There is something steadying about how you wrote this. Instead of trying to erase anxiety, you learned to understand it, name it, and slow it down. The idea of a “speed state” is familiar. Moving slower on purpose, changing spaces, and going analog are things more of us could use. Thanks for laying it out in a way that feels human instead of clinical.
I like what you said Crosswind Chronicles and I resonate with that too. This is similar to the process that I use which is to name the emotion, but then go one step further which is to name the need that is driving the emotion. Like when I start scrolling on substack it's probably because I don't have energy to actually engage with any more people or read any more posts. I realize that I have a need for space and rest. Or, when I begin feeling really annoyed by people and realize again that my need for space is coming up. I think like you said, "The most helpful thing for me has been to really think about anxious episodes after they happen"...I think this is key. To stay curious and reflect on things that happen and avoid letting yourself be covered with blankets of shame. Thanks for sharing to both of you!
🌿 This resonates deeply with what I see in my therapeutic work. The “speed state” you describe is such an accurate picture of what chronic overload feels like — the mind rushing ahead, everything feeling urgent, the nervous system stuck in overdrive. Many high performers live in that state for years without recognizing it as anxiety.
✨ And your insight about slowing down physically is powerful. Regulation often begins in the body long before the mind catches up. The shift into a calmer, more grounded “slow state” is exactly where clarity, presence, and sustainable choices return.
💛 Thank you for naming this with so much honesty — it’s a reminder that progress with anxiety is slow, nonlinear, and absolutely worth investing in. 🙏
When you talk about ‘slow state,’ do you see it as something people can intentionally cultivate into a personal rhythm, not just a rescue technique?
Thank you so much! This means a lot and really appreciate your insights as well. I definitely think "slow state" is one that can become the default state through practice. I have no clinical background, but think of it as a muscle or like a habit - after enough practice, it'll slowly become the "norm".
I love the way you frame “slow state” as a muscle. That matches what I see with clients too: nervous systems slowly relearn that safety and steadiness can be a home base, not an exception.
What I find fascinating is how this shift often changes identity as well. When people practice “slow state” long enough, they stop seeing calm as a break from life and start seeing it as the ground they live from. That’s where the biggest transformations happen — not from pushing harder, but from building a rhythm the system can trust.
There is something steadying about how you wrote this. Instead of trying to erase anxiety, you learned to understand it, name it, and slow it down. The idea of a “speed state” is familiar. Moving slower on purpose, changing spaces, and going analog are things more of us could use. Thanks for laying it out in a way that feels human instead of clinical.
Thank you so much! This means a lot and is a huge motivation!
I like what you said Crosswind Chronicles and I resonate with that too. This is similar to the process that I use which is to name the emotion, but then go one step further which is to name the need that is driving the emotion. Like when I start scrolling on substack it's probably because I don't have energy to actually engage with any more people or read any more posts. I realize that I have a need for space and rest. Or, when I begin feeling really annoyed by people and realize again that my need for space is coming up. I think like you said, "The most helpful thing for me has been to really think about anxious episodes after they happen"...I think this is key. To stay curious and reflect on things that happen and avoid letting yourself be covered with blankets of shame. Thanks for sharing to both of you!
Curiosity beats shame every time. When we can name what the heart is asking for, everything quiets down a bit. Thanks for adding this, Brenda.
I love your way of putting it..."name what the heart is asking for". So beautiful!
🌿 This resonates deeply with what I see in my therapeutic work. The “speed state” you describe is such an accurate picture of what chronic overload feels like — the mind rushing ahead, everything feeling urgent, the nervous system stuck in overdrive. Many high performers live in that state for years without recognizing it as anxiety.
✨ And your insight about slowing down physically is powerful. Regulation often begins in the body long before the mind catches up. The shift into a calmer, more grounded “slow state” is exactly where clarity, presence, and sustainable choices return.
💛 Thank you for naming this with so much honesty — it’s a reminder that progress with anxiety is slow, nonlinear, and absolutely worth investing in. 🙏
When you talk about ‘slow state,’ do you see it as something people can intentionally cultivate into a personal rhythm, not just a rescue technique?
Thank you so much! This means a lot and really appreciate your insights as well. I definitely think "slow state" is one that can become the default state through practice. I have no clinical background, but think of it as a muscle or like a habit - after enough practice, it'll slowly become the "norm".
Absolutely — that’s beautifully put. 🌿
I love the way you frame “slow state” as a muscle. That matches what I see with clients too: nervous systems slowly relearn that safety and steadiness can be a home base, not an exception.
What I find fascinating is how this shift often changes identity as well. When people practice “slow state” long enough, they stop seeing calm as a break from life and start seeing it as the ground they live from. That’s where the biggest transformations happen — not from pushing harder, but from building a rhythm the system can trust.
Really appreciate this exchange. 🙏
This is a great analysis of what anxiety can feel like and effective strategies for slowing down and calming the mind - thank you.
Thank you so much! I appreciate that.