The Intersection of Culture, Religion, and Anxiety: Understanding Our Emotional Landscape

Hey everyone! In this episode I'm joined by Amy Green Smith, a personal development coach from North Carolina.

We're diving deep into the world of anxiety, and Amy shares her own personal journey. She talks about growing up in a conservative religious household and the impact of her father's passing.

We discuss how these experiences led to people-pleasing behaviors and affected her self-worth.

Together, we explore the effects of cultural conditioning, the power of emotional intelligence, and practical strategies for self-advocacy and setting healthy boundaries.

It's a conversation that's both relatable and inspiring.

Thank you for listening and you can find me on IG: @theanxietymd if you have any questions.

PS. If you would like to join the MBRX family of 4000+ anxiety WARRIORS who are shifting from coping with their anxiety to actually HEALING it, click the link below: https://www.theanxietymd.com/MBRX

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TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Introduction

01:13 - Amy Green Smith's Journey

02:13 - Father's Death Impact

03:32 - Family Dynamics and Expectations

04:42 - Learning to Advocate for Oneself

06:50 - Litigating for Rightness

09:43 - Complexity of Childhood Emotions

11:57 - Roots of People-Pleasing

13:08 - Misconceptions about People-Pleasing

14:10 - Self-Worth and People-Pleasing

15:29 - Pain of Breaking the Cycle

16:45 - Understanding Motivations for People-Pleasing

18:24 - Oxytocin and Gender Dynamics

19:22 - Cultural Conditioning of Women 

20:23 - Primitive Defense Mechanisms

22:07 - Cultural Reinforcement of Gender Roles

23:40 - The Impact of Religious Upbringing

25:09 - Cultural Shifts Post-WWII 

25:59 - The Role of Medication in Women's Mental Health

26:17 - Pain and Change in Society

26:45 - Political Figures as Cult Leaders

27:45 - Religious Trauma and Identity

29:49 - The Search for Validation

30:11 - The Concept of the 'Magical Other'

31:36 - Critique of Religious Narratives

33:20 - Order vs. Chaos in Society

34:33 - The Feminine Perspective in Religion

40:48 - The Pressure of Social Media on Identity

42:09 - The Nuance of Societal Order

44:03 - Political Divisions and Identity

47:23 - Media Influence and Extremism

49:42 - Emotional Intelligence as a Solution

51:26 - Cultural Messaging of Emotions

52:36 - The Role of Emotions in Decision Making

53:35 - Order and Uncertainty

01:00:01 - Creating Emotional Intelligence in Women