The Anxious Truth on Instagram - The Anxious Truth

The Anxious Truth

The Anxious Truth

Find me on Instagram at the.anxious.truth!

the.anxious.truth

ASSURANCE, REASSURANCE, OR SUPPORT? Sometimes the

ASSURANCE, REASSURANCE, OR SUPPORT?

Sometimes these things get confused. I often see people apologize for "seeking reassurance" but they're not. They're just trying to learn, or get some well deserved productive support. Sadly, I also see helpers and other mental health guides and advocates hammering away at people for "reassurance seeking" when they are not. It becomes a bit of a tired trope, and its not helpful.

Not everything is reassurance seeking. Let's recognize the difference between assurance, reassurance, and support. The difference is important and it matters.

So next time you just want someone to tell you that you can do these hard things, or to remind you that people do get better, don't let anyone tell you that you're unproductively seeking reassurance. Don't let that become your primary strategy, but we all need a boost now and then and that's OK.
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#reassurance #agoraphobiasupport #panicattackhelp #panicdisorder #ocdrecovery #anxietyhelp #doinghardthings

I HAVE TO STAY BUSY! 😱 Sometimes staying busy

I HAVE TO STAY BUSY! 😱

Sometimes staying busy and on the run becomes and avoidance trap. We stay on the run and always with something to do because we are afraid to feel anxiety, or emotions. If this is you, you are definitely not alone. This is more common that most people think.

So while we’re always talking about getting out and engaging with the world as part of recovery, sometimes we have to practice just sitting with our anxious sensations, thoughts, and emotions. As with everything else in this process, we can start small with a few minutes at a time, then expand from there. It’s uncomfortable, but we must learn that we can handle that discomfort and move through it without running away.

Recovery isn’t just one thing. Sometimes we get out there. Sometimes we learn to sit quietly with ourselves. It all matters, and you can do it all. 💜
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#anxietydisorders #anxietyrelief #theanxioustruth #sevenpercentslower #facingfears #facingyourfears #overcoming #personalgrowth #personalgrowthanddevelopment #anxietyips #anxietyrecovery #anxietyhelp #ontherun #onthego #alwaysbusy

STRONG ... BUT WRONG Are your thoughts and sensat

STRONG ... BUT WRONG

Are your thoughts and sensations overwhelming to you?

Often we get overwhelmed or carried away by our anxious thoughts and sensations because they can be so strong and they can feel so important and urgent.

This is true. They are strong! They do FEEL important.

But while they are strong, they are also WRONG. Anxious thoughts and sensations can be both strong and wrong at the same time, and they usually are just that. REALLY strong. And REALLY wrong.

When you want to declare that the strength of the thoughts or symptoms keeps you from recovering, remember "STRONG BUT WRONG". This simple fact can really make a difference in the direction you choose to take.
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#panicdisorder #theanxioustruth #agoraphobia #panicattackhelp #panicattacksupport #agoraphobiarecovery

HESITATION IS HARD! Do the hard recovery thing.

HESITATION IS HARD!

Do the hard recovery thing. Don't do the hard recovery thing. Both are uncomfortable. But sticking yourself in the middle - in the hesitation zone - is the most uncomfortable of all. Let's talk about it in this week's podcast episode.

Follow the podcast link in my bio to listen.
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#anxietyrecovery #exposuretherapy #panicdisorder #panicattackhelp

GETTING IT RIGHT is not something you need to wor

GETTING IT RIGHT

is not something you need to worry about during every waking minute. Not everything can be perfect recovery, optimal recovery, or even recovery at all! The drive to constantly check your progress, get approval for it, and confirm that you’re doing it the best way is adding a burden that is simply not required.

Perfect recovery, like perfect life, does not exist. You would not allow your child to drive themselves that way, so why do that to yourself?

