Jun. 17, 2025

Not the Enemy

Jun. 10, 2025

Leaving the “Fire”

Jun. 03, 2025

Facing the Storm

May. 27, 2025

Acceptance is Not Complacency

Aug. 20, 2024

I am Thinking…

Jul. 30, 2024

Eliminating Thoughts

Jul. 23, 2024

Car Alarms

Jul. 02, 2024

Helpful Worry vs Unhelpful Worry

Jun. 25, 2024

Storytelling

Jun. 18, 2024

Approach

May. 28, 2024

What Is

May. 21, 2024

YouTube Feed

Mar. 12, 2024

Welcoming Anxiety

Mar. 05, 2024

Overthinking

Feb. 27, 2024

Outcome Focused

Feb. 20, 2024

Beliefs About Thoughts

Feb. 13, 2024

Worry vs Planning

Feb. 08, 2024

Growth & Perfection

Jan. 30, 2024

Anticipatory Anxiety & Decisions

Jan. 23, 2024

Self-Care

Jan. 16, 2024

Core Fears

Jan. 09, 2024

Psychological Flexibility

Jan. 04, 2024

Intentions

Dec. 12, 2023

Beliefs About Worry

Nov. 21, 2023

Unhelpful Assumptions

Nov. 14, 2023

Selective Attention

Nov. 07, 2023

Anxiety vs Suffering

Nov. 02, 2023

Thought-Action Fusion

Oct. 23, 2023

Imperfect Friend

Oct. 17, 2023

Automatic Thoughts

Oct. 10, 2023

The Anxiety Cycle

Oct. 03, 2023

Process Over Outcome

Sep. 29, 2023

Mental Reps

Sep. 26, 2023

Productive vs Unproductive Worry

Aug. 22, 2023

Perfectionism to Self-Compassion

Aug. 15, 2023

“Just Think Positive”

Aug. 08, 2023

Slow is Smooth, Smooth is Fast

Aug. 01, 2023

Externalize Anxiety

Jul. 25, 2023

Perfecting Anxiety

Jul. 18, 2023

Thought Defusion

Jul. 11, 2023

Acceptance vs White Knuckling it

Jul. 04, 2023

Shifting to the Present and the External

Jun. 27, 2023

Keeping Anxiety on its Leash

Jun. 20, 2023

Intrusive Thoughts

Jun. 13, 2023

Safety Behaviors

May. 16, 2023

Rumination is Active

May. 09, 2023

Reassurance Seeking

May. 02, 2023

Challenging Thoughts Too Much

Apr. 18, 2023

Out of Control

Apr. 11, 2023

Catastrophizing

Mar. 07, 2023

Insight and Anxiety

Feb. 28, 2023

Anxiety is Normal

Feb. 21, 2023

Short-Term Comfort

Feb. 14, 2023

Anxiety Loves to Stay Vague

Feb. 07, 2023

No Fear

Jan. 27, 2023

The Child Brain, The Parent Brain, & The Grandparent Brain


The Anxiety Cycle

The anxiety cycle is a reinforcing trap. It looks like this: Internal or external trigger Anxiety sensations Anxiety urges us to avoid or escape We avoid or escape the trigger We experience short-term relief from anxiety We reinforce anxiety long term The amygdala, the part of the brain responsible for our fight/flight response, is great at keeping us alive. The only thing is, it’s not very smart. It says, “I’d rather keep you alive and be wrong about this. Let’s panic now and figure out the details later.” As a result, it constantly sends us false alarms. When it sends us anxiety signals, it watches how we respond. If it sees us avoiding or escaping, it says, “Oh, my human is running away. I’m right!” It stores this memory and will send us the same signals in similar situations. The good thing about the amygdala is that it’s open to learning new lessons. The catch is, it doesn’t learn through language or logic. It only learns through experiences and only when it’s sending anxiety signals. If you’re not feeling anxiety, it’s not open to learning. So, the way out of the anxiety cycle is to actually do the very thing the anxiety is urging us away from. That is, to trigger the anxiety on purpose. In the short-term the amygdala will get louder. But, as we stay in the triggering situation, the amygdala continues to send false alarms, but it takes note that we’re staying put. This slowly teaches the amygdala that it doesn’t need to keep sending us anxiety sensations. Want to learn more about this cycle and how to break it? I’m offering a free webinar in 2 weeks: Overcoming Worry and Anxiety. I hope you’re able to join!

