So what is this relationship between perfectionism and anxiety? Basically, it's complicated... The pursuit of perfection becomes a maladaptive way of coping with the stress of anxiety, and perfectionism itself further fuels the anxiety.

I believe that our culture makes a lasting impact on our relationship to rest in 3 ways:
1. Many Americans feel guilt associated with not being constantly productive
2. People genuinely feel that they are too busy to rest
3. There is still a stigma attached to talking about and/or prioritizing ones emotional and mental health needs over the "need" to be productive

My response:
1. You are not what you "do" 
2. Simplify, Simplify, Simplify 
3. Be Brave 

First the definition of rest:
v. to cease work or movement in order to relax, refresh oneself, or recover strength.
n. an instance or period of relaxing or ceasing to engage in strenuous or stressful activity.

One great metaphor for how this works is the Finger Trap metaphor. Remember that toy from when we were kids? The more you try to pull away, the tighter it gets... but move toward, accept and embrace... it loosens and you have your freedom. 

I'm going to share one way that I help clients understand how to begin to manage their anxiety in a preventative way - with nervous system awareness and regulation. This is also relevant if you get stressed or overwhelmed regularly. 

Many people struggle with anxiety, depression and/or other mental health diagnoses. These are invisible ailments that often aren't treated with the same level of compassion as physical ones. We've come a long way against the stigma of mental health issues and therapy, but not far enough.

If finding a therapist is something you've been putting off there's no better time to get on it. Often people wait until they are in moments of crisis to begin searching for a therapist. The process can be daunting, using insurance tricky... Waiting until a moment of emotional distress can often yield mediocre results.