Dr. Luana Marques, an Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School and former president of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, candidly discusses her journey from a chaotic childhood in Brazil to becoming a mental health expert. She reveals a three-step plan to transform anxiety into power, emphasizing the importance of confronting fears rather than avoiding them. Listeners learn about aligning daily actions with core values, the role of social support, and how to turn anxiety into a catalyst for personal growth.
01:10:57
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
question_answer ANECDOTE
Luana's Childhood
Dr. Luana Marques grew up in chaotic circumstances in Brazil, facing anxiety and poverty.
She had panic attacks as a child, initially misdiagnosed as asthma, often triggered by domestic violence.
insights INSIGHT
Early Life Lessons
Luana's mother demonstrated resilience through difficult times, modeling an approach-oriented mindset despite emotional pain.
Her grandmother intuitively used cognitive behavioral therapy techniques, teaching Luana to approach discomfort and practice cognitive flexibility.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Avoiding Anxiety
Avoiding anxiety makes the source of anxiety worse, creating a cycle of fear and limitation.
Luana's grandmother helped her overcome sociophobia by encouraging her to talk to strangers, demonstrating the power of approaching discomfort.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
In *Bold Move*, Dr. Luana Marques offers a groundbreaking approach to overcoming anxiety and achieving personal goals. Her 3-step plan, backed by scientific research, helps individuals recognize and challenge anxious thinking patterns, overcome avoidance, and build a more confident life. Drawing from her personal experiences and decades of clinical practice, Dr. Marques provides actionable strategies for everyone from at-risk teens to executives facing burnout.
New episodes come out every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for free, with 1-week early access for Wondery+ subscribers.
---
The notion of “being your authentic self” might sound like too much of a tired trope, but getting real and stripping away your fears and hang-ups can help you live a more meaningful life.
In her new book, “Bold Move: A 3-Step Plan to Transform Anxiety into Power”, Dr. Luana Marques shares her story about growing up in chaos and learning early skills of cognitive behavioral therapy that helped her cope with anxiety and live boldly.
Dr. Luana Marques is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Harvard Medical School, a former president of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), and a renowned mental health expert, educator, and author.
In this episode we talk about:
Luana’s personal story growing up in Brazil and struggling with anxiety as a child
What it means to live boldly
What is psychological avoidance and the 3 R’s of Avoidance
Luana’s three step plan to transform anxiety into power
How to be comfortably uncomfortable
Why the brain is a faulty predictor
Why being bold is not the same as being fearless
Why social support is the number one buffer across any mental health issue
How aligning your daily actions with your values can help you deal with anxiety
How to identify your values by looking at pain
And what Luana means by “being the water not the rock”
10% Happier with Dan Harris 
