CH
	
APTER	TWELVE
Building	Your	Support	Network
Human	connection	relieves	anxiety.	Looking	another	person	in	the
eye	and	sharing	our	vulnerable	moments,	aspirations,	and	setbacks
soothes	our	nervous	systems.	If	you’ve	been	caught	in	anxiety’s	grip
for	some	time,	you	may	not	have	had	the	mental	space	to	sustain
close	family	or	friendship	ties.	One-on-one	meetings	with	a
therapist	or	group	therapy	are	ways	to	start	garnering	some	in-
person	support.	Online	anxiety-reduction	tools	also	can	be	helpful.
Sharing	your	goals,	progress,	and	setbacks	with	others	offers	a
sturdy	brace	that	will	give	you	encouragement	and	perspective	as
you	find	your	way.
Finding
	
a	Therapist
Be	Calm
	
is	for	you	to	use	on	your	own,	or	with	a	therapist	if	you	have	one.
You	can	find	relief	on	your	own	if	you’re	persistent	and	stay	with	it.	However,
you	will	want	to	participate	in	psychotherapy	if	you’d	like	to	accelerate	the
learning	process,	deepen	your	self-awareness,	if	you	have	little	social	support,
or	if	you’ve	implemented	the	strategies	and	are	not	feeling	much	relief	or
progress.
Psychotherapy	in	a	sense	is	a	mini	laboratory	where	you	can	try	out	your