297 | Why Your Anxious Brain Assumes the Worst & How I'm Rewiring My Brain For More Positive Thinking (as a Therapist)

Does your brain immediately jump to the worst-case scenario? In this episode, we’re diving into one of the most common unhelpful thinking patterns (cognitive distortions) that fuels anxiety: catastrophizing.I’m sharing my own personal struggle with anxious thinking and how my mind can quickly create stories about everything that could go wrong.I’ll also walk you through practical tools that have helped me interrupt fear-based thought loops, rewire my brain, and intentionally create space for what else could be true—including positive outcomes and what could go RIGHT.If anxiety has you living in “what if?” mode, this episode will help you shift into “what if things actually work out?” mode.Please forgive the audio quality - I HAD to record this and I didn't have my best mic.[FREE 4 MINUTE CALM RESET AUDIO]Want a short, grounding practice for when you're feeling overwhelmed? Grab it here & use it anytime![CALM AUDIO BUNDLE]Want an in the moment guided practice to get out of your head, break out of the overthinking spiral & feel more calm & grounded?Grab the CALM Audio Bundle here.—short and effective grounding tools, breathing practices, and healing audios designed for anxious, overwhelmed women who are ready to regulate their nervous system and step into peace.[TELL DEV WHAT SPOKE TO YOU]DM Dev what you're taking from this episode! She'd love to hear from you![GET YOUR QUESTION ANSWERED ON THE POD]Want to get Devoney's coaching take on something you're moving through? This is EXACTLY why the podcast exists, to support YOU. Share your question HERE & she'll answer it on an upcoming episode![WORK WITH DEVONEY]REGULATE & REALIGN SESSION: A 75-minute 1:1 session to help you exhale & know what to focus on right now. Get more info HERE.GENTLE MOMENTUM BUNDLE: A gentle, grounded 3 session coaching journey. Less spiraling and second guessing. More self trust & confidence. Get more info HERE.[ABOUT DEVONEY & FREE & WELL]The Free & Well Podcast is for the woman who:-is ready to stop second guessing herself-is ready to feel more confident in who she is & who God created her to be-is ready to start speaking up more & being herself unapologeticallyCurrent Ways to Work with DevoneyOn this podcast, you'll hear psychology backed mental wellness tools, nervous system regulating practices & faith based tools to support you in becoming your most confident self. My hope is that you walk away from every episode feeling hyped to take that one, next step in becoming your best self.My name is Devoney. I've served over 5,000 hours as a therapist, I'm a faith based yoga teacher & a dog mom. Growing up, I questioned myself and struggled with anxiety and I'm here to share all the things I've learned so you can step into who God created you to be, unapologetically!Each episode I'll share nuggets from my 10 +years in the mental health field and my own raw, imperfect & real lessons life as a Believer who experiences anxiety & ADHD and as a recovering people pleaser.[DISCLAIMER]Recommendations shared in this episode are based on my own personal opinion. No content provided by Free & Well and/or on this show is a substitute for medical or mental health treatment. It is all purely for educational purposes and is not a replacement for medical, legal, or mental health advice. Please call 911 if you are in an emergency, the Access & Crisis Line if you are in a crisis at 888-724-7240 or contact a licensed mental health provider for mental health support. See full disclaimer here.