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Feature Interview: Why we should embrace anxiety


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Most of us think of anxiety as something to get rid of. We treat it as the enemy. But according to psychotherapist Owen O'Kane, the harder we fight anxiety, the more power we can give it. A former NHS clinical lead for mental health in London, he believes many people can get trapped in habits that keep anxiety alive. We become addicted to constant busyness, overthinking, checking, planning, worrying, and trying to stay one step ahead of every possible problem. In his new book, O'Kane argues that the goal isn't to defeat anxiety but to understand it. By changing our relationship with anxiety, he says, we can break the patterns that keep us stuck. The book is called Addicted to Anxiety: How to Break the Habit.
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RNZ - All ProgrammesBy RNZ