Have you tried a bunch of things to manage anxiety or stress, but you’re still struggling? If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone—and there’s a reason why some strategies that work great in the short term don’t actually help you in the long run.
Today, I’m going to break it down for you and share how you can go beyond coping and truly heal your anxiety from the inside out.
Why Coping Skills Aren’t Enough
Let’s start with this:
Coping skills like breathing exercises, grounding techniques, or positive thinking can be really helpful in the moment.
They’re like using a bucket to scoop water out of a leaky boat—it keeps you afloat temporarily.
But here’s the thing… if you never fix the leak, you’ll spend your life bailing water.
That’s what happens with anxiety when we only rely on coping.
It provides immediate relief but doesn’t address the deeper cause.
And that’s why you might feel like you’re doing everything right but still end up feeling overwhelmed.
Short-Term vs. Long-Term Strategies
So, what’s the difference between short-term and long-term strategies for anxiety?
✨ Short-term strategies provide quick relief and help you navigate anxiety in the moment. Think of them like putting on a band-aid when you get a cut—it helps immediately, but it doesn’t address why you keep getting hurt in the first place. These include:
✔️ Breathing exercises to slow your heart rate
✔️ Grounding techniques like naming objects in the room
✔️ Positive affirmations or distraction methods
✔️ Taking a short walk or listening to calming music
They’re like emotional first aid—important and necessary. But if you only use these, you might find yourself stuck in a cycle of temporary relief without real change.
🌱 Long-term strategies, on the other hand, work at the root level to rewire your body’s response to stress and anxiety. These practices create lasting change over time by shifting your baseline from anxiety to calm.
They include:
🌿 Nervous system regulation practices that guide you out of fight-or-flight
🌿 Embodiment practices like gentle movement to reconnect with your body
🌿 Building awareness of your body’s signals and learning how to respond to them
🌿 Cultivating a felt sense of safety through somatic work
🌿 Consistent, regular practices that develop resilience in your nervous system
While short-term tools stop the immediate storm, long-term strategies change the weather forecast entirely.
Healing happens when your body no longer feels like it has to be on high alert all the time.
The Root of Anxiety Is in the Body
Most people don’t realize anxiety isn’t just in your mind—it lives in your body. Your nervous system plays a huge role. When you’re stuck in fight-or-flight mode, your body thinks it’s constantly in danger—even if your mind knows you’re safe.
This is why talk therapy alone sometimes isn’t enough. Words work with the thinking brain, but anxiety often comes from a deeper place—the feeling brain and body.
To truly shift anxiety, your body needs to feel safe.
You can’t think your way out of a body-based experience. Anxiety is a felt sense, so you need a felt solution.
That’s where embodiment practices come in.
Gentle movement, somatic techniques, and breathwork signal safety to your nervous system in ways that words simply can’t.
When you practice consistently, you start to notice something incredible: you’re not just calm for a moment—you begin to live from a calmer place. That’s the power of long-term regulation.
You Don’t Have to Struggle Forever
You don’t have to spend your life bailing out water. There is another way—a way that helps you truly feel calm, centered, and at home in your body.
If this resonates with you and you’re ready to go beyond quick fixes, I invite you to explore my online sanctuary The Embodied Voyage.
Together, we’ll focus on understanding your body’s language, feeling safe, and shifting from stress and anxiety to peace and calm.
Your body isn’t fighting against you—it’s asking for your attention.
