People with anxiety disorders are often out of touch with their bodies. If you are anxious or preoccupied with worrying, you may, as the expression goes, be "living in your head"--not feeling strongly connected with the rest of your body below the neck. Try checking in with yourself as you are reading right now. Do you feel as if most of your energy-your "center of gravity"-is situated from your neck up? Or do you feel solidly connected with the rest of your body, in touch with your chest, stomach, arms, and legs"

To the extent that you are out of touch with your body, you may ignore-often unconsciously-an entire range of physical symptoms which arise when you're under stress. Examples of physical symptoms that may signify stress include fatigue, headaches, nervous stomach, tight muscles, cold hands, or diarrhea, to mention a few. Unfortunately, when you're unaware...