Anxiety is the crown jewel of human evolution. That’s the professional opinion of neuroscience professor and clinical psychologist Dr. Tracy Dennis-Tiwary, who is driving a paradigm shift in how we understand anxiety. The emotion isn’t a sickness or a flaw in human design – it’s an evolved advantage that protects us and strengthens our creative and productive powers. So even though anxiety doesn’t feel good…it can be good to feel anxious.This is… A Bit of Optimism.For more on Dr. Dennis-Tiwary and her work check out: https://www.drtracyphd.com/https://www.harpercollins.com/products/future-tense-tracy-dennis-tiwary?variant=39708426797090 

Tracy Dennis Tiwary is a renowned emotion scientist and clinical psychologist. Her expertise in emotions, particularly anxiety, gives us a refreshing perspective on how we perceive our fears and hopes. By breaking down the elements of anxiety and explaining its adaptive purpose, she provides effective strategies for managing stress and anxiety. As she explores the link between anxiety and hope, Tracy highlights the importance of emotional agility in prioritizing mental health and fostering resilience. In this episode, you’ll be able to: Uncover the unexpected advantages of embracing your stress Challenge the common misconceptions about success Discover tactics to navigate stressful situations and learn to cultivate resilience Identify and tackle the root causes of your stress and anxiety Understand the importance of fostering a culture that supports mental wellness Harness the hidden potential in stress and turn it into fuel for personal growth To learn more, click here!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Tracy Dennis-Tiwary is a professor of psychology and neuroscience, anxiety researcher, author and founder of Wise Therapeutics.Anxiety is one of the most common mental health disorders in 2022. Huge numbers of both adults and children are suffering, but just how natural is this? Is it normal for humans to be ambiently anxious for months on end or is our modern society causing this to occur?Expect to learn why anxiety developed as a human emotion and how it helped us survive, why anxiety is a signal for your next move, the size of technology's influence on our mood, how to reframe anxiety so it becomes a competitive advantage, why your anxiety and creativity are intrinsically linked and much more...Sponsors:Join the Modern Wisdom Community to connect with me & other listeners - https://modernwisdom.locals.com/Protect yourself from identity theft online with Aura. Try 14 days for free at http://aura.com/modern (discount automatically applied)Get 15% discount on the amazing 6 Minute Diary at https://bit.ly/diarywisdom (use code MW15) (USA - search Amazon and use 15MINUTES)Get 10% discount on your first month from BetterHelp at https://betterhelp.com/modernwisdom (discount automatically applied)Extra Stuff:Check out Tracy's website - https://www.drtracyphd.com/Buy Future Tense - https://amzn.to/3y2LNKw Get my free Reading List of 100 books to read before you die → https://chriswillx.com/books/To support me on Patreon (thank you): https://www.patreon.com/modernwisdom-Get in touch.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriswillxTwitter: https://www.twitter.com/chriswillxYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/modernwisdompodcastEmail: https://chriswillx.com/contact/  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Comedian Aparna Nancherla has always struggled with anxiety — can a new technique help her cope? Link to episode transcript: https://tinyurl.com/33y2hta5 Episode summary: Comedian Aparna Nancherla has always struggled with anxiety. Starting a new task at work, writing her book, talking to a baby — you name it, she worries about it. And while she’s built a career in stand-up comedy making light of her struggles, she still suffers. Aparna joins us to share what it’s like to try a new technique to cope with her anxiety. She tries to see her anxiety through a new lens, and actually lean into it. We also hear from psychologist and anxiety expert Dr. Tracy Dennis-Tiwary about this radical new approach to understanding anxiety and coping with it by understanding it not just as a crucial part of being human, but as a strength unto itself. Practice: Ask yourself: what am I feeling anxious about? What do I want to happen? Take a few minutes to write out your answer. Next, ask yourself: Is there something I can do right now to get closer to the outcome I described in question 1? If the answer is yes, go to part A. If the answer is no, go to part B. A. Remind yourself: My body is preparing me to do what I need to do. I will be better at what I need to do because of these feelings. Then, do whatever it is you identified in question 2. If you still feel anxious and there’s nothing more you can do right now, go to part B. B. Sometimes there are circumstances in our life that make us feel nervous or scared, and there’s nothing we can do in the moment to change our situation. When that’s the case for you, try a mindfulness practice to ground yourself in the present moment. Here are a few you can try: Noticing Nature Walking Meditation Mindful Breathing Body Scan Meditation Savoring Walk Today’s guests: Aparna Nancherla is a comedian, writer, and actress in New York City whose stand-up often focuses on her experience living with depression and anxiety. Check out more videos from Aparna: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KR_pr8Pdh84 Follow Aparna on Twitter: https://twitter.com/aparnapkin Follow Aparna on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aparnapkin/ Tracy Dennis-Tiwary is an anxiety researcher and psychology professor at Hunter College. She just published a new book, Future Tense: Why Anxiety is Good For You. Learn more about Tracy and her book: https://www.drtracyphd.com/future-tense Follow Tracy on Twitter: https://twitter.com/tracyadennis Follow Tracy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.tracyphd/ Resources for Surfing Anxiety TED - How to Cope with Anxiety: https://tinyurl.com/copeanxiety Harvard Health - Anxiety: What it is, What to do: https://tinyurl.com/anxietyhowto  10% Happier - How a Buddhist Monk Deals with Anxiety: https://tinyurl.com/2wpa9pz2 More resources from The Greater Good Science Center: How to Turn Bad Anxiety into Good Anxiety: https://tinyurl.com/goodanxiety Can We Help Young Brains Fight Off Anxiety: https://tinyurl.com/HelpBrains Tell us about your experiences with anxiety by emailing us at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or using the hashtag #happinesspod. Help us share The Science of Happiness! Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or copy and share this link with someone who might like the show: pod.link/1340505607

Dr. Tracy Dennis-Tiwary, a scientist and psychologist, explores the heavy toll of achievement culture on modern parenting. She discusses the struggle between supporting children's emotional growth while managing societal pressures. The conversation dives into the importance of resilience, allowing failure as a learning experience, and fostering intrinsic motivation over external validation. Tracy emphasizes the need for open dialogues about mental health and prioritizing meaningful relationships, urging parents to trust their instincts amidst overwhelming advice.