Recover imperfectly. It’s still working even when you do.
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#anxietyrecovery #anxietyhealing #healinganxiety #panicdisorder #panicattackhelp

ANXIETY IS NOT A DISEASE. Your anxiety problem is

ANXIETY IS NOT A DISEASE. Your anxiety problem is not the result of a disease. Anxiety is a natural, normal part of being human, and in our case, this natural process has just gone a bit off the rails and down the wrong road. This is good news because there's nothing to cure! Only bad lessons to correct and bad habits to replace. Never easy, but always possible. Let's talk about it on Recovery Monday episode 2.
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#anxietyrelief #panicdisorder #panicattack #panic #anxietydisorders #mentalhealth #agoraphobia #anxietyattack #anxietyattacks #panicattack #panicattacks #psychology #anxietyhelp #anxietyrecovery #anxietytips #anxiety #anxietyquotes #fear #socialanxiety #healthanxiety #theanxioustruth #mentalhealthmatters #anxietysucks #mentalillness

MENTAL HEALTH LESSONS FOR EVERY DAY 💜 So much

MENTAL HEALTH LESSONS FOR EVERY DAY 💜

So much of the struggle in the anxiety community is based on the idea that we our thoughts and feeling are "too much", or that we won't be able to cope with them. But this is not true. Humans are thinking and feeling machines. We are designed to think, to feel, and to navigate through all of that, even when scary or uncomfortable.

On World Mental Health Day, let's take a moment to consider this idea. These are simple mental health lessons that we can pay attention to every day. They can make a tremendous difference in the way we experience our struggles individually, and as a community.

Education and awareness is a big part of today. Let's find the lessons that make us all more aware of how we can improve our personal and collective mental health.
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#worldmentalheathday #thinking #emotions #anxietyrelief #panicdisorder #panicattack #panic #anxietydisorders #mentalhealth #agoraphobia #anxietyattack #anxietyattacks #panicattack #panicattacks #psychology #anxietyhelp #anxietyrecovery #anxietytips #anxiety #anxietyquotes #fear #socialanxiety #healthanxiety #theanxioustruth #mentalhealthmatters #anxietysucks

DON’T STOP When you think you’re “recovered

DON’T STOP

When you think you’re “recovered enough”.

Executing your recovery plan involves being systematic, methodical, planned, and incremental. In this case, incremental means going all the way to a point where you’re not wondering any more if you’re recovered. Otherwise you run the risk of building the dreaded “acceptable bubble”, which can sometimes be a fragile place to be where “relapse” lurks around many corners.

This does not mean struggling for years. As your recovery progresses, it does get somewhat easier as your sense of competence and confidence grows. But you must press on to allow this to happen.

If you’ve gone from stuck in bed to being able to do the shopping and the school pick-up, that’s amazing! Celebrate! Then keep going. You’ll be happy you did.

This an excerpt from my anxiety recovery guide. Learn more by following the recovery guidebook link from my bio.
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#anxietyrelief #panicdisorder #panicattack #panic #anxietydisorders #mentalhealth #agoraphobia #anxietyattack #anxietyattacks #panicattack #panicattacks #psychology #anxietyhelp #anxietyrecovery #anxietytips #anxiety #anxietyquotes #fear #socialanxiety #healthanxiety #theanxioustruth #tatlessons

ARE YOU AFRAID OR ASHAMED... To speak your recurr

ARE YOU AFRAID OR ASHAMED...

To speak your recurring thoughts and fears out loud? Do you worry that they may come true if you speak them? Are you afraid that you will be rejected or judged for your thoughts and fears? Are you trying desperately to run away from or stop them them because of all this?

I was too. I know that sometimes we make this struggle even harder by trying to carry some of the burden silently due to fear or shame. If you are afraid or ashamed of your thoughts and fears, I can speak a few of mine for you. Know that your thoughts are not special, uniquely bad, or evil. You are not broken, alone, or beyond hope.

In the end I got past these thoughts and fears not by proving them false or finding ways to stop them or turn them into positive thoughts. I got past them by NOT trying to do any of that any more. Allowing them, accepting them as simply thoughts, and working on productive ways to navigate through the fear, discomfort, and shame. That's what took me to the other side. It was not easy, but that was the answer.

