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Overcoming Anxiety…. A Five week Strategy

Last updated on 1 January 2026 by Brisbane Livewell Clinic Editorial Team

Overcoming Anxiety – My Story

There was a time in my life when I was overcome with Anxiety and Despair. My wife had left, and suddenly I was a single parent. When I was an assistant manager of a department store, and there was a new store manager and regional manager who both took an instant dislike to me, no doubt due to my current state of mind.

I was told that I was surly and damaging the story’s morale and that if I didn’t turn myself around in 2 weeks, I would be sacked. I was preoccupied with my heartbreak, and this new development added to my despondent state of mind considerably.

I pondered my predicament over the weekend and decided that I only had one option. I had to make it right. I lived in a company-owned house and could end up having no income and nowhere to live. So I applied what I considered to be a perverse logic. Happy people smile; therefore, I would smile until I was happy. I did this for the next 2 weeks, smiling to mask my pain. Long story short, I wasn’t sacked. In fact, soon afterwards, I was promoted to store manager and got a pay rise and a company car.

Today this perverse logic is called ‘Fake It till you Make It”. It works by changing your attitude, which in turn changes your mindset for the better. I also had a little help from my daughter, who was 6 at the time. She saved my life. I could have easily given up in those dark days, but she brought me great comfort and strength.

In-Clinic, at least half of the people I see have some form of stress, adrenal fatigue, anxiety or mild depression. This is why I decided to create a course to educate and give people the tools to manage their headspace. Knowledge is power. This course will give you power by teaching you about the causes, triggers, coping skills and nutritional requirements to overcome anxiety and live your best life.

Woman engages in conversation with another woman. Overcoming Anxiety. What does a Counsellor do. Holistic Counselling for Disconnection. Brisbane Livewell Clinic

This is what you will learn about Overcoming Anxiety…

Week 1:  The causes and triggers of anxiety

  • Family history of mental health conditions.
  • Stressful events – school stress, work stress, changing jobs
  • Verbal, physical or sexual abuse
Young girl sitting on the floor. Naturopathic Care for Children. Overcoming Anxiety. Obsessive- Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Brisbane Livewell Clinic

Week 2:  The physiological effects of anxiety on the body

  • Sympathetic nervous system dominance
  • Cortisol
  • Gut health, endocrine system, reproductive system, immune system, cardiovascular system
Young girl sitting on the floor of a dark room. Overcoming Anxiety. Hypnotherapist Wavell Heights. Brisbane Livewell Clinic

Week 3:  The Gut-Brain connection

  • Gut-Brain axis
  • HPA axis
  • Neurotransmitters
Woman in a robe places her hand on her stomach. Overcoming Anxiety. Brisbane Livewell Clinic

Week 4:  Coping Mechanisms

  • Vagus nerve stimulation
  • Breathing
  • Meditation
Man meditating in nature. Overcoming Anxiety. Brisbane Livewell Clinic

 Week 5:  Diet and Nutrition for mental health

  • Diet, inflammation and anxiety
  • Foods that cause inflammation
  • Anti-anxiety diet
Woman eating healthy salad bowl. Overcoming Anxiety. Clinical Nutritionist Camp Hill. Clinical Nutrtitionist Murarrie. Brisbane Livewell Clinic

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Authors & Reviewers

Written by the Brisbane Livewell Clinic Editorial Team

Written by the Brisbane Livewell Clinic Editorial Team in accordance with our Editorial Policy and Content Standards.

Reviewed by Our Practitioners

Expert Review by our qualified Practitioners at Brisbane Livewell Clinic (Wavell Heights) and Brisbane Livewell Clinic (Cannon Hill). Our articles are reviewed for accuracy, AHPRA compliance (for Allied Health Services) and alignment with current evidence and best practice under our Editorial Policy and Content Standards.