In this episode of YANAF, we’re talking about worry and anxiety, particularly rational worry and anxiety. You know the phrases, don’t worry, it’ll probably never happen, or ‘It’s not like anyone’s going to die!’ – well what do we do when bad things may well happen, or people’s lives and livelihoods are genuinely at risk? How do we stop ourselves from becoming overwhelmed with anxiety then?

To explore this, we’re joined by Psychiatrist and therapist Dr. Caroline Walker to talk about how to stop ourselves from feeling overwhelmed with worry even in the midst of worrying times. Even though we might not be able to control what’s going on in the world, or even just our families or workplaces right now, one thing we do have more control over is how we deal with ourselves when we start feeling anxious or dwelling on unhelpful thoughts (even if they may be very rational). We can also stay focused on the present where everything is OK now. 

We talk about how worry can be helpful when it spurs us into action but when it’s overplayed can cause us distress and actually make the bad things MORE likely to happen as we can’t think straight or perform as well when we are in our sympathetic fight flight or freeze zones. We share some simple techniques you can use to reduce your anxiety which you can use anywhere EVEN in difficult times. 

So listen to this episode if you want to find out:

• Why do we need to be ‘more gazelle’
• Which emotions your anxiety may be masking and why this matters AND
• How to get yourself out of the vicious cycle of rumination and worry

Resources

• Permission to Thrive Membership
• You Are Not A Frog Episode 15: Eff-It Living with John C. Parkin
• Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman
• The Joyful Doctor
• Caroline Walker’s email

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