This Is Why You Have Anxiety | The Anxiety Loop (and How We Break Free)

In this video I explain what causes us to initially develop an anxiety issue, why our anxiety reaches extreme out of control levels and how we then use that information to turn our anxiety response down and get us back in control again.
I’m Tim Box. I’m a Mind Coach and for the last 12 years I’ve been working with people, helping them overcome all sorts of emotional and psychological issues, and in particular helping people to get control of anxiety.
When I’m working with clients, one of the big reasons they haven’t already calmed their own anxiety levels and got back in control is because they've become caught in the anxiety loop.
This is a self perpetuating cycle that causes our anxiety response to amplify and re-trigger itself.
In this episode I explain not only how this happens, but why it doesn't mean there is something wrong with us and how we ultimately break the cycle and get free of it.
Timings:
00:00 - Introduction
00:51 - Part 1: The Cause Is Important
02:00 - Part 2: The Usual Explanation
03:05 - Part 3: The Seven Steps
09:25 - Part 4: Breaking The Cycle
11:30 - Outro
I hope you enjoy this video.
Please hit the thumbs up button if the information was of value and subscribe for more mind coaching and anxiety advice every week.
Remember to be kind to you mind, and I'll see you next time.
Tim.
Follow me:
FB: /timboxhypnotist
Insta: @timboxmindcoach
TikTok: @timboxmindcoach
Resources:
My TEDx Talk: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZidGo...
My Podcast: www.podbean.com/pu/pbblog-ake...
My book: thecontrolsystem.co.uk/clear-...
Note: I am a fully qualified Remedial Hypnotist. The opinions expressed in my videos are formed as a result of working full time for the last 10 years helping people overcome mental and emotional struggles.
I am not a doctor and none of my videos are designed to diagnose, treat or substitute advice or treatment from a Medical professional, a GP or Consultant. As a complementary therapist/coach, what I do is designed to work alongside the work of GP's and medically trained individuals, not in replacement of. The advice in this video should not be considered a substitute for medical help.
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A big thank you to Nikki at NDH productions for editing this video.

[@stepht5714]

I understand all of this and what happens to get to the point but I'm having trouble actually breaking the cycle, especially when the physical symptoms all day are so strong

[@TimBoxMindCoach]

I totally understand what you're saying here as we get in the habit of regarding the physical symptoms as something to fear. Take a look at this video as it explains in a bit more depth how we might start to look at these things differently: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYDTnmqmqsmUfac I may look to cover this in one of the upcoming Q&As as I think it's definitely worth doing a deeper dive into.

[@kymredwood6217]

Yes me too I can't break the loop

[@ashcpas92]

Big thanks Tim ! I got Tinnitus last September, I had alot of anxiety stemming from that, came to accept it, felt great but the anxiety came back. I was confused as to why I was feeling anxious again. After watching your TED talk and now your videos i realise I have been getting anxious about anxiety itself and the uncomfortable symptoms and social repercussions that have come with it. It seems so obvious now :) I self diagnosed myself with GAD, but now Im not looking at it not so much as a disorder, just an emotion that I have become sensitised to. Thanks again

[@mikeyevans3074]

Hey Tim thanks so much I am from New Zealand I saw your ted talk you are so in touch with anxiety you have help me just watching your videos I was told I have GAD but I am not giving up I have hope thanks to you thanks so much Tim 😊

[@KFB__]

I'm in an unhealthy loop of not wanting people to notice I'm anxious which is making me more anxious!!!! Sigh... :(

[@nancykey3766]

I absolutely love this analogy of the ship, captain and crew. This gave me the visual I need to manage my states if anxiety. It seems so simple. Thanks for all you do.

[@TimBoxMindCoach]

You're very welcome Nancy. Glad this resonated. Here's the full video about the Ship analogy:kzbin.info/www/bejne/qnqcZatvjcmDmas

[@chrisbostrom486]

Thank you Tim. You’re changing my life one video at a time

[@TimBoxMindCoach]

Thanks Chris. Glad the videos are helping. :)

[@paolobradley1]

Another fantastic video, Tim. I'm on my own healing journey, even though the pace is painfully slow, it is still little steps forward. Videos like this are so helpful and Tim, you are an inspiration. Thank you so much.

[@TimBoxMindCoach]

Thank you Paul. Recovery can be frustratingly slow at times but just remember that every step in the right direction is worth celebrating. I had the journey described to me once as less like a straight line upwards and more like a mountain range where we inevitably have ups and downs. As long as we keep facing in the right direction then whether we're having a good or bad day we can take solace from the fact we are getting there.

