I LOVE the cover!
I don't necessarily like how she reframes her anxiety, but I love how it says she 'bends the beast'.
And in the excerpt of her book, I like how she meditates ... how she feels her body billowing outwards, suspending her in a duvet-like cloud. How she remembers this feeling during the day- in the shower, walking, etc.
I could totally get into meditating if it involved envisioning things. One of my most successful coping skills is envisioning my fear/sadness/anxiety as guests at the Mad Hatters Tea Party.
My counselor told me not to ignore or push away my feelings, but to embrace them, hold them because all feelings are allowed. But I couldn't see myself cuddling those feelings like a baby. They were SO scary and all-consuming.
So I invited them to tea instead.
I say "Fear, I'm so glad you came. Let me give you a hug. Hold my hand, it's okay, I'm here with you. Come sit over here. This is Isolation, she is just reading her book in that cozy armchair. This is Baby, she's sucking her thumb under her blankie. ❤ She would love to sit and talk with you. I have a hot chocolate here for you, and some cookies." Then I get sadness. then I get anxiety. Then I say "Okay girls, I will leave you with the cat and the Mad Hatter now, here come the rest of the gang - calm, content, etc. You guys have fun, I have to get back to work now."
Sometimes I do this several times a day. Like they have Alzheimers and keep wandering off. "Oh dear, give me a hug. It's okay. Come back and here is a peppermint for you. let's snuggle under the blanket for a minute. Okay, I'll see you later!"
It leaves me feeling like I have just been hugged and that I am not alone to deal with it all, I have all these people at the table here with me.
photo from google/'Catch My Party'
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