Root Discovery Process

Course Cut-OutFreedom From Anxiety
Written By Austin Cavaliere

If you need help seeing Jesus in the middle of your struggle, or just feel like you are stuck, ready to move into growth and healing, connect with a Christian coach.

Excerpt: Root Discovery Process - Anxiety Session 3

Course: Freedom From Anxiety

Speakers: Matthias Barker, Dr. Caroline Leaf

Unraveling Anxiety: From Surface Symptoms to Root Causes

What lies at the root of our anxiety? Sometimes it’s a specific circumstance, a phobia, or something more profound—a trauma, a relationship betrayal, social rejection. How do we decipher the scripts and echoes within us?

Inner Dialogue

My approach to processing anxiety involves narrowing down the inner dialogue, identifying the conflict. I personify these inner voices, allowing each part to be heard. This can be done through journaling with different colored pens or simply speaking aloud.

Organizing the Swarm of Anxiety

While we don't literally have multiple personalities, this metaphor helps organize the chaos. What feels like a swarm of 40 bees might be just six, but their collective buzzing creates overwhelming anxiety. Personifying these voices, based on Internal Family Systems, helps us understand the conversations within.

The Boardroom of the Mind

We personify these internal conversations happening in our "boardroom" of the mind and heart. We explore the dialogue. Perhaps there's a socially anxious part, a critical part, and a fearful part. The critical voice might echo a parent, abuser, or bully, or it might be our own insecurity.

Observing the Inner Drama

We observe how the fearful part reacts to the critical voice. What's their body language? They likely shrink, becoming more anxious and closed off. The critical voice, in its attempts to fix things, often exacerbates the problem, tightening the knot.

Compassion and Understanding

We can take two routes: deeper introspection into the root causes or offering compassion in the moment. Ask the critical part to step aside and allow a compassionate, wise version of ourselves to engage with the fearful part.

Offering Calm and Understanding

This wise self, perhaps older and calmer, enters the room with a gentle yet confident presence. They offer compassion, acknowledging the fearful part’s feelings without judgment. This creates a supportive environment, allowing the fearful part to relax and open up.

Identifying Triggers

We explore the circumstances that led to these feelings. This isn't about making excuses but understanding the environment that contributes to anxiety. This allows us to make strategic changes.

Compassion as a Catalyst

With compassion, the fearful part relaxes, their shoulders loosening, and they might even take a breath. Compassion creates an atmosphere conducive to change.

Finding the Root Cause

Managing anxiety requires finding the root cause. This involves examining life patterns, the four signal types (including emotional signals like anxiety), and tracing them back to the originating thoughts.

Deconstruction and Reconstruction

An experience triggers a thought, which then triggers the four signals. We must deconstruct and reconstruct these thoughts. This is a journey, not an overnight fix.

Navigating the Healing Process

During this process, self-compassion is crucial. The inner critic will try to derail progress. We must remember that we are wired for love and that anxiety is a signal, not our identity.

Weakening the Toxic Thought

By recognizing anxiety as a warning signal and embracing it to find the “because of,” we bring the toxic thought into conscious awareness. This weakens it, making it malleable and changeable through neuroplasticity.

Conclusion: Embracing Compassion and Understanding for Lasting Change

Healing anxiety involves understanding its root causes, personifying inner voices, and offering compassion to ourselves. By bringing toxic thoughts into conscious awareness and embracing self-compassion, we can weaken them and create lasting change.

 

If you like the content, you can continue in a few different ways…

  • 1) See the outline below and check out other sections from the FFP course.

  • 2) Take the full small group course to your church community! The first course your church runs is free! Reach out to us here to learn how.

  • 3) Connect with a Share The Struggle Coach for one-on-one support. Let’s face it, some of us have tried kicking this thing, and we’ve had no luck. It’s time to start looking toward forms of support that can help us see and feel the beautiful life God has in store for us.

 

Freedom From Anxiety

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Freedom From Anxiety 〰️

Understanding the Roots of Anxiety

Session 1

Session 2

Session 3

Session 4

Session 5

Healing Through Relationships

Session 6

Session 7

Session 8

 

Share The Struggle Courses

Share the Struggle Courses are topical expert led video courses to help you understand life’s greatest struggles and provide you with tools for navigating them. Moreover, STS courses create a space for you to connect with others struggling with similar things, experience belonging, and encounter God’s nearness in a place of wilderness in your life (pain, confusion, healing journey). Want to start a group at your church? Reach out to us here to learn how.

 

What Share The Struggle Believes

Here at Share The Struggle we believe Jesus is present with us in the middle of our pain and mess, and it is in that place that we often experience and encounter Jesus most deeply.

We understand the unique challenges faced by Christians dealing with mental health. Our mission is to bridge the gap between faith and mental health support, providing a platform where individuals can find resources, coaching support and guidance, all tailored to their spiritual life and emotional needs.

We invite you to explore our resources, share your journey, and find the support you need to overcome the struggles you face.

Austin Cavaliere
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