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144 — 7 Surprising Strategies That Fix Anxiety (Even Though We Fear These Things Will Make Anxiety Worse)

September 23, 2024
7-Surprising-Way-to-Fix-Anxiety-Mentally-Stronger-Podcast

Anxiety is uncomfortable. When you’re anxious, you want relief fast.
 
But, some of the best anxiety reducing strategies feel counterintuitive. These seven strategies are backed by science and when you put them into practice, you can manage your anxiety and feel empowered to live a more fulfilling life.
 
Some of the things I talk about today are:
 

  • How to embrace uncertainty
  • A tool that reduces worrying
  • How to conquer specific fears
  • How to learn to trust your opinions
  • How to overcome perfectionism

 

Key Takeaways:

 

  • Embrace Uncertainty: Life’s unpredictability can work in your favor once you stop trying to control every aspect.
  • Schedule Time to Worry: Designating specific worry times each day can prevent anxiety from dominating your life.
  • Face Your Fears Gradually: Incremental exposure to what you fear helps in reducing anxiety over time.
  • Limit Reassurance Seeking: Relying on external approval excessively can undermine your self-trust and hike anxiety levels.
  • Practice Imperfection: Allowing yourself to make mistakes instills confidence and counters perfectionism-related anxiety.

Notable Quotes:

“Our response to anxiety sometimes turns it into a bigger problem, and then it makes the anxiety last longer or become more intense.”

“The more we try to control every detail, the more anxious we feel.”

“You might have seen it on social media memes or heard people say, ‘feel the fear and do it anyway,’ but there’s science behind the idea.”

“Sometimes a mistake can be a wonderful opportunity for learning, but you have to let yourself make mistakes just to prove to yourself that nothing terrible is going to happen.”

“When your mood is better, you can think more clearly, and then the problem in front of you seems like it’s a lot more solvable.”

Timestamp Summary

0:00 Seven Counterintuitive Strategies to Reduce Anxiety

5:44 Embracing Life’s Unpredictability: A Tale of Two Roller Coaster Riders

6:50 Counterintuitive Strategies to Manage Anxiety

9:05 Taking Baby Steps to Overcome Social Anxiety

10:31 Counterintuitive Strategies for Managing Anxiety and Perfectionism

14:00 How a Panic-Induced Decision Led to a Career in Social Work

15:24 Seven Counterintuitive Strategies to Tackle Anxiety

17:28 Mental Strength Tips and Exclusive Content from Amy Morin

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