[@dmnla]

How does this only have a 257 likes...should be 2.5 million likes

[@TimBoxMindCoach]

Thank you. Every thumbs up helps more people get access to the message. Thanks for following the channel. :)

[@gdfggggg]

Im having an anxiety episode in my life and had to go for a chest Xray. I'd been thinking of ways I might delay it or avoid it but underneath I knew I had to go. Anyway, I was sat outside utterly full of fear and stress and just went in. Once I sat down in the waiting room and played a bit of tetris on my phone the anxiety melted away. I left feeling upbeat and enthused. Sometimes you just have to do it, you'll feel better afterwards. Now the thought of sitting at the doctors or dentist is not so scary.

[@TimBoxMindCoach]

Awesome! It's surprising how often the anxiety only occurs in the lead up to the event. It's the anticipation that is the hardest part.Once we're in process we very quickly realise not only was the challenge not as bad as we thought, but also we can handle it pretty well. Great job using that new positive experience to break the loop! :)

[@Peterstevoli]

Thank you Tim. Your insight is very helpful and appreciated

[@lydiacrable2363]

Thank you Tim Box! Eureka - Yes!! Love sailing ship analogy.

[@TimBoxMindCoach]

You're welcome. Glad the ship analogy is helpful. :)

[@TimothyMouton]

OMG this is such a great explanation!

[@TimBoxMindCoach]

Thank you. I’m glad this was of value.

[@kylemonette2308]

Great Video! I was struggling really bad with Anxiety. After watching your Ted Talk it all made sense and I even laughed out loud at how accurate you were to what I was feeling that entire month! Your videos and chats have allowed me to accept anxiety and stop micro managing it. And over time you start to not even notice it anymore as a problem. But as a normal function day to day to keep you aware of your emotions. Thank you!!!

[@TimBoxMindCoach]

Kyle, I'm so pleased to read this. Awesome stuff. :)

[@stevemc4162]

Hi Tim. Fantastic video. I have watched so many anxiety related videos and your videos are the only ones that completely make sense. The way you deliver your speech is awesome. You give me hope that there is light at the end of the Tunnel. Deep down I know I will recover. Thankyou 😌

[@TimBoxMindCoach]

Steve, YES you absolutely will! So glad the videos are of use...and glad they make sense. I often remind myself that it's the simple ideas that are the most effective because it's the overthinking that's the problem. :)

[@nogard8129]

Hello Tim, I saw your Ted talk a couple of days ago, and literally everything you said is exactly how I been feeling about anxiety for a couple of years now. Although sometimes the pace is really slow, it is progress nonetheless. Your speech was empowering and soothing at the same time, it has changed the way I deal with it completely. I do not have enough words to thank you. 🙏🙏🙏, for you have corrected my thoughts in 18 minutes, "and now, I feel a lot let anxious".

[@TimBoxMindCoach]

Hi Nogard. I'm so glad the Ted talk resonated. This message absolutely made my day. :)

[@larryrobinson1399]

Great way of explaining all this sure is helpful sir

[@TimBoxMindCoach]

Thanks Larry. Glad this made sense.

[@adeshm9324]

Thanks for the video. Really honest advise. I’ve been having trouble lately focusing my mind, im always worried about something else rather than just able to live in the moment. This helped shed some clarity and comfort in understanding what happens👍🏻

[@TimBoxMindCoach]

Hi! Glad this one helped. Most of us at times will find our mind focussed on things OTHER than the present and what we are doing in this moment. The one thing we don't need to ponder is WHY this is happening. It's very natural to find our attention drawn elsewhere (even when we don't want it to be), especially if we have concerns that our mind feels need addressing. No need to pile concern about the concern on top of that.

[@TheSaigonSaint]

I really like the explanation and your point of view! Very helpful!

[@TimBoxMindCoach]

No problem. :) Glad it helped.

[@susannemeyer1832]

Hey Tim. Thanks a lot for your videos! I found your TED talk a few days ago and I very much appreciate your clear and logical words... I struggle with depression and agoraphobia for 3 years now. As soon as I feel strong enough I try to go into situations I normally fear and avoid (for instance in the bus or car). But when I then panic again (which is likely to happen) I feel so bad, devastated and depressed for days because I don't want to feel that way (and probably don't want to be an anxious person, to put it simple). Which makes it even more difficult to go into these situations next time. And I am stuck in this kind of vicious cycle. So I might not only be anxious about anxiety but I also devaluate feeling anxious, right? And how can I break this anxiety-depression-loop? Through accepting not only anxiety as a feeling but also my anger or sadness about it? Maybe you have an idea about that. Thank you!

[@stefanthomassenandrade9611]

Great video, Thank you so much for all of them. You are doing an amazing job. I would like to ask how can we calm anxiety (the crew member) when its something out of my control. Like the results from a exam.

