961: From Random to Recognizable Discovering the Roots of Anxiety

In today's episode, Gina responds to a listener email commenting on his own struggle with anxiety-inducing thoughts. The listener suggests the common thread running through the most distressing thoughts he has is that they involve future (often catastrophic) events that have not yet come to pass. Listen in to see how to best respond to such thinking and learn to overcome a major anxiety creating pattern: intrusive thinking about events that have not yet (and may never) come to pass.

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What is anxiety?

Quote:

Your mind is your instrument. Learn to be its master, not its slave.

-Remez Sasson

Chapters

0:00:24 Going from random to recognizable with anxious thoughts

0:01:09 Realization: Anxieties revolve around future events and scenarios

0:03:19 Using mindfulness to bring the mind back to reality

0:13:24 Responding to anxieties with a beneficial mindset

0:14:39 Resting in the idea of handling it when it comes

0:16:31 Realizing the power to come back to the present moment

Summary

In this episode of the Anxiety Coaches Podcast, we delve into the idea of going from random to recognizable with our anxious thoughts. We explore the roots of anxiety and how they manifest in our minds. One listener shared a comment that resonated with several others - that many of their anxieties had a common thread: they were all centered around future events and scenarios. This realization was a breakthrough for the listener, as they found it helpful to remind themselves that they will handle these situations when they actually occur, instead of trying to control them in the present.

As the host, I emphasize the importance of being the master of our minds rather than being enslaved by our anxious thoughts. I quote Ramez Sasson, who said, "You have power over your mind, not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength." So often, individuals with anxiety search for patterns in their anxieties, trying to make sense of their constant worries. I ask listeners if they have noticed any patterns in their own anxious thoughts.

We acknowledge that the anxieties surrounding future events are common and often based on hypothetical scenarios. Our imagination can take us to dark places, but it's essential not to let these thoughts dictate our present experience or become slaves to our minds. Instead, we should use our minds as instruments and discern which thoughts require attention and which can be put aside for the time being.

Moving forward, we shift our discussion towards the common anxieties people have about future flights and how to handle them. We explore the fact that many of these fears are anticipatory, and our imagination can run wild with negative possibilities. However, it's crucial to remember that these anxieties are not happening in the present moment. Spending too much time in future anxious thinking can exhaust our bodies and keep us stuck in a fight or flight reaction pattern.

The key to breaking free from this pattern is practicing mindfulness and bringing our minds back to the present moment when we catch ourselves falling down the wormhole of anxious thoughts. By regularly engaging in meditation and being mindful, we build the strength to redirect our thoughts to reality.

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