Mental Reps
Perfectionism to Self-Compassion
“Just Think Positive”
Slow is Smooth, Smooth is Fast
Externalize Anxiety
Perfecting Anxiety
Thought Defusion
Acceptance vs White Knuckling it
Shifting to the Present and the External
Keeping Anxiety on its Leash
Intrusive Thoughts
Safety Behaviors
Rumination is Active
Reassurance Seeking
Challenging Thoughts Too Much
Out of Control
Catastrophizing
Insight and Anxiety
Anxiety is Normal
Short-Term Comfort
Anxiety Loves to Stay Vague
No Fear
The Child Brain, The Parent Brain, & The Grandparent Brain
Perfecting Anxiety
Learning about anxiety and noticing progress makes room for a new type: Anxiety about making progress with anxiety.
- “Is this a safety behavior or not?”
- “Am I doing enough exposures?”
- “Am I doing the right type of exposures?”
- “I need to get it perfect to make sure I get over anxiety!”
It’s just another trick it tries to play on us. Anxiety feeds us new types of content as we make progress with the usual content. It tries to convince us that this new “danger” is real. This one we won’t be able to figure out.
The good news is it’s all the same. The content of worry and anxiety is irrelevant because it’s the same path forward: Label it as anxiety, remind ourselves the amygdala is sending false signals, avoid avoidance, and strengthen our tolerance for uncertainty.
Subscribe
Weekly thoughts on anxiety + articles/video updates
Perfecting Anxiety
Learning about anxiety and noticing progress makes room for a new type: Anxiety about making progress with anxiety.
- “Is this a safety behavior or not?”
- “Am I doing enough exposures?”
- “Am I doing the right type of exposures?”
- “I need to get it perfect to make sure I get over anxiety!”
It’s just another trick it tries to play on us. Anxiety feeds us new types of content as we make progress with the usual content. It tries to convince us that this new “danger” is real. This one we won’t be able to figure out.
The good news is it’s all the same. The content of worry and anxiety is irrelevant because it’s the same path forward: Label it as anxiety, remind ourselves the amygdala is sending false signals, avoid avoidance, and strengthen our tolerance for uncertainty.
Subscribe
Weekly thoughts on anxiety + articles/video updates