Metta Hour with Sharon Salzberg Ep. 260 – Anxiety Series: Dr. Jud Brewer
11 snips
Mar 18, 2025 
Join Dr. Jud Brewer, a New York Times best-selling author and leading expert in habit change, as he discusses the neuroscience of anxiety. He explains how anxiety differs from fear and how mindfulness can alleviate excessive worrying. The conversation highlights the transformative power of curiosity in understanding our thoughts. Dr. Brewer also addresses the impact of the internet on collective anxiety, particularly among youth. Listeners will gain practical insights to navigate their own anxiety with kindness and awareness.
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Worry vs. Planning
- Worrying and catastrophizing, unlike planning, cause suffering.
- Checking plans repeatedly without new information is unproductive worrying.
Anxiety Habit Loop
- Anxious feelings can trigger worrying, creating a negative reinforcement cycle.
- Worrying creates an illusion of control, rewarding the behavior and perpetuating anxiety.
Noting Practice and Panic
- Jud Brewer used noting practice during panic attacks to label sensations and thoughts.
- Curiosity helped him depersonalize the experience and see it as impermanent.
