Dr. David Rosmarin, founder of the Center for Anxiety, discusses how anxiety can be transformed into a strength, leading to self-awareness, goal achievement, better connections, and resilience. He explores the increasing prevalence of anxiety and the impact of excessive news and social media consumption. The podcast also delves into the relationship between anxiety and performance, strategies for managing anxiety, incorporating spiritual traditions to cope, finding meaning in adversity, and turning anxiety into a strength.
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Quick takeaways
Anxiety can be viewed as a benefit and strength, helping individuals develop self-awareness, reach goals, and make changes.
Factors such as higher income and increased safety measures have contributed to higher anxiety levels despite living in a safe and prosperous time.
Anxiety is often caused by an intolerance of uncertainty and uncontrollability, leading to the need for control and fear of the unknown, which can increase anxiety levels.
Deep dives
Anxiety can be a benefit and strength
Anxiety can be viewed as a benefit and strength rather than a burden. It can help individuals develop self-awareness, reach goals, make changes, connect with others, and build resilience.
Anxiety prevalence has risen despite decreased threats
Anxiety rates have increased despite living in the safest and most prosperous time in history. Factors such as higher income and increased safety measures have contributed to higher anxiety levels.
Anxiety is related to intolerance of uncertainty
Anxiety is often caused by an intolerance of uncertainty and uncontrollability. The need for control and a fear of the unknown can lead to increased anxiety.
Avoidance and worry are counterproductive responses to anxiety
Avoiding anxiety-producing situations and excessive worrying are counterproductive responses to anxiety. These behaviors can reinforce anxiety and hinder personal growth and connection with others.
Anxiety can enhance personal connections
Anxiety can either disconnect or connect individuals to others. Embracing anxiety can lead to vulnerability and openness, promoting deeper and more meaningful relationships.
Anxiety is typically thought of as a disease or a disorder. My guest has a very different way of looking at it, and says that rather than being a burden, anxiety can actually become a benefit, and even a strength.
Dr. David Rosmarin is an associate professor at Harvard Medical School, the founder of the Center for Anxiety, and the author of Thriving with Anxiety: 9 Tools to Make Your Anxiety Work for You. Today on the show, David explains why the prevalence of anxiety has risen while the reasons to feel anxious have fallen, and what the increase in anxiety has to do with our growing intolerance for uncertainty and uncontrollability. We discuss how the perception of anxiety is a big part of the problem that has made anxiety a problem, and how you can change your relationship with anxiety, transforming it from something that hinders your life, to something that helps you develop greater self-awareness, reach your goals, make needed changes, connect better with others, and build your overall resilience.