THREE MAIN ANXIETY FEARS EXPLAINED (Podcast Ep 238)

For most people, the things they fear the most in relation to anxiety and panic fall into one of three common categories or themes. Let's look at these three themes:
Death/ Physical Incapacitation
Loss of control / Insanity
Embarrassment / Shame
Understanding these common themes can save you from digging deeply into each individual fear you have. It can help you see that you are NOT specially broken and without hope, and it can inform productive recovery actions and choices.
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For full show notes on this episode:
theanxioustruth.com/238
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[@sarahbolton2707]

SO helpful!!!

[@petersharp7644]

Great video, bringing things back to basics again. Thanks Drew.

[@alanajones109]

Omg yes pleaseeee do one on shame

[@valerie963]

Question - would it be good to journal on the topic of death if it’s a fear? I was definitely happy to hear I’m not alone in this thought and looking forward to healing from this!

[@KRAZEEIZATION]

Great video. If you get to the root of the fear then it’s going to help you understand it.

[@ashleyspriggs5255]

God bless you....this helps me so much. I feel all of these...and it's so nice to hear that I'm not in danger..even when I feel like I am.

[@TheAnxiousTruth]

You're safe, even when it feels like you're not. So important.

[@ruthmarland835]

That’s the as you are well aware….is true a fact. It also breaks my heart to realize after 50 years of allowing out of body experience to destroy my life and pass it on to my two adult sons! My 43 year old son has severe social phobia that has made him an Agoraphobic as I am. I was hit without of body experience aged 12. My sons didn’t develop their different phobias until late teens. My oldest son has been bullied since grade K bc of a lazy eye not to mention watching mom’s mental illness ergo I couldn’t help myself how I tried to head his off. Clearly I can’t bc we all have to change by our own will. My adult son (43 has remained in his comfort zone = home and never have anyone even toddlers are judging him. I don’t have that problem yet we are all allowing ourselves to stay so called “safer “ doing nothing. I have been on the highest dose of Alprolzam 2mg. Naturally after 35 years of popping Valium has stopped working. This is good news and horrific bc we as usual must allow our worst fears to bc semi comfortable in that state of mind. We hold onto 23:18 that when I let go it’s the lesser of two evils.

[@GrandmaNick]

Anxiety is still freshly horrific each time it invades me, but as it is coming on or beginning to melt away, it is helpful to remember your words. I have a very common problem - we all think our experience is unique - worse than anyone else - it's NOT. My brain is not broken - it is just very severely misbehaving and I am angry at it. I am convinced that anxiety is where the whole idea of there being a devil originated. But - gee - I do wish there was a magic pill!!

[@TheAnxiousTruth]

I wished there was a magic pill too! Heck, I still wish there was. I'd tell you all about it if I find it! The fact that you are open to the idea that you are not worse and not broken is a big deal. That's a step forward. Usually one of the first steps forward, so well done! xx

[@miskellil96]

Thank you drew, very interesting and helpful episode as always

[@yuliya862]

Thanks❤

[@dtpugliese318]

I’m definitely a combination of one and two. When I first felt the highest amount of anxiety in my life, I felt like what if I lose control because I can’t take it anymore and I just jump in front of a car to end the pain. It’s fucking scary and I still have those intrusive thoughts to this day, although they’re not as strong.

[@ruthmarland835]

dtpugliese318!! I finally found someone who share the out of body experience I have had since age 12(I’m 61 now)! In my 50 years going crazy trying to figure this out! I have never ever heard anyone say they run in traffic when it hits full blown! Thank you for sharing your experiences with honesty!! So we know we’re not alone but I’m more frustrated learning we have to learn how to let the worse feelings in our life become so called normal. Stay strong 🙏❤️🎶💞

[@dtpugliese318]

@@ruthmarland835 thanks Ruth. I hope you are doing well. We just have to remember that it’s our distorted thinking making the thoughts spin out of control. The amount of dread I experience when thinking of hurting myself is a good sign that I don’t really want to hurt myself. I’ve read accounts of people who actually want to kill themselves and that doesn’t sound like me at all. I really really want to stay alive, but anxiety makes me think I might act so I have to remain hyper-vigilant. And if the thought of killing myself doesn’t evoke the same reaction I get worried and my mind spirals out of control. Tis a tricky beast

[@suededogs9670]

Just looking for a cure basically. Dont want to be in the strangle hold of this everyday . Getting on for 6 years now of this . I am tired and exhausted Of course you can just say oh its my anxiety disorder but that doesnt stop it happening does it ? And you know it doesnt. It must be nice for the people who are cured. I will not be made to feel ashamed to seek reassurance . I want the cure. I want it to stop.

[@janetbrittain8020]

Ive had panic disorder since 1975 when i was 15 years old. I never knew what that "feeling" was until 1986. I didn't know it had a name until a psychologist diagnosed me. I fall into the categories of loss of control and embarrassment. My question is, do i actually let myself vomit? Or do i take nausea medicine to try to stop the severe nausea and vomiting? It's not my imagination that i will throw up. I actually do. It especially happens if I'm around a small group of people in an intimate setting. I try desperately to hide it from them but a few people in my family or a close friend can tell. Do i take the medicine or let myself feel it all and just go to the bathroom to vomit? After listening to these videos, it seems like the nausea medicine might be a form of avoidance. I get physically sick from these storms, and its hard to eat food. By the way, all of my blood tests, etc., are normal. Im healthy otherwise. Thank you for these videos. Im slowly starting to implement what I'm learning from them.

