Carlie's Anxiety Journey: Blending Culture & Therapy

0:00From Sydney, this is your March 10th update. Carly Skullfield, a UN Aboriginal therapist and mum living on Dara Wall Country, massed her anxiety for years. It looked like confidence to others, fueling her drive like a hidden strength. But deep down, it stemmed from fear of seeming like a fraud or falling short. Motherhood brought it into sharp focus. With their first born daughter, baby blues hid hard on day three, fading as hormones settled. Then came constant worries, intrusive thoughts about every cry or feeding, always bracing for the next problem. Drawing on her cultural roots and professional skills, she built a personal toolkit to handle it. She blends old spiritual ways with modern therapy to regulate her nervous system and reconnect. Key steps start with body signals over racing thoughts, spotting tight chest or shallow breath as calls to slow down and breathe. She swaps harsh self criticism for kinder words, like she'd use with a friend, and breaks worry loops by moving, shifting scenes or diving into.

1:01Hands on tests. Reconnecting with nature seals it, walking barefoot on grass or breathing deeply outdoors for big picture calm. Though anxiety feels safe and familiar, pushing through leads to burnout and snaps at loved ones. Now she views it as a signal for self care, fostering more clarity and compassion. This episode is supported by our sponsor, see details in the description. If earbuds fall out when you sleep, this is for you. A pillow with built-in sound. S-O-L-I-SoliPillow.com