Tag: Anxiety Relief
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7 Grounding Techniques to Calm the Mind
When anxiety or racing thoughts take over, it’s easy to feel pulled away from the present moment. Grounding techniques are simple, practical tools that bring your focus back to the here and now. Whether you’re managing stress, calming intrusive thoughts, or trying to fall asleep, these methods help anchor your mind to your body and…
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4 Ways to Cope with Panic Attacks
Panic attacks can feel overwhelming, but resisting or fighting the symptoms often makes them worse. As Dr. Christine E. Dickson explains, the key is to face the sensations with compassion, accept what your body is doing, and allow the wave of panic to rise and fall naturally. With grounding strategies such as calming breath, mindful…
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Craft Away Anxiety
In 2007, while working as a prison psychologist, Dr. Christine E. Dickson found that crafting was the most effective activity for reducing anxiety in solitary confinement. Years later, she noticed the same calming benefits while crafting with her son during the pandemic—showing that creative, hands-on projects can ease stress in any kind of lockdown.
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Improve Anxiety and Depression with Cold Showers
In 2017, when I first learned that cold showers could significantly improve symptoms of anxiety and depression, I immediately began suggesting it to all of my clients. Exposure to cold is known to activate the sympathetic nervous system and send an overwhelming amount of electrical impulses from peripheral nerve endings to the brain, which can…
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How to Overcome Nightmares
Nightmares can feel terrifying and uncontrollable, leaving us anxious and shaken. Dr. Christine E. Dickson first experienced them while working as a prison psychologist, when she began using Jungian Dream Analysis to uncover their hidden meaning. By logging dreams, exploring recurring themes, and learning to embrace both the light and dark aspects of herself, she…
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Stopping Obsessive Shaming Thoughts
The emotion of shame can be overwhelming to say the least. Stopping obsessive shaming thoughts can be even more difficult. Shame-inducing thoughts tend to fall into three categories: Self put downs such as “I’m stupid,” “I’m fat,” “I can’t do anything right.” Catastrophic thoughts about one’s ability to handle the future. Critical or shaming thoughts…
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3 Ways to Tolerate Stress and Anxiety
At times stress and anxiety can feel overwhelming, leaving us exhausted and drained. In this post, licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Christine E. Dickson shares practical tools for tolerating strong emotions. These strategies can help you move through difficult moments with greater resilience.
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The Perils of Perfectionism
When I was young, I was proud of the fact that I was a perfectionist. People rewarded me for doing things “perfectly.” It seemed the more perfect, the better. I remember in graduate school that my friends and I regularly joked about being perfectionists. Perfectionism as a concept is not problematic. The idea of striving…
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The Present Moment is Free from Fear
“When we are not fully present, we are not really living. We’re not really there, either for our loved ones or for ourselves. If we’re not there, then where are we? We are running, running, running, even during our sleep. We run because we’re trying to escape from our fear.
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8 Ways to Stop Obsessive Thinking
Obsessive thinking can feel like being trapped in a mental loop. The more you engage with it, the deeper you spiral. Breaking free requires shifting your attention — through movement, breath, creativity, or connection. These mindful strategies from Dr. Christine E. Dickson help calm your mind and restore emotional balance.