It's Not You, It's Anxiety!

Why are you anxious about the specific things that make you anxious?Episode SummaryIn this episode, Jessica explores the third major cause of anxiety: the messages you learned throughout your life. These messages—spoken and unspoken—teach you what to worry about, what to fear, and who you believe you need to be in order to be safe, accepted, or successful.Jessica explains how these messages come from everywhere: family, school, culture, religion, media, and the experiences you observe growing up. Over time, they quietly shape the things that trigger anxiety in your life.Understanding these messages can help you see your anxiety in a completely different way. Instead of believing something is wrong with you, you begin to recognize how your experiences taught your brain what to worry about—and how those patterns can start to change.In This Episode You'll Learn:The third major cause of anxiety: the messages you learned growing upHow family, culture, school, media, and life experiences shape what you worry aboutWhy two people can feel anxious about completely different thingsHow messages about who you “should” be as a person create anxietyWhy many of the things you feel anxious about were taught, not inherentHow recognizing these messages begins to loosen anxiety’s gripMain TakeawayMany of the things that make you anxious today were learned through the messages you received throughout your life.Those messages came from family, culture, media, school, and the experiences you witnessed growing up. They taught your brain what to worry about and what it believes might threaten your safety, acceptance, or worth.When you begin to see anxiety through this lens, it becomes less about something being wrong with you—and more about understanding the influences that shaped how your mind learned to respond to the world.Who This Episode is ForThis episode is for you if you:Wonder why certain situations trigger anxiety for you but not for othersFeel pressure to be a certain kind of person in order to feel safe or acceptedNotice that many of your worries are connected to expectations from family, culture, or societyWant to understand where your anxiety patterns actually came fromAre ready to start looking at anxiety with curiosity instead of self-blameConnect with JessicaGet My Book: "Hi, It's Anxiety! I'm Your Problem, It's Me"Barnes and Noble  AmazonGet My Free Guide: 3 Keys for Quieting Anxiety NowEnjoyed This Episode?If this episode helped you understand your anxiety in a new way, follow the show and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. *Disclaimer* This show is for information and inspiration. It is not professional mental health counseling or medical advice. If you're struggling, please reach out to a mental health or medical professional.Topics Covered in This Episodecauses of anxietylearned anxiety patternshow childhood messages shape anxietyanxiety and family expectationssocial and cultural influences on anxietywhy different people worry about different thingsunderstanding where anxiety comes fromanxiety triggers and life experiencespsychology of anxiety development

Do you ever feel like you just can’t keep up with life? Like there’s too much information, too much stimulation, and too many demands coming at you all the time?Episode SummaryIn this episode, Jessica breaks down the second major contributor to anxiety: modern living. She explains why our brains and bodies are simply not designed for the pace, volume, and constant input of modern life...and how this mismatch keeps your survival system activated almost nonstop.Using clear explanations, current real-world examples, and everyday scenarios, this episode helps you understand why anxiety feels constant and overwhelming, and why that doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with you.In This Episode You’ll LearnWhy modern life itself is anxiety-inducingHow little of human history our current way of living actually representsWhy your survival system isn’t built to handle constant stimulation and informationHow anxiety turns everyday situations into perceived survival threatsWhy news, social media, work, and daily interactions feel overwhelmingThe difference between immediate survival threats and long-term survivalWhy anxiety reactions often make modern problems harder to solveKey Moments from the Episode “Modern living makes us anxious.”“Our brains and bodies are not meant for the way we’re living.”“The survival system doesn’t sort through information — it just reacts.”“Modern life makes everything feel immediate and threatening.”