Written by: Jemima Blazdell, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
The world can be a stressful, anxious making place. I know, I’ve felt it. And I know you will have to, at some point to varying degrees.
Anxiety used to rule my life – social anxiety to be precise. I would self-medicate with alcohol to cope with meetings at work and any social situation. I was known as a ‘party girl’ by some friends at college because I always wanted to go to the pub. This was not because I wanted to party. I needed it to survive.
I hid it well, even from myself. I used to tell myself it was a confidence thing – as soon as I had had a drink, I was fine. It took me many years to realise I had social anxiety that I was scared of people.
The fear around the table
I often felt trapped and self-conscious. I hated sitting around a table with people. I had to sit on the corner or near the door, preferably nearest the exit. The darker evenings were better as were noisy places. If it was at someone’s house I would be super helpful – the first one to clear the plates or help with the washing up. I was constantly dreading something – I didn’t know what – and had a knot of anxiety in my stomach the whole time.
The hosting was better. 1:1’s were much easier, enjoyable even. And I discovered I could give a talk in front of 100 people and not bat an eyelid. I guess it was about being in control or having a role to hide behind that helped.
Since 1992, and after learning about the Fight or Flight response in the first term of my Psychology A Level, I have been working towards understanding, clearing and releasing my anxiety and stress responses. At least to an appropriate amount. I feel anxious occasionally but it’s short-lived and I know how to handle it – how to meet my own needs.
And the wonderful thing about all my research and on self-help is that it has led to me helping hundreds and hundreds of people, worldwide.
Change is possible!
Once I discovered techniques that worked – EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) being the turning point – I was on a mission to share them with the world.
I’ve given talks, run workshops and courses and set up the Stress Free Life Academy – an online centre of learning and resources for people to help themselves. It’s what I wish I had for all those years of running on adrenalin and alcohol...
The most powerful work I do is 1:1 with clients but huge amounts can be changed through education and taking charge of how you feel.
In 2021, I created a video every day for 100 days, each one less than a minute long and giving a quick, effective technique or tip to reduce stress in your body. In 2022, I published that in book form.
You can open the book on any page and use it straight away. My intention was an ease and hopefully fun. A step-by-step guide to feeling better, one moment at a time.
Check out my website: Stress Free Life Academy, for free resources or to book a strategy call and get your copy of the book here: 100 Stress Free Days
Jemima Blazdell, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Jemima is passionate about what she does and is an experienced and extremely effective practitioner. Jemima had begun training to be a counsellor when she discovered EFT. This background, easy rapport and strong empathy lead to quick, long-lasting and deep resolution of often long term issues. She went from being too scared to stand with the other mum’s at the school gate, to being a School Governor, all within 6 months of her training. She now gives talks and runs workshops without any anxiety issues. This is largely down to the EFT and Matrix Reimprinting work she has done. After Jemima trained, she soon became full-time practitioner and now gets to tap every day!