[@TimBoxMindCoach]

Great question. Your crew don't like to engage in anything that is ineffective or achieves nothing. We feel emotions because our crew are attempting to steer us in a certain direction. Anxiety about things that are out of our control is like a crew member running around the deck of the ship shouting about what waves might hit us. Calming that crew member is all about reminding it that running around shouting doesn't sail the ship anywhere and doesn't help us when it comes to dealing with the next waves. Our crew can't control what waves hit us...but they can control how we respond to them. Hope this helps Thank you for following the channel.

[@georgioabihanna7657]

Hello Tim, my anxiety started ever since i got an episode of dp/dr since i was young and ever since it affected my social life, it stopped a bit when I fell for someone, but ever since the separation, it seems I didn't have a more prominent goal to focus on, but it affected me professionally, espicailly going on important trips, I'm scared I'd feel dp/dr and lose control of everything

[@junegoodings3973]

Thank you Tim a very helpful video from you again.my anxiety is worse on a morning with feelings of fear anxious scared of being left on myown I have bad separation anxiety in tears when people leave to go have you got any ideas how to cope with these feelings thank you

[@TimBoxMindCoach]

Hi June. The key can often be to understand what it is you fear from a given situation. If you fear being alone then the question is what do you feel your mind is afraid of. Often we have fears based on our inability to cope when we were younger. Our mind had just accepted us as vulnerable in a certain situation. Understanding why that fear arose and why it no longer applies (the adult version of us is much more able to cope and has the right to feel much less vulnerable) can shift our responses and allow us to once again feel safe in that situation. Hope these thoughts are of value.

[@junegoodings3973]

@@TimBoxMindCoach thank your for replying Tim yes I had a difficult childhood was left alone alot.i just can't cope when people leave me and I'm so scared on myown feeling of not being wanted or not loved morning anxiety is so bad also with no one with me till someone comes I have feelings of fear and dread 😢

[@lisamgreenleaf]

​@@junegoodings3973oh June it's such a horrible feeling isn't it. I'm going to try and listen to my anxiety as a crew member. I'm hoping this will teach me to be less afraid of it

[@junegoodings3973]

@@lisamgreenleaf Hi Lisa so sorry to hear about your horrible time with anxiety it is so hard to live with but I have found that if I give into it then it makes it worse so try to find out what triggers it off and try taking big breath in and slow breath out God bless you and hope you will be well again and have peace in your mind ♥

[@ivantrump4022]

I've had debilitating anxiety for the last 5 years. Medication has helped somewhat, and I've had periods of being completely anxiety free during this time. Then I was made redundant a year and a half ago (lockdown) which triggered the biggest, longest lasting anxiety episode to date. On top of that I found a new job (should be a good thing), but hate every minute of it as it involves POTENTIALLY having to do presentations or talks to customers. I have tried to find a way to accept this, but I have realised that staying in this job will never give me peace of mind, so I'm doing something about it and going for an interview next week. Will this help my severe, constant, incessant anxiety? Who knows. But I have to do something as the status quo isn't helping me. If on the other hand you have a magic pill that can take my anxiety away, I would be ever so grateful. 😅

[@TimBoxMindCoach]

Sorry to hear you've experienced such anxiety. It can be valuable to recognise the situations and thoughts that make us feel anxious and then address those reasons. If we recognise that presenting to people causes anxiety then it's worth asking ourself what that fear is about. Judgement? Failure? Potential loss of our job? Sometimes just working through the reasons for the response can help us apply a different perspective and shift that response. Designing a life that avoids the things we currently fear can at times be more work than facing and overcoming the fear. I tend to think the 'magic pill' that gets rid of anxiety is actually called understanding. We stop feeling excessive anxiety when we understand the situation and our place in it to the degree where we no longer feel vulnerable. Wishing you well on your journey.

[@grahamlogan208]

Hey Tim! Question and hopefully ya see this one on an older posted video. Is the clinical diagnosis of this loop called psycho somatic rumination?

[@TimBoxMindCoach]

Graham, whilst I’ve not heard it referred to as that before that might simply be because I’m not a medical or diagnostic practitioner. I tend to look at the work I do as working with people rather than conditions.

[@grahamlogan208]

@@TimBoxMindCoach thank you for the reply! I've watched a ton of your videos and they've helped me immensely break the loop of anxiety as of recently. I'd love to hear Q&A obout the fear of death or fear of Going insane. :)

[@ivannovoselac3518]

I am confused why are many call anxiety disorder as mental illness? Like its something permanently physicly or chemistry wrong with the brain?

[@TimBoxMindCoach]

Ivan, thanks for this question. I answer this one in this live stream: kzbin.infol-74gWQZ6TU at 17:45

[@ivannovoselac3518]

@@TimBoxMindCoach Yes i seen it👍