“Anxiety and the survival system actually make it harder to do what we really need to do.”Main TakeawayYour anxiety isn’t a personal failing — it’s the result of a survival system doing its job in an environment it was never designed for.Modern life floods your brain with information, stimulation, and perceived threats, keeping anxiety constantly activated. Real relief begins with understanding this mismatch, so you can stop blaming yourself and start shifting toward solutions.Who This Episode Is ForThis episode is for you if you:Feel overwhelmed by the pace and demands of modern lifeFeel anxious even when nothing specific is “wrong”Get overstimulated, mentally exhausted, or constantly on edgeFeel activated by news, emails, social media, or daily interactionsWant an explanation that actually makes senseGet My Free Guide: 3 Keys for Quieting Anxiety NowGet My Book: "Hi, It's Anxiety! I'm Your Problem, It's Me!" Barnes and NobleAmazonEnjoyed This Episode?If this episode helped you feel understood or less alone, please follow the show and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps more people find support that actually fits the world we’re living in.*Disclaimer* This show is for information and inspiration. It is not professional mental health counseling or medical advice. If you're struggling, please reach out to a mental health or medical professional.Topics Covered in This EpisodeModern life and anxietyOverstimulation and anxietySurvival system explainedFight, flight, freeze in modern lifeAnxiety and the nervous systemInformation overload and mental healthNews, social media, and anxietyWhy modern living is overwhelmingLong-term vs immediate survivalUnderstanding anxiety without shame

Learn how anxiety is caused by biology: How your survival system is designed to scan for threats, why it misfires, and how understanding the biology of anxiety can immediately reduce shame and self-blame. This episode helps you understand what’s happening in your body so anxiety stops feeling mysterious, scary, or personal. Episode SummaryIn this episode, Jessica breaks down the first and most foundational cause of anxiety: your biology. She explains how your survival system is designed to constantly scan for threats, anticipate danger, and react — and how that normal biological function gets misapplied to everyday situations like social interactions, decision-making, and difficult conversations.Through clear explanations and relatable real-life examples, this episode helps you understand what’s really happening in your body when anxiety takes over — and why knowing this alone can start to quiet anxiety.In This Episode You’ll LearnWhy anxiety isn’t mysterious — and what’s actually happening in your brain and bodyHow your survival system creates physical, mental, and emotional anxiety symptomsWhy anxiety often shows up before anything actually happensHow understanding your biology removes shame and self-blameWhy awareness is the first step toward calming anxiety (before any tools or techniques)Key Moments from the Episode (Quotes) “Not understanding your anxiety actually makes you anxious about having anxiety.”  “This is your biology — it doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with you.”  “Your survival system is meant for real, in-the-moment threats… not farmers markets and difficult conversations.”  “When you can name what’s happening, it removes a layer of anxiety.”  “You’re not stuck in this when you know what’s going on.” Who This Episode Is ForThis episode is for you if you:Feel confused by how intense your anxiety reactions areExperience physical symptoms like racing heart, nausea, tension, or panicGet anxious anticipating things like conversations, decisions, or social situationsHave been told to “just calm down” or “think differently” — and felt invalidatedWant to understand anxiety without shame or self-criticismMain TakeawayYour anxiety feels intense because your survival system is doing exactly what it was designed to do — scan for threat and keep you safe. The problem isn’t you; it’s that this biological system is reacting to everyday situations as if they’re dangerous.When you understand what’s happening in your body, anxiety becomes less scary, less personal, and easier to work with. Awareness isn’t the final step — but it’s the foundation that makes real change possible.Get My Book "Hi, It's Anxiety! I'm Your Problem It's Me"AmazonBarnes and Noble*Disclaimer* This show is for information and inspiration. It is not professional mental health counseling or medical advice. If you're struggling, please reach out to a mental health or medical professional.Topics Covered in This Episode What anxiety really isSurvival system and anxietyFight, flight, freeze response explainedAnxiety symptoms in the bodyWhy anxiety feels overwhelmingAnticipatory anxiety and overthinkingBiology of anxietyNervous system and anxietyWhy anxiety isn’t your faultUnderstanding anxiety instead of fearing it

