1108 YOUR FOCUS AND ATTENTION MATTERS! Avoid Hyperawareness of Symptoms And Sensations FEEL CALMER!

In today's episode, Gina talks about the importance of attention for our mental state and how it can provoke cycles of hyperawareness and further increases in sensory disturbances. These cycles of sensory anomaly and increased attention lead to cycles that can spiral into severe anxiety if not outright panic. Listen in for tips on how to avoid these cycles of catastrophic thinking and learn how to set yourself up for more peace and calm even in the face of uncertainty.
In this episode of the Anxiety Coaches Podcast, I delve into the concept of hyper-awareness, feedback loops, and their connection to anxiety. The discussion is sparked by a concern from an anonymous listener who shared their experience with heightened attention to bodily sensations following a period of health anxiety. They expressed feelings of discomfort with sensations like itching and tingling, and a fear that their anxiety might be manifesting physically. This common struggle highlights the intricate relationships between our mental state and our body's responses.
I emphasize the importance of recognizing the feedback loop created by focusing on these sensations. When we fixate on a particular feeling, like an itch or a tightness in the chest, our brains label these sensations as threats, activating our amygdala and increasing our anxiety levels. This hyper-awareness can become all-consuming, leading us to ignore other sensations in our bodies and spiral deeper into worry. I want listeners to understand that this experience is normal yet manageable, and that it can be addressed through conscious strategies.
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Quote:
The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.
-William James
Chapters
0:42 Welcome and Introduction
2:10 Listener's Concern on Health Anxiety
4:08 Understanding the Feedback Loop
9:43 Breaking the Cycle of Hyper-Awareness
14:33 Techniques to Manage Sensations
17:23 Trusting Your Body’s Signals
18:57 Caution with Online Medical Advice
19:40 Conclusion and Reflection
#anxiety, #hyperawareness, #feedbackloops, #healthanxiety, #stressmanagement, #mentalhealth, #mindfulness, #relaxationtechniques, #stressreduction, #selfcare, #emotionalregulation, #cbt, #bodyawareness, #somaticexperiencing, #anxietydisorders, #ocd, #panicdisorder, #gad, #socialanxiety, #agoraphobia, #bdd, #healthanxiety, #somaticsymptomdisorder, #fearofillness, #hypochondria, #overthinking, #rumination, #worry, #intrusivethoughts, #sensorysensitivity, #highlysensitive, #GinaRyan, #ACP, #AnxietyCoachesPodcast
Anxiety, Hyper-awareness, Feedback loops, Health anxiety, Stress management, Mental health, Mindfulness, Relaxation techniques, Stress reduction, Self-care, Emotional regulation, Cognitive behavioral therapy, Body awareness, Somatic experiencing, Anxiety Disorders, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Panic Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Social Anxiety, Agoraphobia, Body Dysmorphic Disorder, Health Anxiety, Somatic Symptom Disorder, Fear of Illness, Hypochondria, Overthinking, Rumination, Worry, Intrusive Thoughts, Sensory Processing Sensitivity, High Sensitivity, Mental Health, Well-being, Self-care, Coping Mechanisms, Therapy, Counseling, Psychology, Psychiatry, Neurobiology

[@Amanda-Mason]

So very helpful. Thank you. I had vertigo over a year ago, and I became super vigilant on any time of movement that seemed off. This created a lot of alarm and a few panic attacks, which created more symptoms. Ugh what a crazy loop.

[@anxietycoachespodcast]

Oh so get what you are sayin Amanda, and that loop is so easy to fall into if we don't know what is actually happening! I appreciate your comment and your being a part of the ACP listening family!!

[@Truerealism747]

Ocd turns into somatic symptom disorder especially when were undiagnosed Asperger's adhd

[@stephaniedegange2737]

this is my life as I experience clinical ocd....sometimes, I can't determine whether something is serious, or is my stress causing me to make a mountain out of what is really something completely benign?

[@anxietycoachespodcast]

I hear you Stephanie! The more we can calm our nervous system and find our center the more able we are to begin to tease out what is important from the random thoughts flying around in our minds. Thanks so much for your thoughts and being a part of the listening family!

[@dianenicoletti1334]

How do I get rid of anticipatory anxiety? I start to have shakes and terrible panic attacks weeks before my doctor appointment to do. Please help me with this.

[@anxietycoachespodcast]

Diane you can practice reducing your overall stress before hand and use relaxation techniques or distraction when the anxiety begins to rise. Try some of the practices in the episodes 🌺