9 Micro Habits for Self-Regulation of Trauma or Anxiety
Learn daily habits for trauma and anxiety self-regulation, focusing on nervous system regulation and dysregulation to manage stress and PTSD.
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Living with Trauma or PTSD can feel like your nervous system is constantly on high alertโlike an overly sensitive car alarm that goes off at the slightest trigger. This state of nervous system dysregulation can leave you tense, hypervigilant, anxious, angry, or completely burnt out. But the good news is that you can retrain your body toward balance and calm through simple, consistent practices.
In this video, youโll learn 9 science-based daily habits for trauma and daily habits for anxiety that promote nervous system regulation. These micro habits include setting clear intentions, slowing down instead of rushing, creating a calm morning routine, scheduling true rest, checking in with your body, restoring a sense of safety, and developing skills to bounce back after triggers. Youโll also learn how to expand your window of tolerance with movement and end your day with soothing wind-down rituals.
Healing your nervous system doesnโt mean youโll never feel stress againโit means youโll feel safer, calmer, and more confident in your ability to recover quickly. With small daily changes, you can reduce anxiety, improve resilience, and support lasting recovery from trauma.
00:00 Intro: When trauma and anxiety keep your nervous system dysregulated
01:10 Daily habits for trauma and anxiety
01:24 1. Be proactive and set clear intentions
02:52 2. Slow down instead of speed up
03:59 3. Set the tone for the day
05:38 4. Schedule time to rest
07:13 5. Check in with yourself
08:40 6. Counteract hypervigilance by restoring your sense of safety
09:48 7. Build skills to bounce back from triggers
12:20 8. Expand your window of tolerance
14:00 9. Intentionally wind down in the evening
15:37 Healing trauma and anxiety one daily habit at a time
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Therapy in a Nutshell and the information provided by Emma McAdam are solely intended for informational and entertainment purposes and are not a substitute for advice, diagnosis, or treatment regarding medical or mental health conditions. Although Emma McAdam is a licensed marriage and family therapist, the views expressed on this site or any related content should not be taken for medical or psychiatric advice. Always consult your physician before making any decisions related to your physical or mental health.
In therapy I use a combination of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Systems Theory, positive psychology, and a bio-psycho-social approach to treating mental illness and other challenges we all face in life. The ideas from my videos are frequently adapted from multiple sources. Many of them come from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, especially the work of Steven Hayes, Jason Luoma, and Russ Harris. The sections on stress and the mind-body connection derive from the work of Stephen Porges (the Polyvagal theory), Peter Levine (Somatic Experiencing) Francine Shapiro (EMDR), and Bessel Van Der Kolk. I also rely heavily on the work of the Arbinger institute for my overall understanding of our ability to choose our life's direction.
And deeper than all of that, the Gospel of Jesus Christ orients my personal worldview and sense of security, peace, hope, and love https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/believe
If you are in crisis, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ or 988 or your local emergency services.
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๐ง About This Track
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โจ Highlights
- โญ Reached 1 million+ views milestone
- ๐ง๏ธ Authentic rain sounds for natural relaxation
- ๐ง High-quality nature recordings
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๐ก Listening Tips
- ๐ Enable looping for continuous relaxation
- ๐ Keep volume moderate - rain works best not too loud
- ๐๏ธ Try the Ambient Sound Mixer to customize your experience
- ๐ฑ Works great through phone speakers or Bluetooth
๐ฌ What Listeners Say
"Improve your mental health with the free course, https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/grounding-skills-for-anxiety-stress-and-ptsd"
โ @TherapyinaNutshell ๐ 64
"Watching this from Kyiv, Ukraine just a day after another massive missile attack. I have probably seen all videos on emotion regulation on youtube already. This is the most structured and full of practical advice video of all. What helps me personall..."
โ @TetianaVasina ๐ 3,849
""meeting your needs regulates your nervous system" so basic and yet so profound for those of us who have gone our whole lives deprioritizing our needs because we believed doing so would make us safer"
โ @megankwisdom ๐ 950
๐ How to Get the Most Out of This Audio
To fully enjoy "9 Micro Habits for Self-Regulation of Trauma or Anxiety", we recommend the following approach:
- Set the Scene: Find a comfortable position, dim the lights if possible, and minimize distractions.
- Use Quality Audio: Headphones or quality speakers will enhance the experience significantly.
- Adjust Volume: Keep the volume at a comfortable background level - loud enough to hear, quiet enough to relax.
- Enable Loop: Click the Loop button above for continuous play during your session.
- Try the Mixer: Use our Ambient Sound Mixer below to customize the audio with additional sound layers.
This 16:45 track is ideal for relaxation, focus, sleep. With 1M views, it has become a trusted choice for thousands of listeners worldwide.