Anxiety Rx

105. How Can We Cultivate a Sense of Safety to Overcome Anxiety?

Anxiety Rx

Show Notes

In this episode of the Anxiety RX Podcast, we dive into the fundamental concept of safety.

I share personal stories about my father's struggles with mental health during the holidays and how these experiences left me feeling unsafe and on edge as a child.

Feeling safe is such an important part of healing from anxiety, so I talk about ways to create that sense of safety for yourself. I include simple but effective strategies like mindful breathing and self-soothing techniques. More than anything, I want to remind listeners that healing takes time and effort, but it’s possible to find those small moments of safety and start easing the constant state of hypervigilance.

Thank you for listening, and you can find me on IG: @theanxietymd if you have any questions.

PS. If you would like to join the MBRX family of 4000+ anxiety WARRIORS who are shifting from coping with their anxiety to actually HEALING it, click the link below: https://www.theanxietymd.com/MBRX

______________________________

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Introduction to Safety 01:02 - Childhood Experiences of Unsafety 02:02 - The Importance of Feeling Safe 04:13 - Hypervigilance and Its Impact 06:25 - Creating Safety in the Body 10:08 - The Role of the Autonomic Nervous System 11:10 - Connection and Safety 12:33 - Developing a Sense of Safety 15:44 - Addressing Childhood Trauma 16:55 - Using the Mind to Acknowledge Safety 17:57 - Overcoming Hypervigilance 19:10 - Practical Ways to Create Safety 20:20 - Creating a Sense of Safety 21:21 - Daily Practices for Safety 21:21 - Reversing Childhood Coping Strategies 22:33 - Small Steps to Safety

More from Anxiety Rx

Oct 6, 2025

What if worrying is just your mind’s way of trying to stop you from worrying?  In this episode, I pull apart the myth that positive thinking can cure anxiety. The alarm in the body and the worries in the mind feed each other in a loop that never ends. Childhood separation leaves a mark when you aren’t seen, heard, or protected, and that’s where the alarm takes root. Growing up with a father who had schizophrenia, I learned to escape into worry as my coping strategy. The real healing began when I turned toward the younger version of myself and felt what I’d spent years running from.

Sep 29, 2025

What if the real scam isn’t the robocall, but the idea that your worth is measured in dollars?  In this episode, the lie that money can replace human connection takes center stage. A medical system built on billing codes pushed me to trade care for speed, and that disconnection fueled my own anxiety. Scams, ads, and constant grabs for attention keep the nervous system on high alert. The “monetization fairy” gets called out for what it is, and simple practices bring us back to intrinsic value and genuine human connection.

Sep 22, 2025

What if being “too sensitive” isn’t a flaw but the hidden root of your anxiety?

Sep 15, 2025

Ever pushed yourself to eat clean and work out, hoping it would calm your anxiety, only to feel even worse? Here’s why it happens…

Sep 8, 2025

What if burnout isn’t failure, but your body’s protective shutdown?  In this episode, I open up about burning out as a doctor and why it went far beyond just being tired. Burnout showed up as a split between my mind pushing forward and the younger part of me saying, “I can’t do this anymore.” The mask of “Dr. Russell Kennedy” gave me income, status, and validation, but it also crushed my sense of self.

See all episodes →