The Relationship Between Anxiety and Intolerance To Uncertainty

This episode explores the relationship between anxiety and intolerance to uncertainty, which often stems from childhood trauma and a lack of control.
I emphasizes the importance of accepting and embracing uncertainty rather than attempting to make it more certain through worry and alarm.
You can begin to chip away at the root cause of your anxiety and develop a greater tolerance for uncertainty by becoming more aware of how uncertainty and alarm manifest in the body.
Thank you for watching!
You can always ask me questions by messaging me directly on IG here:
/ theanxietymd
If you would like to order my book, Anxiety Rx, click here:
msha.ke/theanxietymd#links
Your biggest supporter [after yourself],
dr. Russ

[@evaandrianos7805]

Thank you… I cannot believe it has taken 40 years to find this! I am soaking up all your videos… ❤️ sharing with my therapist as well!

[@youtubeokay5769]

Same, I'm 44

[@NN-hs3uv]

Same I am 54

[@tweedandbriar]

Same, I'm 58

[@billie.ray.martin]

same

[@user-dw6nz5ti5n]

61

[@somyajain3431]

It's almost like someone just framed my whole situation into words! I used to judge myself and not understand why I behave this way. Thank you!

[@user-dw6nz5ti5n]

My anxiety is always, always, ALWAYS due to body sensations, HEALTH ANXIETY.

[@chariprats7077]

I have no bad childhood experiences or memories, thankfully, but I still have anxiety. I was a carer for my late husband and that was traumatic. Your videos have been so helpful and I’m so grateful. ❤️

[@julieburkhardt61]

Its so ironic. i married my much older husband (i think) out of a need for security and safety. Now he is in cognitive decline, I'm having to help him manage life, and the anxiety has me by the throat and chest (the usual area). Usually, it doesn't last this long, but its been days of this horrible can't catch my breath feeling. I'm so grateful to have found Dr Kennedy!!

[@lindaketter8843]

Well this just saved me a years worth of therapy. Thank you so much. More, please.

[@mariannahasegawa4215]

You explain so accurately what a child raised in a dysfunctional family experience during that time and later in life. My life is strongly negatively influenced by my extreme anxiety, high sensitivity and unfortunate combination of being raised by pedophile father and narcistic mother who rejected to protect us. My sister who went through the same hell is not suffering from anxiety or depression and she coped with it through Stockholm syndrome and full blown love for her abusers. She is more happy in life than me. I am seeing everything very clearly, but am a wreck constantly in excruciating pain which I was dumbing with drugs for over 20 years - got rid of the addiction just 1 year ago. I also was not able to keep relationships, because I am constantly on guard, expecting people to hurt me - I am divorcing and running from the relationships on repeat - just to prevent being hurt brutally again just as I was hurt long term in my childhood by the closest people.

[@youtubeokay5769]

This guy needs a nobel prize

[@olgacotto7915]

The reality is that, nothing is for certain and becoming comfortable with this fact may be the first step in healing. Perhaps, looking at uncertainty as a "game" to see what happens, may help one deal with it and begin to learn how to trust.

[@deadvulcano]

I just discovered you from an interview with Mel Robins. Speaks to me directly as a child that tried to take care of my schizophrenic father, and have been struggling to overcome this source of anxiety in my 40s. It's just so spot on.

[@ryarya3291]

I have severe health anxiety and your video really explains lots of things

[@grumblekin]

I hope you are getting better. Health anxiety is hell. Are you in the cancer stage or heart attack stage?

[@ryarya3291]

@@grumblekin CANCER!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@DnBnetwork]

i am also going through this stage have found some things that help would love to hear from someone else please let me know if you have an email

[@youtubeokay5769]

Omgggg, that's my thing it's the worst. It turns into dp/dr

[@mariloudelosreyes2583]

I have health anxiety that happens only after I get an episode of painful Procedure… anybody else is like me? Lets exchange notes.

[@MikalaAkua]

I feel this trauma came from being in an abusive relationship with my son's alcoholic/addict father. I left him almost 20 years ago and I still feel like the rug will be pulled from under me and forbidding joy, I can't really feel joy without feeling like something bad will be coming. I discovered you through the Holistic Psychologist and am thankful for you as I am going through my healing.

[@rayclark7369]

“I can’t really feel joy without feeling like something bad will be coming”. I totally identify with that. ❤ that was the earliest manifestation of my anxiety.