In this powerful bonus episode, Jessica explores something most people have never been told: Anxiety quietly shapes how people make decisions, use power, and treat one another in the world. Changing your anxiety can change the world!Episode SummaryThrough a moving real-life story, you’ll hear how one woman working through her anxiety didn’t just change her own life — she protected healthcare for an entire community. This episode reveals how anxiety doesn't just live in individuals — it drives systems, institutions, and culture. So when you start to change anxiety, you start to change the world!Healing your anxiety isn’t selfish… it’s one of the most meaningful ways you can make a difference. If we all quieted anxiety, the world would change.In This Episode, You’ll LearnHow anxiety’s threat-scanning doesn’t stop at individuals — it shapes entire systemsWhy fear-based thinking drives decisions about money, healthcare, power, and controlWhy healing anxiety makes you clearer, stronger, and more able to advocate for what mattersHow one person calming their nervous system can create ripple effects that help many othersWhy working on your anxiety is not self-centered — it’s deeply impactful and necessary for a better worldKey Moments from the Episode“People are walking around anxious, trying to protect themselves — and that’s driving the world.”“If we weren’t in anxiety, we could actually see what would really help ourselves and others.”“It’s not just your life. It’s the ripple effect.”Main TakeawayWhen you understand and soften your anxiety, you don’t just feel better. You become more grounded, more courageous, and more able to stand up for yourself and others. Healing anxiety creates clarity — and clarity creates change.Your healing matters far more than you’ve been told.Who This Episode Is ForThis episode is for you if:You care deeply about people and the worldYou’ve felt like your anxiety keeps you small, scared, or quietYou want to feel stronger, more confident, and want to help change the worldYou’ve always sensed your anxiety is connected to something biggerYou see how anxiety plays out in the world around youConnect with JessicaInstagram: @jessica_richards_counselingGet My Free Guide: 3 Keys for Quieting Anxiety NowLearn When a New Episode Drops: Get On Board HereEnjoyed This Episode?If this episode made you feel hopeful, seen, or empowered, please follow the show and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps more people find the support they deserve.*Disclaimer*This show is for information and inspiration. It is not professional mental health counseling or medical advice. If you're struggling, please reach out  to a mental health or medical professional.Topics Covered in This EpisodeHow anxiety affects societyAnxiety and powerHealing anxietyEmotional regulationHow therapy changes livesAnxiety and leadershipAnxiety recoveryNervous system healingAnxiety and confidenceMental health and social change

In this episode, Jessica unpacks one of the most painful and misunderstood parts of anxiety: caring deeply — and worrying — about what other people think. Episode SummaryYou’ll learn why this isn’t insecurity, overreacting, vanity, or “people-pleasing gone wrong.” It’s actually one of the most common ways anxiety tries to protect you.Using real-life examples (pumpkin spice lattes, doctors’ appointments, parenting, and everyday interactions), Jessica explains why your brain sees other people as a potential threat — and why your anxiety jumps in to keep you safe, liked, and connected. This episode is deeply validating and gives you a compassionate understanding of why this anxiety feels so intense and so constant.In This Episode, You’ll LearnWhy worrying what people think is not a flaw — it’s an anxiety protection responseHow being dependent on people (emotionally, socially, and practically) makes your brain see social interactions as potential threatsThe role your values, empathy, and kindness play in this patternWhy anxiety tries to “help” by making you be perfect, pleasing, or the “right” wayHow understanding this pattern immediately reduces shame and self-blameA simple reflective practice to help you see through anxiety and feel more groundedKey Moments from the Episode“Of course it's natural to want people to like you… we all need people. Physically, transactionally, and emotionally.”“Doesn’t it make perfect sense that anxiety would see people not liking you as a threat?”“Anxiety makes me care what people think of me so I can stay in good graces with them and get my needs met.”