When we give dread a designated time to do its thing, we're actually also giving ourselves more agency. The idea is to let your mind run wild with catastrophic scenarios. This is where you can start writing. Or if you don't like writing piece of paper and pen, you can use your phone.
If we’re not careful, we can spend an entire day stuck in an endless loop of dread. Penciling in time for this scary emotion on the calendar can be a surprisingly easy way to keep it from becoming too overwhelming. The Dread Project Challenge is a five-day series that investigates an emotion so many of us are struggling with lately – from our dread of the next Zoom meeting to worries that have life-and-death stakes. Each day of the challenge, we tackle dread in a different way, and offer you a fun exercise for feeling a little better, even when you’re anticipating the worst.
Today, Clinical Psychologist Dr. Ali Mattu is back to talk about how he carves out “worry time,” and why it can be so beneficial.
Check out dreadproject.com for more information about The Dread Project and daily prompts for The Dread Project Challenge. We’d love for you to share how today’s Dread Project Challenge went for you by sending us a voice memo at morethanafeeling@tenpercent.com. Give us your name and where you’re from, and you might hear yourself on an upcoming episode!
Sign up for the Dread Project Listener Challenge here: dreadproject.com. If you’re seeing this after the challenge has begun, don’t worry! You can sign up and participate anytime.
For more information about More Than A Feeling, The Dread Project, today’s challenge prompt, and today’s guests, check out our show notes at: www.tenpercent.com/mtaf-podcast-episodes/schedule-your-dread. And follow us on Twitter at podfeelings.
If digging into dread is very difficult or intense for you, some additional resources that could help are listed below.
Search for a therapist:
Mental Health Resources:
Apps:
- Try the Ten Percent Happier app for free for thirty days by visiting tenpercent.com/more and check out the meditation pack made especially for working with dread.
- Dare App - free app to help with anxious moments
If you are currently experiencing a mental health crisis, please click here, text 741741, or call 988.
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