Moving Beyond Overwhelm: Transforming Anxiety into Action

Moving Beyond Overwhelm: Transforming Anxiety into Action

In this episode, Dr. Kimber explores the difference between functional and dysfunctional anxiety, sharing why a certain amount of anxiety is not only normal, but necessary for motivation and getting things done. Drawing on her work as a clinical psychologist and somatic experiencing practitioner, Dr. Kimber helps you notice how anxiety shows up in your body—whether as a racing heart, brain fog, or restlessness—and guides you in understanding what these signals are trying to tell you. Through real-life stories, compassionate reflections, and practical tools, Dr. Kimber invites you to build your awareness and bring structure to moments of overwhelm. You’ll learn grounding techniques, like softening your jaw and tuning into your breath, alongside simple strategies to break the cycle of avoidance and come back to a sense of calm. Whether you’re facing an endless to-do list, big life transitions, or just need to regroup after a stressful season, this episode offers gentle, actionable ways to reset and reconnect with yourself. Take a few deep breaths, pause, and let Dr. Kimber support you in turning anxiety from an adversary into a wise, guiding signal on your journey to greater ease and self-acceptance. Check out past episodes and more information here: https://www.drkimber.net/podcast-info [https://www.drkimber.net/podcast-info] Please remember that this podcast is not a replacement for treatment by a healthcare or mental health professional.  This content is created for education and entertainment purposes only. Join 'A Moment of Pause' Newsletter: https://drkimber.activehosted.com/f/5 [https://drkimber.activehosted.com/f/5] Fierce + Gentle Retreats - fiercegentleretreats.com [https://www.drkimber.net/fierce-gentle-retreats] Connect with Dr. Kimber: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr_kimber/ [https://www.instagram.com/dr_kimber/] About My Work: https://www.drkimber.net [https://www.drkimber.net/] Fierce Gentle Community: https://www.drkimber.net/fierce-gentle Book: Still: Making A Whole When Parts Go Missing [https://www.drkimber.net/books]

Pause: Finding Relaxation For Sleep And Other Moments [Pause 72]

Welcome to another calming pause episode of I Thought I Was Over This with your host, Dr. Kimber. In this special session, Dr. Kimber, a licensed clinical psychologist and somatic experiencing practitioner, guides listeners through practices designed to help regulate the nervous system, find grounding, and drift into a peaceful state of rest.  Whether you’re preparing for sleep or seeking a moment of relaxation during a busy day, you’ll be gently invited to soften your jaw, ground yourself in the present, and release the tension you carry. With soothing breath exercises, poetic reflections by Wendell Berry and Jan Richardson, and mindful body awareness, Dr. Kimber offers a sanctuary for the mind and body, ensuring that you can reconnect with a sense of safety, calm, and self-compassion. Settle in, breathe deep, and allow yourself to rest. Check out past episodes and more information here: https://www.drkimber.net/podcast-info [https://www.drkimber.net/podcast-info] Please remember that this podcast is not a replacement for treatment by a healthcare or mental health professional.  This content is created for education and entertainment purposes only. Join 'A Moment of Pause' Newsletter: https://drkimber.activehosted.com/f/5 [https://drkimber.activehosted.com/f/5] Fierce + Gentle Retreats - fiercegentleretreats.com [https://www.drkimber.net/fierce-gentle-retreats] Connect with Dr. Kimber: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr_kimber/ [https://www.instagram.com/dr_kimber/] About My Work: https://www.drkimber.net [https://www.drkimber.net/] Fierce Gentle Community: https://www.drkimber.net/fierce-gentle Book: Still: Making A Whole When Parts Go Missing [https://www.drkimber.net/books]

Moving Through Stress: Nature, Breath, and Noticing in the Healing Journey [Pause 71]