“Caring what people think is enough, all by itself, to justify anxiety.”“Your anxiety makes sense. Your anxiety around people makes sense.”Main TakeawayCaring what people think isn’t a character flaw — it’s anxiety trying to protect your safety, relationships, belonging, and values. When you understand this, you stop blaming yourself, stop feeling confused by your reactions, and start seeing your anxiety for what it really is: a protection response that can be softened and changed with compassion.Who This Episode Is ForThis episode is especially for you if:You constantly worry about others’ opinionsYou try to be the “right” way, perfect, or endlessly pleasingYou replay conversations or interactionsYou’re sensitive, empathetic, and deeply caringYou’ve felt ashamed or confused about why this feels so intenseYou want a kinder, more grounded understanding of this patternConnect with JessicaInstagram: @jessica_richards_counselingGet My Free Guide: 3 Keys for Quieting Anxiety NowLearn When a New Episode Drops: Get On Board HereEnjoyed This Episode?If this episode helped you feel seen and understood, please follow the show and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps more anxious humans find support that actually makes sense.*Disclaimer*This show is for information and inspiration. It is not professional mental health counseling or medical advice. If you're struggling, please reach out to a mental health or medical professional.Topics Covered in This Episode Why you care what people thinkAnxiety and people-pleasingSocial anxiety Overthinking social situationsHow empathy affects anxietyWhy anxiety feels so intense around peopleAnxiety and perfectionism

If you live with anxiety, chances are you feel guilty all the time.Guilty for disappointing people. Guilty for saying no. Guilty for wanting something different. Guilty for existing. Episode SummaryIn this episode, Jessica breaks down the truth about guilt — and it’s not what you think.You’ll learn how guilt is another way anxiety tries to protect you, why it shows up in situations where you’ve done absolutely nothing wrong, and how to start seeing guilt for what it really is: a safety strategy, not a moral failing.Jessica shares real-life examples (holiday plans, food waste, posting a selfie, and even existential guilt) to help you understand how anxiety uses guilt to push you toward the “safe,” “right,” or “expected” thing — even when that thing hurts you.When you understand what guilt is actually doing, everything changes.In This Episode, You'll LearnWhy anxious people feel guilty all the timeHow guilt functions as a protection strategy, not a moral failingHow anxiety scans your life for threats and misinterprets normal choices as dangerousWhy guilt feels like absolute proof that you're doing something wrongThe difference between real guilt and anxiety-driven guiltWhat existential guilt is — and why it’s so common for anxious peopleHow guilt tries to push you toward “safe,” expected, socially approved choicesKey Quotes “I haven't met a person with anxiety who doesn't experience guilt pretty much all the time.”“Anxiety uses guilt to make you feel bad so that you'll supposedly be the way you need to be to stay safe.”“Anxiety is a threat detector. It is not a good-outcome detector.”“Sometimes the guilt gets so deep it feels like guilt for existing.”“Guilt is one of the things that can really get us stuck because it’s so convincing.”“Guilt is a way that anxiety is showing up to protect you. It's not you — it's anxiety.”Main TakeawayOverthinking isn’t a character flaw or bad habit — it’s anxiety reacting to a perceived threat in an attempt to keep you safe. Understanding why it happens immediately reduces shame, increases clarity, and gives you the power to begin shifting out of spiraling into calmer, clearer thinking.Who This Episode Is ForThis episode is for anyone who:Feels guilty constantly, even when nothing bad happenedOverthinks decisions because they fear disappointing othersExperiences deep or existential guiltStruggles to trust themselvesWants a grounded, compassionate explanation for their guiltWants to stop guilt from controlling their choices and self-worthConnect with JessicaInstagram: @jessica_richards_counselingGet My Free Guide: 3 Keys for Quieting Anxiety NowGet My Weekly Emails: Get On Board HereEnjoyed This Episode?If this episode helped you see guilt differently, please share the show, leave a rating, or reach out. Everyone deserves clarity and compassion.*Disclaimer* This show is for information and inspiration. It is not professional mental health counseling or medical advice. If you're struggling, please reach out to a mental health or medical professional.Topics Covered in This Episode why guilt feels so intenseanxiety and guilt connectionwhy anxious people feel guiltyguilt as a safety responseunderstanding chronic guiltanxious guilt vs true guilt

