Episodes
Friday Mar 30, 2018
E02 Anxiety: Are You Overwhelmed By Life's Chaos?
Friday Mar 30, 2018
Friday Mar 30, 2018
Anxiety is an all encompassing emotion that is linked to many different psychological aspects of our lives such as fear, worrying about the future along with symptoms of feeling irritated and nervous. Anxiety can be used to describe phobias, panic attacks, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. But it’s normal to feel anxiety when facing many of the common life challenges we face like a job interview, an exam or first date. The problem lies in the degree to which we experience anxiety, whether its constant and overwhelming and when it gets in the way of our relationships and daily activities.
Anxiety leads us to avoid or leave situations where it might occur. It also encourages doing things perfectly along with trying to control events to prevent danger or from being overwhelmed. Thoughts associated with anxiety include an exaggeration of danger, an underestimation of our ability to cope and help that's available and the thoughts of worry and catastrophe. Some of the physical reactions of anxiety include: sweaty palms, muscle tension, racing heart, flushed cheeks, and lightheadedness.
Anxious thoughts are generally future oriented and often predict catastrophe. They begin with “What if...?” and end with a disastrous outcome. Someone with a fear of public speaking may think “What if I mix up my words or forget my notes. What if people think I’m a fool and don’t know what I’m talking about?” This could be followed up with an image of the danger itself.
With relationships one may be concerned about being judged, rejected, or embarrassed. Thoughts such as : “What if I get hurt or what if the other person senses my weaknesses and takes advantage of me?”
Generally, the three responses to anxiety are “fight, flight, or freeze” which are responses that can be adaptive when we face danger.
Existential Anxiety
Anxiety as part of human nature
Freud's perspective on Anxiety
Neurotic Anxiety
Moral Anxiety
How Distorted Thinking increases stress and anxiety:
All or Nothing Thinking
Overgeneralizing
Mentally Filtering our experience
Disqualifying the Positive
Jumping to Conclusions (Mindreading)
Catastrophizing (Magnifying)
Relying on Emotional Reasoning
Using Should Statements
Labeling yourself and others
Personalization
The Upside of Anxiety
Solutions to Excessive Anxiety
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