966: The Flip Side Of Anxiety's What If's

In today's episode, Gina discusses the tendency of the anxious mind to present individuals with terrifying "what if's". By so doing the anxious mind works itself up further and drives the body into fearful overdrive. In addition to deflating many of the most common "what if's", a unique solution is offered: present the mind with benevolent "what if" thoughts instead. A number of example positive "what if's" are included. Listen in and take advantage of this knowledge today!Please visit our Sponsor Page to find all the links and codes for our awesome sponsors!https://www.theanxietycoachespodcast.com/sponsors/Thank you for supporting The Anxiety Coaches Podcast.Find even more peace and calm with our Supercast premium access membership! https://anxietycoaches.supercast.com/Here's what's included for $5/month:❤ New Ad-Free episodes every Sunday and Wednesday❤ Access to the entire Ad-free back-catalog with over 600 episodes❤ Premium meditations recorded with you in mind❤ And more fun surprises along the way!All this in your favorite podcast app!To learn more go to:https://www.theanxietycoachespodcast.comJoin our Group Coaching Full or Mini Membership Program Learn more about our One-on-One CoachingWhat is anxiety?Quote:In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.-Sun TzuChapters0:00:24 Exploring the Flip Side of Anxieties: What Ifs0:02:02 Finding Opportunity in the Midst of Chaos0:02:46 The Scary Thoughts that Haunt the Anxious Mind0:03:28 Fear of Not Being Liked at a Party or Job Interview0:04:28 Fear of Stopping Breathing during Meditation or Relaxation Techniques0:06:09 Reassurance and Concrete Evidence against Fear of Stopping Breathing0:07:16 Fear of Panic and Lack of Help0:08:26 Finding Inner Strength and Reassurance0:11:04 Fear of Needing to Use the Bathroom0:12:11 Coping with the Fear of Running Out in Social Situations0:14:18 Addressing the Fear of Getting Sick and Not Waking Up0:15:13 Understanding the Mind's Primitive Response to Keep Safe0:16:06 Exploring Deeper Stressors and Journaling Techniques0:17:28 Exploring New Perspectives: What If Scenarios0:17:42 Embracing Positive What-Ifs0:18:55 Embracing the Possibility of Success0:20:27 Finding Opportunity in ChaosSummaryWelcome to another episode of the Anxiety Coaches Podcast, where we dive into the flip side of anxieties, the "what ifs." We understand that if you've been feeling anxious or stressed for a while, these anxious thoughts may resonate with you. In the midst of chaos, as Sun Tzu wisely said, there is also opportunity. Remembering this, we invite you to consider the potential for opportunity within your "what if" thoughts.We explore common "what if" scenarios, such as the fear of a fast heart rate leading to death or the worry of not being liked in social situations and job interviews. We address concerns about breathing, reassuring you that your body will take care of you even if your breathing feels off. Additionally, we tackle the fear of having a panic attack and nobody coming to your aid, emphasizing the significance of finding evidence to challenge these anxious thoughts. Throughout, we aim to provide understanding, reassurance, and practical strategies for managing these anxious "what if" thoughts.Moving on, we discuss the idea of self-care and finding comfort in our own company. Mindfulness and meditation are suggested as effective practices for spending time with our own minds, as with growth and evolution, the need for outer reassurance and dependence on others diminishes. We address common fears, like the fear of death, being unable to find help, or being trapped in a confined space, offering practical solutions and personal anecdotes. It's important to not let these thoughts dictate our lives and respond to them with humor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.