[@AnnetteRoss-sy7zg]

This is THEE Best explanation of the cause of anxiety and how to heal that I have ever heard in my 20 plus years of trying to help myself. Thank you so much!

[@heatherstevens9994]

Never heard how I feel described so correctly and clearly….. I’ll have to keep this on repeat ….

[@kirkmarshall6790]

I have been learning alot about myself.. The need for control, hence my dislike of uncertainty…Your videos have explained alot….learn to tolerate and be comfortable with being uncomfortable , thats what i have garnered from my learning…

[@extreme-cm8hb]

The uncertainty, I just realized through this talk, started by age 3. I began my eating disorder of overeating then to shove down my emotions, and at age 41, I'm still doing this.

[@shannonfabris-dg4xx]

Love your perspective and your gentleness, your stories are very relatable to my childhood and current unconcious conditioning so I appreciate your videos !

[@gloriakurkowski101]

I can't express how much you're video has put the puzzle pieces together for me. A lifetime of blaming myself. anxiety issues and medications. Thank you, still trying to find the calmness. You've given me hope.

[@blancaalvarez1377]

Ever since i discovered your channel, it’s been like the best therapy for me. Everything you mentioned as uncertainty as a child and how that transfer to adulthood is exactly what happened to me. I gave general anxiety, but my biggest challenge is my health anxiety which is not only about my health, but those my love ones . I’m not sure I understand how to deal with health anxiety whenever there is uncertainty, particularly now as I’m in my “ golden years” lol 70. So please I see every health situation as our cause of death or shortening my life, like you said I’m super hyper vigilant ! Any advise or video on this topic will be so appreciated! ❤

[@grumblekin]

Health anxiety is hell but this really helps! Thanks, Doc!

[@markcornelsen6613]

Thank you for your transparency and message! Your life, childhood, mirrors so much of mine. Thank you!

[@catcatcatt1]

My health anxiety developed after a brain aneurysm surgery ( or so I thought ) but I realized that I’ve had this health anxiety my entire life. Thank you for your videos !!!

[@callygal1222]

I'm on my third podcast of yours, I'll watch them over and over. I'm going to Do my best to trust what your teaching me, Ty SO MUCH ❤

[@voodoochile64]

This is the first video that really touched me and could hopefully help me understand anxiety and worry. Wow!

[@deecook9638]

Thank you, I am finally joining up all the dots to complete my picture. ❤ now I can really work on myself.

[@maxinejohnson7942]

Thank you for this video. It definitely resonates with me and my childhood traumas. So helpful and informative and ultimately supportive. Kind regards. 🙏

[@trailrunner7585]

I’ve been dealing with this for 40 years. Finally, I’m getting some answers!

[@Tomgirl0727]

I wish you where my therapist, I suffer with anxiety and currently out of work. I’ve been binge watching you and Mel

[@Thunderdance1000]

Thank you so very much for your candor your honestly, and your vulnerability especially being a physician. What you describe in this video is so true about uncertainty and so on point And very helpful. Thank you for your willingness to share your experience that helps people like me Suffering greatly with P TSD and anxiety. MP

[@gaenordeacon9431]

I’m learning so much about myself. My dad was a kind and loving man but due to dreadful experiences during WW2 he was for the majority of the time totally detached from the family. That was neglect

[@levikok1810]

Such a well put together video. You understand it to the core. I now have the insight that healing means that the suffering does not disappear so much as it becomes less and less in intensity and duration to the point where it is tolerable and liveable. Thank you. I'll dedicate myself to sharing this message too

[@user-fg4my1mv8t]

Wow this gift 🎁 provided new awareness for me and actions I accept as normal in childhood ❤

[@ginger1973wine]

Thank you so much xx I can totally relate to this xxx Thank you xxx

[@travispoppler8023]

This is me to a T. Thanks for the insight.

[@mbd1_20]

Thank you. Great video!

[@josephsego1095]

Dr. Kennedy is so gr8.

[@georgioschatziathanasiou1744]

Excellent explanation, you are doing a very good job !