If you struggle with overthinking, obsessing, or spiraling, this episode will help you understand why it happens — and why it’s not your fault. Episode SummaryJessica explains that overthinking isn’t a random symptom of anxiety; it’s one of the primary ways anxiety tries to protect you from something it believes could go wrong.Using relatable examples — replaying conversations, stressing over work, worrying about climate change, and even baking muffins for a neighbor — Jessica shows how anxiety mistakes discomfort, uncertainty, or possible mistakes as “threats.” From there, it launches into overthinking as its attempt to prepare you, keep you safe, or prevent you from being surprised.By the end of this episode, you’ll begin to see your overthinking differently: not as a personal flaw, but as a misguided safety response. And you’ll learn a powerful practice for gently stepping outside of the spiral and getting clarity.In This Episode, You’ll LearnWhy overthinking is one of anxiety’s primary “protection strategies”How overthinking turns into obsessing and full-body spiralingWhy anxiety sees even small things as potential “threats”How your brain tries to prevent mistakes, discomfort, or surprisesWhy overthinking feels automatic or uncontrollableA simple practice to create space between you and your anxious thoughtsHow understanding anxiety’s motives helps you calm it more quicklyHow this practice sets you up for deeper healing in future episodeKey Moments From the Episode“Overthinking, obsessing, and spiraling are ways anxiety tries to protect you.”“Even when part of you knows the overthinking isn’t helping, another part feels like it’s necessary.”“Anxiety sees threats everywhere — even in things like baking muffins for a neighbor.”“Overthinking protects you from making a mistake, missing something, or being surprised.”“Just naming what’s happening gives you distance from it.”“This sets you up to eventually shift from anxiety-driven reactions to calm, grounded thinking.”Who This Episode Is ForThis episode is perfect for anyone who:Gets stuck in overthinking or ruminationSpirals quickly into worst-case scenariosFeels overwhelmed by obsessive or looping thoughtsWants to understand why their brain reacts this wayFeels frustrated, ashamed, or confused about their anxietyCraves a kinder explanation for patterns they can’t seem to controlIf you’ve ever wondered, “Why am I like this?” — this episode offers clarity and compassion.Connect with JessicaInstagram: @jessica_richards_counselingGet My Free Guide: 3 Keys for Quieting Anxiety NowGet My Weekly Emails: Get On Board Here*Disclaimer* This show is for information and inspiration. It is not professional mental health counseling or medical advice. If you’re struggling, please reach out to a mental health or medical professional.Topics Covered in This Episode why we overthinkanxiety and overthinkinganxiety spiralingobsessive thoughts and anxietythreat response and anxietywhy anxiety sees danger everywherenervous system and overthinkingrumination vs. protectionhow to stop spiralingcompassionate anxiety toolsunderstanding anxious thoughtshow to reduce overthinkingtrauma-informed anxiety education

Why does your anxiety feel so strong, so persistent, and so much bigger than the things happening in your life? In today’s episode, Jessica breaks down the real reason anxiety feels overwhelming — and it’s not because you’re dramatic, broken, or “overreacting.”Episode SummaryYou’ll learn how anxiety’s one job — protecting you from supposed threats — explains overthinking, spiraling, tension, and those moments where your mind jumps to the worst-case scenario instantly. Jessica shares personal examples straight from her week (“spending too much money,” “looking stupid,” “forgetting to pay my bills,” “hitting a pedestrian in the dark,” and more) to show how anxiety reacts to anything it perceives as dangerous, whether it’s logical or not.This episode will help you understand your anxiety more clearly, reduce the shame and self-blame you’ve been carrying, and start relating to your anxiety with compassion instead of fear.In This Episode, You’ll LearnWhy anxiety feels so intense and persistent for so many peopleWhat anxiety thinks its “job” is — and why that makes it react so stronglyHow your biology, modern life, and learned messages shape your anxietyWhy anxious threats don’t have to be real to feel real in your bodyHow to start identifying what your anxiety is trying to protect you fromThe key mindset shift that