Are you afraid or ashamed to speak your thoughts and fears out loud? Are you carrying that burden alone and in silence? Drop a 💜 if you can relate. Let's make sure everyone knows they are not alone in this struggle.
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#anxietyrelief #panicdisorder #panicattack #panic #anxietydisorders #mentalhealth #agoraphobia #anxietyattack #anxietyattacks #panicattack #panicattacks #psychology #anxietyhelp #anxietyrecovery #anxietytips #anxiety #anxietyquotes #fear #socialanxiety #healthanxiety #theanxioustruth #mentalhealthmatters #anxietysucks #shame #ashamed #afraid #intrusivethoughts #obsessivethoughts #pureocd #pureo

NOTHING WORKS FOR ME! If you’ve tried 50 differ

NOTHING WORKS FOR ME!

If you’ve tried 50 different ways to cure or manage your anxiety, you may have reached the conclusion that you are specially broken, or uniquely worse than everyone else. You may be discouraged or losing hope because you’re sure that you cannot be helped.

But those things were never going to work. That’s not a reflection on you at all. You just want to feel better, so you tried things. That’s not a crime and the fact that they didn’t work isn’t your fault.

You are not the problem. You are not un-fixable or specially damaged. A pipe wrench can’t fix a broken light bulb, but you’re not a light bulb and you can learn to use better tools. You are not broken. You can get better.
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#anxietyrelief #panicdisorder #panicattack #panic #anxietydisorders #mentalhealth #agoraphobia #anxietyattack #anxietyattacks #panicattack #panicattacks #psychology #anxietyhelp #anxietyrecovery #anxietytips #anxiety #anxietyquotes #fear #socialanxiety #healthanxiety #theanxioustruth #mentalhealthmatters #anxietysucks #hope #notbroken

COMPASSION AND THE FEAR OF FEAR This week's podca

COMPASSION AND THE FEAR OF FEAR

This week's podcast episode features @anxietyjosh talking about the fear of fear, and the importance of compassion and celebrating even small victories in recovery.

This was a GREAT conversation that's well worth the listen, so check it out.

Follow the podcast link in my bio to listen or visit my website for all podcast episodes.
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#anxietyrelief #panicdisorder #panicattack #panic #anxietydisorders #mentalhealth #agoraphobia #anxietyattack #anxietyattacks #panicattack #panicattacks #psychology #anxietyhelp #anxietyrecovery #anxietytips #anxiety #anxietyquotes #fear #socialanxiety #healthanxiety #theanxioustruth #mentalhealthmatters #anxietysucks #compassion #selfcompassion #exposuretherapy

WHEN YOU'RE STRUGGLING Remind yourself of these i

WHEN YOU'RE STRUGGLING

Remind yourself of these important points. Even when it feels like you can't do this ... you can. You always have. And when you do it in a new way, you can get better, even if you're sometimes sure that you can't.

Save this post so you can come back to it when you're up against it. Small reminders can sometimes make a big difference. Tag someone in a comment that you think needs to see this. They'll thank you for it. 💜
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#anxietyrelief #panicdisorder #panicattack #panic #anxietydisorders #mentalhealth #agoraphobia #anxietyattack #anxietyattacks #panicattack #panicattacks #psychology #anxietyhelp #anxietyrecovery #anxietytips #anxiety #anxietyquotes #fear #socialanxiety #healthanxiety #theanxioustruth #mentalhealthmatters #anxietysucks #youarestrong #keepgoing #facingfear #afraid #struggling

JUST SAYIN’ Recovery is not a function of how m

JUST SAYIN’

Recovery is not a function of how many anxiety posts you can consume every 24 hours. 💜
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#anxietyrelief #panicdisorder #panicattack #panic #anxietydisorders #mentalhealth #agoraphobia #anxietyattack #anxietyattacks #panicattack #panicattacks #psychology #anxietyhelp #anxietyrecovery #anxietytips #anxiety #anxietyquotes #fear #socialanxiety #healthanxiety #theanxioustruth #mentalhealthmatters #anxietysucks