[@katytj643]

Thank u so much u open my eyes to my problems

[@alexeyosin9634]

I am having a chronic anxiety and this all sounds rather related to me. The only thing, my parents were not abusive to me, nor alcoholic nor mental. They were arguing with themselves a lot, like on a schedule but not I’m not sure if it is uncertainty as it was something I could be certain of)

[@godzillamanstreb524]

Love your work sooooo much….it’s meee growing up in a house with narc siblings 👺👺

[@bonnielass2087]

I am ashamed to have anxiety and dont know how to explain to my partner. People-pleasing behaviour has been my life and i am now 60! I have to learn how to say no, now that he is retiring and i will never be alone! Help! Thanks for this life-changing podcast. I do finally have hope, thanks to you. I knew that mum is a narcissist and that that had damaged me but i had never known it was Alarm. You have really helped me so much. My partner doesnt really talk about feelings and i dont want him to feel i am weak. Would love to get some advice. Thank you.

[@kvanaernam]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!

[@brendahornung1990]

Thank you!

[@ursulamackinnon119]

Intolerance to uncertainty is it! Terrified of the uncertainty of the various traumas and micro traumas I have experienced in my life, to the point where I fear any decision. But uncertainty is a given. I never relax until a problem is solved, but the true problems that fuel my alarm are unsolvable…so there is no peace. How can I stop this cycle…I don’t know what you mean by sit with the alarm in the body.

[@rosyloveslearning3013]

Thank you. ❤

[@HomemakerDaze]

Thank you, subscribed.

[@olgacotto7915]

Spot on!!

[@Rinana2004-hz1pp]

Thank u so much

[@51elephantchang]

This is very prevalent in people like me on the autistic spectrum.

[@adamrosefire]

“ if we don’t actually find the alarm in our body and learn how to connect with it, learn how to metabolize it, it will always hold us hostage…same with uncertainty.”

[@violetsinspring5863]

I had a very good childhood up until a traumatic family event when I was 18. But could my anxiety over uncertainty stem from that one horrible event? I’m 66 now and have dealt with anxiety most of my adult life. I love your channel and have your book on the way.

[@Moviestarvideos8]

😭😭😭😭Thank you so much❤

[@instant_mint]

Why does the word uncertainty get cut off with a black screen in several places in the video? 22:34

[@zillahbugeja8973]

What do you mean by Metabolize?

[@bendarbyjones172]

Are you contactable for advice at all?

[@theamalgamatedtheory]

I love and appreciate these videos. With some great tips and insights but im still having a rough time a lot. Ive been having a lot of anxiety over some things do you think its possible to change and just tell yourself "im not going to be like this anymore im tough. and can handle anything" and keep to it maybe youve tried because guys arent supposed in our society to be vulberable or anxiety.prone. or is that a dumb male type of thing. I really would be interested in your opinion.

[@UnacceptableTee]

When alarm hits I feel it all over. I can feel adrenaline surge. So how do we embrace that? Ugh. This seems impossible.

[@bonnielass2087]

When is it appropriate to be tough on oneself and so to speak, suck it up and push through uncertainty-triggered anxiety? If there was a social situation that you dont want to go to, but logic says you might be ok once you´re there, is it harmful to push yourself without having calmed the anxiety?

[@dianajuin]

can uncertainty intolerance be linked to anger/rage as well?

[@grumblekin]

It’s most likely frustration and not rage. You can have fight or flight…and anger is the fight. Some people get angry instead of anxious

[@andrewwang7063]

You have beautiful eyes.

[@davidjohn9006]

Gut and chest/heart …

[@danab172]

Doc, these techniques are not helping me at all. On top of that I've had severe insomnia for months. I don't know what to do. I can bear this.

[@theamalgamatedtheory]

Me too i recently got on medication for stress and anxiety sometimes Its all too much to take i have to get out of this life but cant do itl.

[@merckocoopeck5554]

Try to add some supplemental magnesium. Find the one that you can tolerate. It does help but takes time to resaturate your body, so don't expect immediate results. You might need a larger dose than what's recommended. Give it a try, but be patient.

[@danab172]

@@merckocoopeck5554 I do

[@jodyjackson5475]

Me too. I’ve been medicating for sleep for months. I feel awful

[@youtubeokay5769]

Just made me relaize my houshold as a child is the reason im going through this

[@somyajain3431]

It's almost like someone just framed my whole situation into words! I used to judge myself and not understand why I behave this way. Thank you!

[@julieburkhardt61]

Its so ironic. i married my much older husband (i think) out of a need for security and safety. Now he is in cognitive decline, I'm having to help him manage life. The anxiety has me by the throat and chest (the usual area). Usually, it doesn't last this long, but its been days of this horrible can't catch my breath feeling. Im so grateful to have found Dr Kennedy!!

[@lorib6509]

Thank you!

[@Lady-BsHub]

Thank you!