immediately softens self-blame and confusionKey Quotes“There is a perfectly good reason anxiety is doing this — and it makes complete sense. Anxiety thinks it’s protecting you.” “What is the threat anxiety sees? What is this anxiety trying to protect me from?” “This isn’t you. This isn’t who you are as a person. It’s not your fault. You’re not making this happen — this is a process happening in you.” Main TakeawayYour anxiety feels so intense because it’s doing the only job it knows how to do: spot potential threats and keep you safe.The problem is that anxiety reacts to imagined, exaggerated, or future-based threats just as strongly as real ones.When you understand this, anxiety becomes less mysterious, less shame-inducing, and less overwhelming — and you can finally work with it instead of fighting yourself.Who This Episode Is ForThis episode is for anyone who:Feels like their anxiety is “too much” or “doesn’t match the situation”Blames themselves for not being “logical” enough when anxiousWants to understand why their anxiety feels big and persistentHas been searching for answers that feel validating instead of dismissiveWants a grounded, compassionate explanation for what’s happening inside themConnect with Jessica RichardsInstagram: @jessica_richards_counselingGet My Free Guide: 3 Keys for Quieting Anxiety NowGet My Weekly Emails: Get On Board HereEnjoyed the Episode?If this episode helped you feel seen, understood, or less alone, it would mean so much if you followed the show and left a review. It helps others who struggle with anxiety find this kind of support too. *Disclaimer* This show is for information and inspiration. It is not professional mental health counseling or medical advice. If you're struggling, please reach out to a mental health or medical professional.Topics Covered in This Episodewhy anxiety is so intenseanxiety protection responseanxious overthinkingthreat response systemnervous system anxietychronic anxiety patternswhy anxiety spiralsanxiety feels disproportionate

"You should have known better." "You screwed it up.""You're going to make a mistake again."These are the nasty things anxiety can say to keep you from trusting yourself.When you live with anxiety, trusting yourself can feel impossible. In this episode, Jessica explores how anxiety makes you doubt your judgement and convinces you that you can't make good decisions about your life — and how to start rebuilding trust in yourself through compassion, reflection, and learning from the past.Episode OverviewAnxiety and self-trust can feel like opposites. When you’ve made choices that didn’t turn out the way you hoped, it’s easy to believe you can’t trust yourself — and anxiety is more than happy to take over from there.In this episode, Jessica explains why anxiety steps in when you start doubting your decisions, how it convinces you that worry equals control, and why that cycle keeps you stuck. Through gentle reflection, she guides you toward seeing your past choices with more understanding and less judgment — and reminds you that your current self has more wisdom, experience, and agency than you think.What You’ll LearnHow anxiety convinces you that you “can’t be trusted”Why anxiety believes it’s protecting you — and how it actually blocks clarityThe difference between learning from the past and living in the pastHow to release old evidence that keeps you from trusting yourselfSteps to rebuild confidence and decision-making, even when you still feel anxiousKey Quotes“Anxiety jumps in and says, ‘You can’t trust yourself — I’ve got this.’ But anxiety doesn’t actually help you make better choices.”“You were just making the best choice you could with what you knew at the time.”“You can be trusted. You can sit down and make decisions about your life without anxiety running the show.”Main TakeawayAnxiety tries to protect you from making mistakes — but it ends up keeping you stuck in fear. You can trust yourself again. The key is compassion: recognizing that you’ve grown, learned, and changed, and that you’re capable of making thoughtful choices in the present moment.Connect with JessicaInstagram: @jessica_richards_counselingGet My Free Guide: 3 Keys for Quieting Anxiety NowEmails When a New Episode Drops: Get On Board HereIf You Liked This EpisodeIf this conversation helped you see yourself more clearly, please follow the show and leave a review. It helps others discover that it’s possible to stop listening to anxiety and build self-trust — even in a wild world.*Disclaimer* This show is for information and inspiration. It is not professional mental health counseling or medical advice. If you're struggling, please reach out to a mental health or medical professional. 