YOU ARE NOT BROKEN!. You may be anxious, afraid, l

YOU ARE NOT BROKEN!. You may be anxious, afraid, lost, confused, and discouraged, but you are NOT broken or beyond hope. You can get better. In the first episode of Recovery Monday, we'll talk about why you are not permanently damaged, why none of this is your fault, and why you can get better.
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#anxietyrelief #panicdisorder #panicattack #panic #anxietydisorders #mentalhealth #agoraphobia #anxietyattack #anxietyattacks #panicattack #panicattacks #psychology #anxietyhelp #anxietyrecovery #anxietytips #anxiety #anxietyquotes #fear #socialanxiety #healthanxiety #theanxioustruth #mentalhealthmatters #anxietysucks #recoverymonday

WHAT IS AND IS NOT GAD? NOTE: You are NOT doomed

WHAT IS AND IS NOT GAD?

NOTE: You are NOT doomed forever! That’s a typo.

Being anxious all the time does not necessarily mean you would be diagnosed with GAD. People with panic disorder and agoraphobia and other forms of anxiety disorders can often feel anxious all day long too. Many interpret this as a possible "additional condition/diagnosis".

This can lead to even more anxiety over additional diagnosis and the fear that this additional diagnosis means there's more special recovery work to do.

Feeling anxious does not equal GAD. A qualified clinician MAY diagnose GAD when that anxious feeling is accompanied by clearly excessive, persistent, and difficult to control worry about different topics, events, or situations. In a nutshell, thinking habits about life in general are GAD indicators. Being worried about being anxious, or worry over the difficulty of recovery or not getting better, are not generally GAD issues.

In the end, being afraid of labels and diagnoses is very common, but not really required. The general "rules of engagement" tend to always apply. Doing - or not doing - the things that make us anxious and learning how to navigate the resulting discomfort is generally the way. Even if you do have GAD alongside some other issue, this does not doom you some special or more difficult recovery path.

As always, maintaining good communication with a qualified therapist or counselor is important if you have this resource available to you. (THIS POST IS NOT THERAPY AND NOT A DIAGNOSIS).
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#anxietyrelief #panicdisorder #panicattack #panic #anxietydisorders #mentalhealth #agoraphobia #anxietyattack #anxietyattacks #panicattack #panicattacks #psychology #anxietyhelp #anxietyrecovery #anxietytips #anxiety #anxietyquotes #fear #socialanxiety #healthanxiety #theanxioustruth #mentalhealthmatters #anxietysucks #GAD #generalizedanxiety #generalizedanxietydisorder

SETBACK!!! 😱 You’ve been struggling for so l

SETBACK!!! 😱

You’ve been struggling for so long, and finally you’re seeing some improvement, getting some relief. Then … anxiety pops back in after a few good days or a week or so.

When you so badly want to get better, and you finally start to see some light, it’s totally expected that you’d react strongly and emotionally to this! Strong desire and high levels of frustration are a volatile emotional mix!

You declare, “SETBACK! BACK TO SQUARE ONE!”

But this is not true. Logically you know this, but at that moment emotions take over and to harshly misjudge the situation. That’s OK. Humans are emotional. Be frustrated for a while. I get it.

But do not permanently glue emotions and reality together. Allow the emotional response but re-focus on your plan and your progress as soon as you can. Recognize “setback” as an emotional state, not a true anxiety state. Your progress can and will continue when you get back on the horse.

Feelings. So f-cking inconvenient. 💜
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#anxietyrelief #panicdisorder #panicattack #panic #anxietydisorders #mentalhealth #agoraphobia #anxietyattack #anxietyattacks #panicattack #panicattacks #psychology #anxietyhelp #anxietyrecovery #anxietytips #anxiety #anxietyquotes #fear #socialanxiety #healthanxiety #theanxioustruth #mentalhealthmatters #anxietysucks

LET'S TALK SELF-COMPASSION 💜 This week's podca

LET'S TALK SELF-COMPASSION 💜

This week's podcast is a HUGELY helpful discussion with @kimberleyquinlan on the art and importance of self-compassion. What really is self-compassion? What isn't it? How does it factor into the recovery process and life in general? Kim really brought the heat on this one, so check it out. It's well worth the listen! Follow the podcast links in my bio.
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#anxietyrelief #panicdisorder #panicattack #panic #anxietydisorders #mentalhealth #agoraphobia #anxietyattack #anxietyattacks #panicattack #panicattacks #psychology #anxietyhelp #anxietyrecovery #anxietytips #anxiety #anxietyquotes #fear #socialanxiety #healthanxiety #theanxioustruth #mentalhealthmatters #anxietysucks #selfcompassion #selfcare

