41 min
86. Breaking free from worry loops PLAYING-IT-SAFE
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- Mental Health
Picture this scenario: you encounter an ambiguous and uncertain situation, and then, of course, you quickly try to solve it. You anticipate all types of scenarios and try to prepare for each one of them, without realizing you are worrying and consumed with anxiety.
Worry is primarily a thought-based process, and that’s what makes it tricky. Unpacking worry thoughts and distinguishing the unhelpful from the helpful ones are crucial.
We all worry from time to time, that’s unavoidable. But playing-it-safe by worrying all the time takes a hefty toll on your well-being, happiness, and relationships.
In this episode, I interview Dr. Chad Lejeune, Ph.D.
We discussed the subtleties of worrying, what keeps worry cycles, and the importance of developing a new relationship with your mind. In the second part of the interview, I shared with Chad an unexpected situation I encountered when traveling, and we used that as an opportunity to discuss micro-skills to manage uncertainty, what-if thoughts, and reassurance-seeking and information-seeking behaviors.
Key Takeaways
How to develop a new relationship with thinkingHow to distinguish effective problem-solving from ineffective oneUnderstanding fear and anxietyDefining worry and its impactThe role of thoughts in worryDistinguishing between productive and nonproductive worryThe consequences of worryAddressing beliefs about worryChanging our relationship with our thoughtsDealing with unexpected situationsEmbracing uncertainty and ambiguityThe anxious brain and uncertaintyProductive thoughts and problem-solvingThe power of narratives and storytellingThe distinction between problem-solving and creating narrativesThe danger of excessive information-seekingThe power of accepting uncertaintyThe importance of learning from the past
Show notes with time stamps
00:27 Understanding Fear and Anxiety
01:26 Defining Worry and Its Impact
02:27 Distinguishing Between Worry and Problem-Solving
05:50 The Consequences of Worry
06:43 Addressing Beliefs About Worry
11:27 Changing Our Relationship with Our Thoughts
17:41 Practical Example: Dealing with Unexpected Situations
22:59 The Power of Productive Thoughts
23:56 The Mind's Narratives and Their Impact
25:46 The Distinction Between Problem Solving and Worrying
28:15 The Power of Acceptance and Living in the Present
28:20 The Pitfalls of Excessive Information Seeking
29:12 The Role of Google in Reassurance Seeking
32:29 The Importance of Embracing Uncertainty
(*) Receive free weekly science-based, compassionate, and actionable skills to stop ineffective playing-it-safe
(*) Figure out your playing-it-safe profile in 5 minutes and identify the key thinking strategies that keep you living in your head
(*) Learn ACT skills for anxious achievers by taking Dr. Z. ACT courses
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Picture this scenario: you encounter an ambiguous and uncertain situation, and then, of course, you quickly try to solve it. You anticipate all types of scenarios and try to prepare for each one of them, without realizing you are worrying and consumed with anxiety.
Worry is primarily a thought-based process, and that’s what makes it tricky. Unpacking worry thoughts and distinguishing the unhelpful from the helpful ones are crucial.
We all worry from time to time, that’s unavoidable. But playing-it-safe by worrying all the time takes a hefty toll on your well-being, happiness, and relationships.
In this episode, I interview Dr. Chad Lejeune, Ph.D.
We discussed the subtleties of worrying, what keeps worry cycles, and the importance of developing a new relationship with your mind. In the second part of the interview, I shared with Chad an unexpected situation I encountered when traveling, and we used that as an opportunity to discuss micro-skills to manage uncertainty, what-if thoughts, and reassurance-seeking and information-seeking behaviors.
Key Takeaways
How to develop a new relationship with thinkingHow to distinguish effective problem-solving from ineffective oneUnderstanding fear and anxietyDefining worry and its impactThe role of thoughts in worryDistinguishing between productive and nonproductive worryThe consequences of worryAddressing beliefs about worryChanging our relationship with our thoughtsDealing with unexpected situationsEmbracing uncertainty and ambiguityThe anxious brain and uncertaintyProductive thoughts and problem-solvingThe power of narratives and storytellingThe distinction between problem-solving and creating narrativesThe danger of excessive information-seekingThe power of accepting uncertaintyThe importance of learning from the past
Show notes with time stamps
00:27 Understanding Fear and Anxiety
01:26 Defining Worry and Its Impact
02:27 Distinguishing Between Worry and Problem-Solving
05:50 The Consequences of Worry
06:43 Addressing Beliefs About Worry
11:27 Changing Our Relationship with Our Thoughts
17:41 Practical Example: Dealing with Unexpected Situations
22:59 The Power of Productive Thoughts
23:56 The Mind's Narratives and Their Impact
25:46 The Distinction Between Problem Solving and Worrying
28:15 The Power of Acceptance and Living in the Present
28:20 The Pitfalls of Excessive Information Seeking
29:12 The Role of Google in Reassurance Seeking
32:29 The Importance of Embracing Uncertainty
(*) Receive free weekly science-based, compassionate, and actionable skills to stop ineffective playing-it-safe
(*) Figure out your playing-it-safe profile in 5 minutes and identify the key thinking strategies that keep you living in your head
(*) Learn ACT skills for anxious achievers by taking Dr. Z. ACT courses
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
41 min