Subscribe

Weekly thoughts on anxiety + Event updates


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The Anxiety Cycle

The anxiety cycle is a reinforcing trap. It looks like this: Internal or external trigger Anxiety sensations Anxiety urges us to avoid or escape We avoid or escape the trigger We experience short-term relief from anxiety We reinforce anxiety long term The amygdala, the part of the brain responsible for our fight/flight response, is great at keeping us alive. The only thing is, it’s not very smart. It says, “I’d rather keep you alive and be wrong about this. Let’s panic now and figure out the details later.” As a result, it constantly sends us false alarms. When it sends us anxiety signals, it watches how we respond. If it sees us avoiding or escaping, it says, “Oh, my human is running away. I’m right!” It stores this memory and will send us the same signals in similar situations. The good thing about the amygdala is that it’s open to learning new lessons. The catch is, it doesn’t learn through language or logic. It only learns through experiences and only when it’s sending anxiety signals. If you’re not feeling anxiety, it’s not open to learning. So, the way out of the anxiety cycle is to actually do the very thing the anxiety is urging us away from. That is, to trigger the anxiety on purpose. In the short-term the amygdala will get louder. But, as we stay in the triggering situation, the amygdala continues to send false alarms, but it takes note that we’re staying put. This slowly teaches the amygdala that it doesn’t need to keep sending us anxiety sensations. Want to learn more about this cycle and how to break it? I’m offering a free webinar in 2 weeks: Overcoming Worry and Anxiety. I hope you’re able to join!

Subscribe

Weekly thoughts on anxiety + Event updates


By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: . You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact
Jun. 17, 2025

Not the Enemy

Jun. 10, 2025

Leaving the “Fire”

Jun. 03, 2025

Facing the Storm

May. 27, 2025

Acceptance is Not Complacency

Aug. 20, 2024

I am Thinking…

Jul. 30, 2024

Eliminating Thoughts

Jul. 23, 2024

Car Alarms

Jul. 02, 2024

Helpful Worry vs Unhelpful Worry

Jun. 25, 2024

Storytelling

Jun. 18, 2024

Approach

May. 28, 2024

What Is

May. 21, 2024

YouTube Feed

Mar. 12, 2024

Welcoming Anxiety

Mar. 05, 2024

Overthinking

Feb. 27, 2024

Outcome Focused

Feb. 20, 2024

Beliefs About Thoughts

Feb. 13, 2024

Worry vs Planning

Feb. 08, 2024

Growth & Perfection

Jan. 30, 2024

Anticipatory Anxiety & Decisions

Jan. 23, 2024

Self-Care

Jan. 16, 2024

Core Fears

Jan. 09, 2024

Psychological Flexibility

Jan. 04, 2024

Intentions

Dec. 12, 2023

Beliefs About Worry

Nov. 21, 2023

Unhelpful Assumptions

Nov. 14, 2023

Selective Attention

Nov. 07, 2023

Anxiety vs Suffering

Nov. 02, 2023

Thought-Action Fusion

Oct. 23, 2023

Imperfect Friend

Oct. 17, 2023

Automatic Thoughts

Oct. 10, 2023

The Anxiety Cycle

Oct. 03, 2023

Process Over Outcome

Sep. 29, 2023

Mental Reps

Sep. 26, 2023

Productive vs Unproductive Worry

Aug. 22, 2023

Perfectionism to Self-Compassion

Aug. 15, 2023

“Just Think Positive”

Aug. 08, 2023

Slow is Smooth, Smooth is Fast

Aug. 01, 2023

Externalize Anxiety

Jul. 25, 2023

Perfecting Anxiety

Jul. 18, 2023

Thought Defusion

Jul. 11, 2023

Acceptance vs White Knuckling it

Jul. 04, 2023

Shifting to the Present and the External

Jun. 27, 2023

Keeping Anxiety on its Leash

Jun. 20, 2023

Intrusive Thoughts

Jun. 13, 2023

Safety Behaviors

May. 16, 2023

Rumination is Active

May. 09, 2023

Reassurance Seeking

May. 02, 2023

Challenging Thoughts Too Much

Apr. 18, 2023

Out of Control

Apr. 11, 2023

Catastrophizing

Mar. 07, 2023

Insight and Anxiety

Feb. 28, 2023

Anxiety is Normal

Feb. 21, 2023

Short-Term Comfort

Feb. 14, 2023

Anxiety Loves to Stay Vague

Feb. 07, 2023

No Fear

Jan. 27, 2023

The Child Brain, The Parent Brain, & The Grandparent Brain