How Brainspotting Helps Untangle Anxiety Triggers
How Brainspotting Helps Untangle Anxiety Triggers
Anxiety is like that one friend who shows up uninvited to every party—and by “friend,” I mean the kind who eats all your snacks and overstays their welcome. It barges in at the worst times, leaving you spiraling in a loop of “What if?” thoughts and restless energy. But why does anxiety pop up so intensely, and how do we get it to chill out?
Enter Brainspotting, a therapeutic approach that doesn’t just teach you to manage anxiety—it helps you tackle it at the source. By diving deep into the brain’s hidden layers, Brainspotting works to untangle the triggers that keep anxiety hanging around. Let’s break it down and see how this therapy can help you reclaim your calm (and maybe even enjoy your snacks again).
Understanding Anxiety Triggers
Anxiety triggers are like alarm systems—except they’re overly sensitive and go off at the smallest nudge. A trigger could be anything: a situation, a memory, or even a physical sensation. Some are obvious (hello, public speaking), but others are sneakier, like feeling anxious in crowded spaces without knowing why.
Here’s the deal: many triggers are tied to experiences your brain hasn’t fully processed. For example, if you got lost in a busy mall as a kid, your brain might still sound the alarm in similar situations. Brainspotting helps you uncover and release these hidden triggers so you can respond to life with a little more zen and a lot less ahhh!
How Brainspotting Works
Brainspotting taps into your brain-body connection to locate and heal the root of anxiety. Here’s the gist:
Finding the Brainspot: Your therapist helps you zero in on a specific eye position that corresponds to where your brain is holding onto the emotional charge of anxiety.
Accessing the Subconscious: That eye position (or “brainspot”) acts as a gateway to your subconscious—the place where unresolved emotions and trauma hang out.
Processing and Releasing: By focusing on the brainspot, your brain’s natural healing powers kick in, processing and letting go of the anxiety tied to that trigger.
Unlike talk therapy, which relies on words (and let’s be honest, sometimes words just aren’t enough), Brainspotting goes straight to the parts of your brain responsible for survival and emotional regulation. This makes it especially effective for anxiety that feels irrational or impossible to explain.
The Science Behind Brainspotting
Anxiety likes to set up camp in the deeper, nonverbal parts of your brain—specifically the limbic system, which stores emotional memories and runs your body’s stress response. Brainspotting bypasses the chatty “thinking brain” and dives straight into these regions, processing emotions at their source.
In plain terms? It’s like cleaning out the junk drawer in your brain. You know, the one stuffed with random screws, expired coupons, and emotional baggage you didn’t know you had.
What Does a Brainspotting Session Feel Like?
Every Brainspotting session is unique, but here’s a general idea of what to expect:
You’ll start by picking an anxiety trigger or feeling you want to work on (don’t worry, no trigger is too big or too small).
Your therapist will guide you to find the brainspot connected to that anxiety using a pointer or your own gaze.
Once you’ve locked onto the brainspot, you’ll focus on it while noticing any thoughts, emotions, or physical sensations that come up.
Your therapist will create a safe, supportive space for you to process and release whatever arises.
Many people describe Brainspotting as both gentle and profound—kind of like a deep tissue massage for your emotions. It lets you work through anxiety without feeling overwhelmed or re-traumatized.
The Benefits of Brainspotting for Anxiety
Targets the Root Cause: Brainspotting doesn’t just slap a Band-Aid on your anxiety; it goes straight to the source.
Nonverbal Processing: Perfect for when words just don’t cut it (or when you’re tired of explaining yourself).
Calms the Nervous System: By addressing the brain’s stress-response centers, it helps your body hit the “off” switch on anxiety.
Builds Resilience: Over time, Brainspotting helps you feel more grounded and better equipped to handle life’s curveballs.
Healing Anxiety Triggers Is Possible
Anxiety doesn’t have to run the show. With Brainspotting, you can untangle the triggers that keep it alive and finally feel free from its grip. Imagine responding to life’s challenges with calm, clarity, and maybe even a little swagger.
Let’s Work Together
Ready to show anxiety the door? I’m here to help. Book an appointment today, and let’s explore how Brainspotting can help you reclaim your peace—and maybe even enjoy that party without an uninvited guest tagging along.