Anxiety is your fault and you should have it figured out by now, right?Nope.Anxiety isn't your fault. You didn't cause it — in fact, you're actually set up for it.Jessica breaks down three core reasons anxiety isn't your fault and helps you finally understand why what your anxiety makes sense.Episode SummaryIn this clear and compassionate episode, Jessica explains why anxiety isn't a personal failure — it's part of being human living in this modern world.You'll learn the three major factors that "set you up" for anxiety: Your biological wiring, The overwhelming pace of modern life, and the messages you've learned from family and society. By the end, you'll see your anxiety in a completely new light — with more understanding, less shame. You'll have a powerful reminder that it makes sense you feel this way...and it isn't your fault.In This Episode, You'll LearnAbout the biological survival system that creates anxietyWhy modern life overwhelms a brain built for simpler timesHow social and family messages quietly shape anxietyThe phrase that changes everything: "This makes sense"How self-understanding leads to self-compassion, healing, and reliefKey Quotes"You are totally set up for anxiety — and that's why it's not your fault.""Your biology, this modern world, and the messages you've learned all combine to create anxiety — so how could you not feel this way?""Understanding why anxiety makes sense is the first step to changing it."Main TakeawayAnxiety isn't a defect — it's a reasonable response that you're totally set up for. Once you understand how your brain, body, and environment work together to create anxiety, you can finally release the blame and begin to get relief.Who This Episode Is ForThis episode is for anyone who:Feels guilty or ashamed about their anxietyWants to understand why anxiety really happens Is ready to replace self-blame with insight and compassionConnect with JessicaInstagram: @jessica_richards_counselingGet My Free Guide: 3 Keys for Quieting Anxiety NowGet My Weekly Emails: Get On Board HereEnjoyed the Episode?If this episode helped you see your anxiety differently, please follow the show and leave a review. Your words help others discover that their anxiety makes sense too.*Disclaimer* This show is for information and inspiration. It is not professional mental health counseling or medical advice. If you're struggling, please reach out to a mental health or medical professional. 

Do you constantly criticize yourself for feeling anxious? You're not alone — but it's not helping.In this episode, Jessica explains why self-criticism actually fuels anxiety, how to recognize your inner critic, and what to do instead to start feeling calmer and kinder toward yourself.Episode SummaryPeople with anxiety are often their own harshest critics. In this compassionate follow-up to Episode 1, Jessica explores how self-criticism and anxiety create a painful feedback loop — one that keeps you feeling stuck, tense, and unsafe.Through relatable stories and practical insight, she shows why "beating yourself up" never works, and how shifting to understanding and compassion can immediately begin to calm your anxiety and open the door to healing. In This Episode, You'll LearnWhy anxiety makes you blame yourself — and how that intensifies criticismHow self-criticism tricks your brain into thinking it's keeping you safeWhat happens in your body when you judge yourself harshlySimple ways to interrupt the anxiety/self-criticism cycleA gentle exercise to replace judgment with understanding and compassionKey Quotes"If beating yourself up actually worked, you'd be 'perfect' by now — but you're not, and I'm not. Because criticism doesn't actually help.""Criticism ramps us up or shuts us down — it never helps us change.""Treat yourself the way you'd treat anyone else who had anxiety — with kindness and understanding."Main TakeawayYou can't heal anxiety when you're beating yourself up.Real change begins when you stop beating yourself up, stop blaming yourself for being anxious, and start meeting yourself with kindness, compassion, and understanding.Who This Episode Is ForThis episode is for anyone who:Constantly blames themselves for feeling anxiousFeels trapped in self-criticism and perfectionism and wants a way outWants to feel calmer and kinder toward themselvesConnect with JessicaInstagram: @jessica_richards_counselingGet My Free Guide: Three Keys to Begin Quieting Anxiety NowWeekly Emails: Get Weekly Emails HereEnjoyed the Episode?If this conversation helped you feel seen, please follow and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps others find the show — and reminds them they're not alone.*Disclaimer* This show is for information and inspiration. It is not professional mental health counseling or medical advice. If you're struggling, please reach out to a mental health or medical professional. 

