With a background as an award-winning filmmaker, she loves sharing stories and insights with a wider community. Deeply committed to helping others navigate grief’s emotional and physical impacts, she believes that true healing emerges when we honor both heart and body.