Fear Traps and The Triggers That Keep You Stuck; Nancy Stella

Feb 10, 2022

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Dr. Nancy Stella has been a leading clinical psychologist in the Cincinnati area for over twenty years, co-owning and growing one of Ohio's largest private, multi-specialty mental health practices with over seventy-five providers. Combining her clinical experience with her own healing journey, Dr. Stella developed the Courageous Brain Process (CBP), an innovative, science-based method of therapy. Rooted in the most up-to-date neuroscience, it bypasses the shortcomings of traditional talk therapy to change the way our brains process fear. Her first book, Fear Traps: Escaping the Triggers that Keep You Stuck, gives readers proven practices for building courage and resilience. Ready to find out your Fear Traps and The Triggers? Read on to find out more.

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Website: www.nancystella.com

Most Influential Person

I would say its my children that are most influential. I just see them as young children being very present in the moment, whether it be focusing on playing with toys or being upset with each other.

Effect on Emotions

Mindfulness has given me mind control, so that when I feel an emotional reaction, I can take a step back, and assess whether or not I want to express it, or manage it.

Thoughts on Breathing

Above all, breathing is critical, because when we go back to the idea of that primitive anxiety brain, how the brain knows that there's danger in the environment is by what we think about and how we breathe, because we breathe differently when we're relaxed versus when we are anxious or energized.
That is to say, part of the mindfulness approach is teaching people the deep breathing, so that they can learn to kind of calm that anxiety brain and in turn, it calms the body. Deep breathing is critical in teaching people mindfulness, that goes hand in hand. For example, when people are anxious we start with mindfulness and we just practice for 30 seconds.
Firstly, we'll do the breathing in the office and they have to recognize, okay, just keep doing the deep breathing. While you're focusing, your mind may go all over the place, when you realize it, just bring it back to what you're focusing on.

Suggested Resources

Bullying Story

When we're bullied, we tend to take things very personally, it's hard not to do that when somebody is bullying you.
I have worked considerably with children and using mindfulness to help children learn to not take things personally. As a result, children are often the pawns or victims of their circumstance.
Most importantly, mindfulness is learning to recognize and know what you feel. Mindfulness can help particularly in regards to bullying; for instance it can help us develop compassion for the other person.
Each of us has our own vulnerabilities in regards to bullying. We bring our own vulnerabilities to the table.
To sum it up, somebody who's a bully is often wearing a mask. Therefore, mindfulness helps us learn how to not get sucked in or take the bait, and also how to extricate yourself from the situation. Being mindful is recognizing that it's okay to feel scared, or angry, or intimidated. Those are just feelings, mindfulness helps us learn that those are just feelings and they're not going to last. It helps us move out of the situation.
Above all, it's also understanding a bit how the brain works. When bad things happen to us, or when we worry about something, our anxiety brain, it's called the amygdala, is designed to protect us and cause the body to pump out adrenaline. In addition, that part of the brain can't see reality.
Lastly, when we become anxious, it doesn't know. Are you worried about being late for work, being bullied,or about a tiger chasing you?

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