For more than 25 years, Brett Cotter has helped people heal from trauma, anxiety and emotional suffering. With his innovative coaching methods, self-care practices and guided meditations, thousands have found relief, inner peace and renewed happiness. 

Natural Awakenings Magazine spoke with Cotter about breaking free from stress.

Why is the world so stressed and what can we do about it?  

Life stresses us out through family, work, society, anything really. The universe wants us to look inside ourselves to break free from the stress we see on the outside. Like a dog chasing its tail, humanity has been stuck in a stress cycle for eons, and most people feel it’s getting worse. However, the universe uses stress to evolve us; we just haven’t figured out how to play the game yet.

To break free, you must first see your triggers as teachers. Stress is an opportunity to love the emotional pain inside our body unconditionally. Let love do the work for you, love is the healer. Second, whenever you’re upset you can touch the tension, breathe deeply and slowly, express all your feelings as you exhale and then say, “I love breaking free from all this tension inside me, right now.” Slowly repeat that statement after every third breath. As your heart reopens you will feel love melt down the tension, and like magic…your Stress Is Gone.  

Who comes to you for help?

It could be anyone who has hit their limit and is ready to let go. There are so many situations, such as people struggling with PTSD, feeling overwhelmed by the state of the world or out of control family situations, grieving the loss of a loved one, having abusive or addicted parents and those grappling with burn-out as health professionals, caregivers or parents of children with special needs. 

What methods are most useful? 

We help our community through one-on-one coaching, daily relaxation in our membership, certification programs and retreats. One example is our annual Women’s Retreat in the Poconos starting March 27. We blend music, movement, meditation, dance, sound bath, bonfire, two daily emotional relief sessions and include a year of after-care. 

How can readers better manage stress, and what should they remember about it?

All emotional pain heals when it’s seen, heard and loved. Your stress is coming up to leave, but your mind holds on every time you say things like, “I'm so angry” or “I’m so depressed.” Your breath and your touch are the two tethers to the present moment; together they will help you break from free from the cycles of stress and anxiety. The universe is not torturing you; it loves you and more importantly, it wants you to realize how to love yourself from the inside out. 

Brett Cotter is the author of 3 Keys to Managing PTSD, The Stress Is Gone Method and The Suicide Prevention Family Handbook. Combining Eastern and Western philosophies with compassion and humor, Cotter has become a respected voice in trauma recovery, teaching his signature approach at Fortune 500 companies, hospitals, schools, military bases and retreat centers. A diplomate for the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress, Cotter also serves as a trauma expert for Meditation University and developed a breathwork technique certified by the American Institute of Stress. To learn more, see StressisGone.com.