Being Well with Forrest Hanson and Dr. Rick Hanson Ep. 27: Avoiding Needless Fear
Jul 16, 2018
Explore the concept of 'paper tiger paranoia'—unfounded fears that overshadow real threats. Discover how modern anxieties, such as exaggerated interpersonal fears and media-induced panic, distort our perception of danger. Understand the hidden costs of chronic anxiety, including rumination and negativity bias. Learn practical strategies to assess and challenge these fears, focusing on acceptance and agency. Finally, find peace by realigning your attention on actual threats and taking meaningful action.
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Stone-Age Brain, Modern Problems
- Evolution favors false alarms to avoid one fatal miss, so we overreact to unlikely threats.
- This adaptive paranoia now produces unnecessary anxiety in safe modern contexts.
False Alarms Hide Real Threats
- Paper-tiger paranoia distracts from real, often gradual threats like relationship cooling or long-term health damage.
- Overreacting to imagined threats reduces clarity and resources for real problems.
Car-Trip Worry Example
- Rick Hanson recounts a frequent exchange with his wife about car-trip worries that don't materialize.
- She attributes safety to her worry and points out non-occurrence doesn't disprove future risk.
