Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee BITESIZE | Why Your Brain Wants You To Be Anxious (And What You Can Do About It) | Dr Anders Hansen #579
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Sep 18, 2025 
Join Swedish psychiatrist Dr. Anders Hansen, a bestselling author known for his insights on brain health, as he delves into the paradox of modern anxiety despite our comfort and security. He reframes anxiety as an adaptive 'smoke detector' and discusses practical tools like breathing techniques, labeling feelings, and the transformative power of exercise. With a blend of knowledge and passion, Hansen encourages listeners to understand their brains better to combat anxiety effectively.
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Brain's Primary Goal Is Survival
- The brain did not evolve for happiness or creativity but to keep you alive and reproduce.
- This explains why it prioritizes survival signals over feeling good in modern life.
Anxiety As An Adaptive Defense
- Anxiety is an evolved defense that makes us see the world as more dangerous than it is.
- Feeling bad can be a sign your brain is trying to protect your life, not that you're broken.
Smoke Detector Model Of Anxiety
- Anxiety works like a smoke detector: accept false alarms to avoid catastrophe.
- Growing up with danger raises the detector's sensitivity, reflecting survival calibration rather than brokenness.