Feeling like nothing works for your anxiety? You're not broken — you just haven't been given the right tools.In this episode, Jessica unpacks what anxiety really is, why traditional methods often fall short, and how to start healing in and compassionate and realistic way.Episode SummaryIn this honest and deeply relatable first episode, Jessica shares her personal experience with anxiety and what she discovered after years of feeling dismissed by one-dimensional solutions.You'll learn why anxiety isn't just a mental issue — it's a total life experience involving your biology, this modern environment you live in, and the messages you learned about yourself.This episode offers a new way to understand anxiety and gives you permission to stop blaming yourself for not being "fixed" yet. In This Episode, You'll LearnWhy anxiety can't be solved by focusing on only one area (like thoughts, breathing, or medication)The hidden causes of anxiety that the usual approaches overlook How family and social messages and unrealistic expectations make anxious thinking worseWhy validation, understanding, and compassion is crucial to healing anxietyWhat a realistic and helpful approach to anxiety really looks likeKey Quotes"Anxiety isn't your fault — and it's not your fault that the solutions you've tried haven't worked." "You're not broken. You've just been trying to fix something with the wrong tools.""When help only addresses one piece of the puzzle, it can feel invalidating — like no one really gets what you're going through."Main TakeawayAnxiety is not a character flaw or a personal failure — and it's not your fault if traditional help hasn't helped. Anxiety is the result of overlapping factors in your mind, body, and environment. Real healing begins with understanding and recognizing all the pieces, and approaching them with compassion.Who This Episode Is ForThis episode is for anyone who:Has tried therapy, medication, or meditation but still feels anxiousFeels unseen or invalidated by typical mental health or medical adviceWants a more complete, compassionate way to understand and work with anxietyConnect with Jessica RichardsInstagram: @jessica_richards_counselingFree Guide: Get the 3 Keys to Begin Quieting Anxiety NowWeekly Emails: Get on Board HereEnjoyed the Episode?If this episode helped you feel seen, please follow the show and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify — it helps others find the support they need too.*Disclaimer* This show is for information and inspiration. It is not professional mental health counseling or medical advice. If you're struggling, please reach out to a mental health or medical professional. 

Have you tried all the things to help with anxiety and nothing has worked? Me too! It's not your fault.In this short introductory episode, Jessica Richards, a counselor and coach, welcomes you into "It's Not You, It's Anxiety" — a podcast created for anyone who's tried the usual solutions for anxiety and still feels overwhelmed, stuck in constant worry, or exhausted.Jessica shares why she started this podcast, the truth she wants you to know right from the beginning, and the compassionate framework that will guide every episode.You'll hear how her work with clients — and her own lived experience — showed her that anxiety isn't a personal failure. It's something shaped by your biology, the messages your learned, and the wild world we're all trying to navigate.This episode sets the tone for everything to come: warm, grounding, shame-free, and rooted in real psychological insight.You'll learn what to expect from the show, who it's for, and how it will help you understand and work with your anxiety in a way that finally feels realistic, kind, and doable.In this episode, Jessica talks about:Why anxiety isn't a character flaw or personal weaknessThe common myths about anxiety that make people feel worseHer own experiences with anxiety — and how she's helped herself and her clients.What this podcast will offer:Insight, compassion, practical tools, brain and body education, and gentle (but powerful) shifts to help anxiety Why healing anxiety requires understanding, not criticismHow modern life makes anxiety harder — and why it's not your faultYou'll walk away with:A sense of safety and groundingPermission to stop blaming yourself for being anxiousAn understanding of what this podcast will give youA feeling of being welcomed into a space where you're not aloneEpisode takeaway:Your anxiety makes sense. You're not broken or behind. And there is nothing wrong with you — even if anxiety has made you feel otherwise.*Disclaimer* This show is for information and inspiration. It is not professional mental health counseling or medical advice. If you're struggling, please reach out to a mental health or medical professional.