I write this blog you after receiving some very sad news last night.

I was lying in bed, about to turn the light off, when I received a call from my husband.

He always calls (or texts) when he finishes a gig, to let me know he’s on his way home.

Yet last night, his call came with some awful news he’d just heard.

A man, who’d had a tremendous influence on my husband’s music career, had passed away.

That man was Soundgarden and Audioslave singer and solo artist Chris Cornell.

According to the reports, Chris Cornell took his own life a few of days ago, after taking a couple too many anti-anxiety tablets.

Suicide being one of the possible side-effects of the medication, his wife Vicky Cornell believes there’s a big chance the pills were responsible for this tragic passing.

Upon receiving the news, I was shocked.

I remember in my teens playing Soundgarden’s songs on guitar and drums, and later watching Chris Cornell perform live in my 20s.

When I go to my husband’s gigs, I always request him play one of the songs he performs by Chris Cornell.

Why do I share this with you?

Because Chris Cornell is not the only one who has struggled with anxiety.

Anxiety disorders affect more than 18 percent of adults.

And anxiety is crippling.

I should know, after spending my early twenties in a state of constant anxiety, with regular panic attacks.

This is why I am writing this unplanned blog.

Because I am passionate about raising awareness about anxiety.

Anxiety is not something we have to struggle through life with OR something we must use drugs to keep under control.

As in the case with Chris Cornell, it is very possible that the drugs caused more harm than good.

What we all need to understand is that… Anxiety is curable.

How is that so?

Let me explain a little bit about anxiety, so you can gain a deeper insight into how it works.

Anxiety, at its core, is a fear of the future.

We get anxious because we fear not getting our work done in time, not getting the outcomes we desire, not being good enough, not being rich enough, and the list goes on and on and on.

Much of the time we are not even conscious of what we are anxious about, leaving the anxiety free to roam, causing our body to contract and release toxic chemicals into our bloodstream that, over time, begin to deteriorate the body.

Yes, anxiety sickens the body.

Anxiety is a very real problem, with many side-effects.

Where does anxiety come from?

Our childhood conditioning.

As a child we are programmed, much like a computer, on how to think, act and behave.

We form beliefs about ourself – subconscious programming – beliefs like ‘I’m not good enough’, ‘I’m a failure’, ‘I’m not loveable’, ‘I’m not deserving’ and so on.

It is these beliefs that begin filling our heads with negative mind-chatter that put us in a state of anxiety.

Hence to say, the anxiety is a product of this childhood programming.

Now this programming can be erased, and just like a computer, new programming can be installed.

More positive programming.

Programming that has you believing you are good enough.

You are deserving of a brilliant life.

You are loveable.

When a person believes these things about themselves, there is no room for anxiety to sneak in, because you no longer hold fears about your future.

So when I say anxiety can be cured, this is what I mean.

Change the programming, and you take away the fuel for the anxiety, so it cannot exist.

I have seen this work first-hand through the hundreds of clients I have helped change the programming and thus clear anxiety.

And this is what both my One-on-One Intensive and my Remarkable Relationships course is specifically designed to do.

Unfortunately, I am not taking any new clients until 2018, but I do have a little technique that I will share with you, that helps get rid of anxiety in the moment.

This technique I share, while it doesn’t clear out the root cause of anxiety (you need to clear the programming for that), it does get rid of the anxiety in the present moment.

When you read how to do it, it will sound simplistic.

Yet it is in its simplicity that lies its effectiveness.

Our body does not know the difference between what is real and what is imagined.

Hence why this little technique is so profound.

So next time you find yourself in a state of anxiety, take 2-full minutes to give this exercise a go.

Anti-anxiety exercise:

Firstly, get clear about what it is you are anxious about.

What is it that you fear might happen in the future?

Is it, not having enough money? Is it, making a fool of yourself when you have to get up to give that presentation?

Once you know, close your eyes, and imagine yourself 15 minutes after that event that you are currently fearful of, and imagine the best possible scenario.

If it’s not having enough money, imagine yourself at a time when you have plenty of money, with you feeling completely secure and at ease with your financial situation.

If it’s presenting that talk, imagine yourself smiling to yourself, reflecting on how well that talk went and how proud you are of yourself for having done so well.

What’s important when you do this, is you really imagine BIG.

Really feel what is would feel like in your body, to have achieved the best possible outcome of the thing you were originally anxious about.

Feel the excitement, the ease, the happiness; whatever mental state that best possible outcome ignites in you.

Then turn up that feeling, like you’re turning up the volume on your car radio.

Once you’re feeling the positive feeling of having experienced this great outcome, check in to see where the anxiety is.

If you have done this exercise correctly, there will be no anxiety.

It will be impossible to feel the original anxiety.

If you do feel the anxiety, then you haven’t imagined the best possible outcome or you haven’t connected with the feelings of that positive outcome.

So give it another go.

Like with any new skill, this does take practise.

So if the first time it doesn’t work, try again, and then try again, until you get it.

This is a super powerful tool to pull out of your purse in times of anxiety, to help get you through.

Like I said though, this exercise doesn’t get rid of the programming that creates the anxiety, but it does bring immediate relief.

So until you’re able to work with someone like myself, who can help you remove the programming, use this tool.

Let it be your best friend, that helps send the anxiety away.

I hope this blog helps raise awareness to those with anxiety.

If you have a friend who has anxiety please share this blog with them, so they too may gain a deeper understanding of anxiety, how it works, and what’s needed to cure it.

And please share your experiences by leaving a comment below.

The more we talk about anxiety, the more awareness we bring to this condition, and the more we can shine light into those dark corners.

I will finish by sending heart-felt love and condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Chris Cornell and his many fans, who have travelled with him over the years, side-by-side and through his music.

Chris Cornell, you will forever be in our hearts <3