The One Day At A Time Recovery Podcast 410 Managing Intrusive Thoughts, Anxiety, and Depression In Sobriety
One of the biggest takeaways from this conversation with Emma is that anxiety, depression, and burnout aren't character flaws—they're nervous system responses to feeling unsafe.
We talked about how depression often mirrors the nervous system's shutdown response, and how anxiety shows up as fight-or-flight. When your body feels overwhelmed for too long, it doesn't motivate you—it protects you.
Why Worry Keeps You StuckEmma explained that worry is actually reinforced behavior. When we worry and nothing bad happens, our brain learns, "That worked—do it again." Over time, worry becomes automatic.
This is why telling yourself to "just stop worrying" never works.
One Tool That Can Reduce Anxiety by Up to 80%One of the most practical tools we discussed is Scheduled Worry:
Instead of worrying all day, you train your brain to worry at a specific time—usually 10–15 minutes in the afternoon. Outside of that window, you gently remind yourself, "I'll deal with this at 5pm."
This retrains the brain instead of fighting it.
Burnout and Fear-Based FuelEmma shared how she burned out after years of pushing herself—weekly YouTube videos, pregnancy, parenting, and running a business. What stood out most was this idea:
Fear is a dirty fuel source.
When we're driven by fear—of failure, not being enough, or letting others down—we eventually crash. Healing often means switching fuel sources to trust, values, and self-permission to slow down.
✅ Action Steps for Listeners-
Set a daily check-in alarm (once an hour) to notice:
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What am I thinking?
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What am I feeling?
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What's happening in my body?
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Practice willingness instead of avoidance Let the feeling exist without trying to fix it.
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Try Scheduled Worry for 7 days 10–15 minutes/day, written out.
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Clarify your locus of control Separate what you can control from what you can't.
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Choose one value-aligned action Small, doable, and grounded—not fear-driven.
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Therapy in a Nutshell (YouTube)
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Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)
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Burnout by Emily Nagoski
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Slow Productivity by Cal Newport
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The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry
Guest Contact Info: https://therapyinanutshell.com/
👊🏼Need help applying this information to your own life?
Here are 3 ways to get started:
🎁Free Guide: 30 Tips for Your First 30 Days - With a printable PDF checklist
Grab your copy here: https://www.soberlifeschool.com
☎️Private Coaching: Make Sobriety Stick
https://www.makesobrietystick.com
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