THE “BLESSINGS” OF ANXIETY? 🙄 How blessed

THE “BLESSINGS” OF ANXIETY? 🙄

How blessed by your anxiety are you feeling today? Are you grateful for the hidden gifts it brings you?

Didn’t think so. I wasn’t either. It’s OK.

When I was afraid that the new bottle of orange juice was poison and could not walk out my front door, I did NOT want to hear about all the lovely traits of anxious people.

I did not have any ability to appreciate the value of my anxiety journey until AFTER my journey changed and things got better. There were no silver linings to be had until I started changing my relationship with the clouds. So if you’re just not seeing how your anxiety problems are somehow a blessing in disguise, don’t worry. It’s really hard to see that when you’re stuck so don’t let it frustrate you.

You can get better. Things can change. It’s not easy and I have nothing but love and respect for you when you’re struggling to climb that ladder. Just know that appreciating the gifts and blessings comes later, after you’ve been climbing for a while. And really, that makes them that much more meaningful. 💜
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#anxietyrelief #panicdisorder #panicattack #panic #anxietydisorders #mentalhealth #agoraphobia #anxietyattack #anxietyattacks #panicattack #panicattacks #psychology #anxietyhelp #anxietyrecovery #anxietytips #anxiety #anxietyquotes #fear #socialanxiety #healthanxiety #theanxioustruth #mentalhealthmatters #anxietysucks #lessonsfromthepaniczone

A LITTLE ROUTINE IS A GOOD THING .... When anxious

A LITTLE ROUTINE IS A GOOD THING .... When anxious and stressed, it is FAR better to DO rather than to think or feel. You may be trying to tame your anxious feelings and thoughts with more feeling and thinking, but that is likely not terribly effective or consistent for you.

Rather than sitting, thinking, and scanning ... ACTIVATE. DO. ENGAGE WITH THE WORLD. This can be in very small ways. You don't have to take life changing action all the time. Every little action matters. But when you're anxious or afraid, it can be really hard to think of what you do in any given moment. If you have some pre-defined simple routines set up, you can run one of those routines when you need to.

I hate routine and planning as much as anyone, but this is a lesson I learned in recovery that served me well then, and still serves me well now. So ... create some routines, then run them when you're tempted to sit and think as a coping mechanism. It doesn't matter how small your routines are, they are better than that alternative.
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#anxietyrelief #panicdisorder #panicattack #panic #anxietydisorders #mentalhealth #agoraphobia #anxietyattack #anxietyattacks #panicattack #panicattacks #psychology #anxietyhelp #anxietyrecovery #anxietytips #anxiety #anxietyquotes #fear #socialanxiety #healthanxiety #theanxioustruth #mentalhealthmatters #anxietysucks

ANXIOUS SENSATIONS Feel so real … because they

ANXIOUS SENSATIONS

Feel so real … because they are real! Don’t let anyone tell you that it’s “all in your head”. You really do feel those things.

The problem is just that you’re sensitive to them and have learned to interpret them as danger signs. They are not. They are normal reactions to fear, anxiety, and stress.

Learning to experience anxious sensations without fighting them is hard, but that’s the way out. Being brave in short bursts while surrendering and still winding up OK is the experience your lizard brain needs to un-learn this fear. 🦎

Why not muster your courage and give it a try? I know you can do it. 💜
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#anxietyrelief #panicdisorder #panicattack #panic #anxietydisorders #mentalhealth #agoraphobia #anxietyattack #anxietyattacks #panicattack #panicattacks #psychology #anxietyhelp #anxietyrecovery #anxietytips #anxiety #anxietyquotes #fear #socialanxiety #healthanxiety #theanxioustruth #mentalhealthmatters #anxietysucks

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