Modern Wisdom #469 - Dr Tracy Dennis-Tiwary - The Truth About How Anxiety Works
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May 5, 2022 Dr. Tracy Dennis-Tiwary, a professor of psychology and neuroscience, discusses the evolution of anxiety as a vital survival emotion. She explores how modern society and technology affect our mental health while reframing anxiety as a catalyst for creativity and personal growth. Tracy emphasizes that anxiety isn't just a disorder but a signal for motivation and connection. The conversation also tackles the dangers of numbing emotions in music culture and offers strategies for managing anxiety, urging a shift towards embracing its potential.
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Anxiety's Evolutionary Purpose
- Anxiety is a natural human emotion, a triumph of human evolution, not a malfunction or disease.
- It evolved to help us manage uncertainty by anticipating the future, promoting persistence, creativity, and social connection.
Anxiety and the Negativity Bias
- Humans are built for effectiveness, not happiness, and anxiety aids survival.
- The negativity bias, prioritizing perceived danger, was adaptive in ancestral environments.
Anxiety vs. Fear
- Fear is a present-focused response to certain danger, while anxiety involves future simulations.
- Anxiety requires imagining both positive and negative possibilities.