In this episode, Dr. Kimber invites listeners to explore the cycles of stress and healing that accompany personal growth.  This episode offers grounding exercises and practical tools for recognizing and responding to stress—whether you tend to fight, flee, freeze, or fawn.  Dr. Kimber shares insights on the importance of developing self-awareness around your unique stress signals, while also advocating for a compassionate approach to both ourselves and those we support.  The episode features somatic grounding practices, advice for managing ongoing stress, and reflections on the role of nature in regulation. Listeners are also encouraged to join upcoming community workshops and retreats focused on embodiment and nervous system regulation.  The episode closes with a Mary Oliver poem, The Loon, offering a gentle invitation into the restorative power of simply being. Check out past episodes and more information here: https://www.drkimber.net/podcast-info [https://www.drkimber.net/podcast-info] Please remember that this podcast is not a replacement for treatment by a healthcare or mental health professional.  This content is created for education and entertainment purposes only. Join 'A Moment of Pause' Newsletter: https://drkimber.activehosted.com/f/5 [https://drkimber.activehosted.com/f/5] Fierce + Gentle Retreats - fiercegentleretreats.com [https://www.drkimber.net/fierce-gentle-retreats] Connect with Dr. Kimber: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr_kimber/ [https://www.instagram.com/dr_kimber/] About My Work: https://www.drkimber.net [https://www.drkimber.net/] Fierce Gentle Community: https://www.drkimber.net/fierce-gentle Book: Still: Making A Whole When Parts Go Missing [https://www.drkimber.net/books]

Let's Reduce Your Stress And Find Self-Compassion [Pause 70]

In this episode, Dr. Kimber returns from a break - both intentional and unintentional - to reflect on lessons learned from a difficult business decision.  She explores the neuroscience of the nervous system, offers grounding practices for regulation, and guides listeners through mindful breathing and gratitude exercises.  Featured is a contemplative reading from Mary Oliver's poem, "Messenger," inviting self-reflection and presence. Check out past episodes and more information here: https://www.drkimber.net/podcast-info [https://www.drkimber.net/podcast-info] Please remember that this podcast is not a replacement for treatment by a healthcare or mental health professional.  This content is created for education and entertainment purposes only. Join 'A Moment of Pause' Newsletter: https://drkimber.activehosted.com/f/5 [https://drkimber.activehosted.com/f/5] Fierce + Gentle Retreats - fiercegentleretreats.com [https://www.drkimber.net/fierce-gentle-retreats] Connect with Dr. Kimber: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr_kimber/ [https://www.instagram.com/dr_kimber/] About My Work: https://www.drkimber.net [https://www.drkimber.net/] Fierce Gentle Community: https://www.drkimber.net/fierce-gentle Book: Still: Making A Whole When Parts Go Missing [https://www.drkimber.net/books]

Pause: Notice, Name, Change: Building Capacity for Uncertainty and Overwhelm [Pause 69]

Welcome to another episode of I Thought I Was Over This with Dr. Kimber. In this episode, Dr. Kimber invites you to pause and build your capacity to face whatever life is offering you right now. Whether you're moving through overwhelm, racing through your days, or simply curious about befriending your nervous system, this pause is for you. She guides you through gentle, embodied practices to help you arrive fully in the present moment—from softening the tension held in your forehead, jaw, and hands, to feeling your feet on the ground and wiggling your toes. Dr. Kimber shares the power of the extended exhale, a simple breathwork practice that signals safety to your body, and introduces the soothing VOO breath from Dr. Peter Levine's Somatic Experiencing Theory. You'll discover why naming what's happening in your body and mind is the gateway to transformation, and how even small shifts—like deepening your breath at a busy event or journaling to release what's weighing on you—can recalibrate your entire stress response. Dr. Kimber also shares personal stories about navigating stress at world championships and learning to read her body's signals with compassion and curiosity. The episode closes with Wendell Berry's poignant reminder: "It may be that when we no longer know what to do, we have come to our real work." Tune in for a tender, practical episode that meets you exactly where you are and invites you to meet yourself with the same grace. Check out past episodes and more information here: https://www.drkimber.net/podcast-info [https://www.drkimber.net/podcast-info] Please remember that this podcast is not a replacement for treatment by a healthcare or mental health professional.  This content is created for education and entertainment purposes only. Join 'A Moment of Pause' Newsletter: https://drkimber.activehosted.com/f/5 [https://drkimber.activehosted.com/f/5] Fierce + Gentle Retreats - fiercegentleretreats.com [https://www.drkimber.net/fierce-gentle-retreats] Connect with Dr. Kimber: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr_kimber/ [https://www.instagram.com/dr_kimber/] About My Work: https://www.drkimber.net [https://www.drkimber.net/] Fierce Gentle Community: https://www.drkimber.net/fierce-gentle Book: Still: Making A Whole When Parts Go Missing [https://www.drkimber.net/books]