[@jakeeeeboyyyy]

Saved to my 'watch again' playlist......just kiddin' 🤣🤣

[@TheAnxiousTruth]

How is it NOT in your "watch again" playlist? LOL

[@cuecue4692]

Is feeling judged and worrying about others opinions the same as embarrassment and shame? What tool is key to convince this is not true to eliminate this feeling?

[@petersharp7644]

Your feelings are the same as mine. As far as I'm concerned, yes, it is the belief that others are judging me when in the throes of anxiety and panic that lead to the feelings of shame and embarrassment. Which ties in with my Social Anxiety Disorder. I do my best though to remember that these fear thoughts are largely driven by the flow of adrenaline and cortisol. And that they are purely thoughts. Not reality. All thoughts are not accurate reflections of the truth. So I apply the principals of allowance / acceptance and let these thoughts come at me along with the physical sensations, doing my best not to fight them or push them away as we are taught. It's hard going sometimes but I know that this is the way through. Hope this helps!

[@akidandherwackyadventures3439]

Hi Drew. Do you talk one on one? I could really use some help. I am suffering with panic and severe anxiety. I've had issues with anxiety and been sensitized more than once. Almost 2 years ago my now 8 year old daughter was diagnosed with an extremely rare genetic disorder that on top of many other issues has more than 90% chance of going blind. I got her eye exam results from school yesterday and her eyesight has deteriorated significantly in the past year. I am devastated. I'm not sure you can offer any advice but I could sure use some.

[@dellwendybrown2713]

I have a really bad anxiety problem. I have a terror of anything medical related. I have also developed an Essential Tremor issue. I am ASHAMED to be seen with my head shaking, I am afraid of being judged I guess and feel " less than". I am afraid of those feelings, and that if anyone says anything about my head shaking I will burst into tears and run out of my appointment. (It really shakes when I am nervous). This really limits me, of course, in accessing medical or dental work. I feel absolutely nuts that I can't overcome this. It is such a small thing compared other people's problems. Yes shame is a big one.

[@TheAnxiousTruth]

That is a real challenge. No doubt. The presence of a neurological condition is not something that can be wiped away through anxiety recovery "methods", so make sure you're not placing unreasonable demands on yourself. That said. I'm really sorry you're struggling with that now. It sounds difficult for sure because in this situation you are dealing with a real issue, not an imagined outcome. You are experiencing tremors and they are visible to others, so it's not a typical "anxiety feels like" thing. Those feelings of embarrassment and shame are feelings many people would likely experience in the same situation that you're in. Not everything is an exposure and acceptance issue though. Have you talked to a therapist or counselor about those feelings of shame and being "less than"?

[@dellwendybrown2713]

@@TheAnxiousTruth Thank you for your kind words. Yes I have talked to a therapist about this. I am stubborn I guess. Acceptance of my new reality is what therapy suggests. But I don't want to accept this is me now. I had cancer before and developed a health anxiety disorder with an extreme avoidance of all things medical related. So this tremors thing is really the "icing on the cake" for me. It really seems impossible to me now that I could ever muster the courage to visit a doctor or dentist. I have become trapped by my fear of what I will do and how others will react if I lose my composure and begin shaking uncontrollably. I realize this isn't a typical fear, but it is a HUGE burden for me and my loved ones to carry. I am ashamed of myself for not being brave enough or normal. 😞 Thank you.

[@Eliokd]

Do you believe with protracted withdrawal from SSRI? If yes, do we deal with it the same way as anxiety? Thank you

[@TheAnxiousTruth]

I did three podcast episodes where I address SSRI withdrawal. If you search my channel for "withdrwal" and "antidpressant" you'll find them. I talked about how my experience with withdrawal taught me excellent recovery lessons. Maybe those will help, but otherwise I tend to stay out of medication talk because it is such an individual choice and an individual experieince.

[@isabelmeyerasesoradeimagen1760]

A friend of mine who suffers of panic attacks was told by his psychiatrist in Germany that panic attacks could lead to his death if he didn't take the medicine that he prescribed my friend. It was the first time I heard something like that. In your podcast you mentioned that panic attacks can not harmed you. Why did a therapist say something like that if panic attacks don't cause death?

[@MrGermoua]

I'm wondering maybe its because it raises your blood pressure. High blood pressure leads to stroke or heart attack.

[@TheAnxiousTruth]

Oh I found it. Not all therapists are perfect. They're not even all good therapists. Nor does being a therapist make one well informed on the subject of anxiety disorders. I cannot tell you why that person said what they said. But I can tell you that just because it was said by a therapist does not make it correct. I can parade 100 therapists through here that will say that the statement you heard is both incorrect and alarmist and likely based on a gross misinterpretation of popular tropes surrounding stress and health.

[@isabelmeyerasesoradeimagen1760]

@@TheAnxiousTruth thank you so much for taking the time to find my question and especially for anwering it. I really appreciate it. I bought two of your books an Anxiety story and the Anxious truth. I finished reading the first one. Thank you for staring your own experiences with anxiety. You definitely know what it means to go through that. You can put yourselves in the shoes of others and that is so helpful when it comes to help others. I am reading the Anxious Truth book and it is a great book. 👏👏👏👏👏 I can only recommend it .

[@isabelmeyerasesoradeimagen1760]

I hope you will be able to help me out with my question below

[@TheAnxiousTruth]

I'm sorry I don't see another question. I can't seem to find it. Want to ask again? I'll do my best.