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

FREE RECOVERY WORKSHOP⁠ ⁠ This is happening th

FREE RECOVERY WORKSHOP⁠
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This is happening this coming Saturday (April 17, 2020). It's a totally free one hour online workshop that will take you through the basic principles of anxiety recovery. If you're not sure where to start or which direction to go in, this should help you start to find your way.⁠
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All are welcome. ⁠
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Register here:⁠
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theanxioustruth.com/workshop1

PICK YOUR STRUGGLE: Facing fear is hard. But so

PICK YOUR STRUGGLE:

Facing fear is hard. But so is being trapped by it and living a small life! Let’s let Shannon explain...

🔥👉 @ahealthypush : Doing the things that make you uncomfortable, scared, or anxious will be hard, but it's a must in order to teach your brain that you aren't actually in any danger and that you are capable.

✨ Remember, you have always successfully worked through every anxious moment and panic attack no matter who you have or haven't been with, because YOU are your own hero. ✨

Consistently taking small steps leads to you reaching your big goals. ♥️

Share your thoughts below! 👇🏻
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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 #ahealthypush

AGORAPHOBIA EXPLAINED This week's podcast episode

AGORAPHOBIA EXPLAINED

This week's podcast episode covers all things agoraphobia. What it is, what it isn't, and the approach to recovery.

Agoraphobia is not a special or separate kind of anxiety problem. It's just what happens when you allow avoidance of anxiety to kick into high gear and remain unchecked. So the good news is that you CAN recover from agoraphobia too. It's just hard work!

theanxioustruth.com/152 to listen or follow the podcast or web links 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 #mentalhealthmatters #anxietysucks

This week's podcast episode explains agoraphobia.

This week's podcast episode explains agoraphobia. What it is. What it isn't. How it develops. The impacts it has on your life. How to recover from it. If agoraphobia is an issue in your life, this episode is for you.

theanxioustruth.com/152 to listen or follow the podcast or website 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

Dismantling “Triggers”. DISMANTLING “TRIGGER

Dismantling “Triggers”. DISMANTLING “TRIGGERS”

I hate the word “trigger”. It gives away all your power and influence in the anxiety cycle, and there’s no reason to do that.

Compare:

“I got triggered.” = Something happened that was beyond my control. Then everything that happened after that was also beyond my control. My anxiety followed immutable laws of physics over which I am powerless.

This is just not accurate. Something happened. You reacted because thats what humans do. You had thoughts and/or feelings and/or sensations. Then you chose to attach to those reactions and follow them down a distorted path of catastrophic thinking that made you feel worse and worse.

You had a choice. You had power and influence in that situation! It’s not easy to make new choices and to change how you react to fear, but it IS possible. That realization is where recovery starts!

So ... no more “triggers”, OK? 😉
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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

LIES! ALL LIES! Recovery is hard enough. Take a

LIES! ALL LIES!

Recovery is hard enough. Take a moment to call out the distortions - the LIES - disordered anxiety and your past experiences have placed in your head. Seeing them for what they are can make a difference in your willingness to act.
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From @theanxietyhealer 🔥 The lies that anxiety tries to make me believe...sound familiar to anyone else?
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What other lies does anxiety say to you? Comment below! ⬇️⬇️⬇️
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Follow 👉 @theanxietyhealer for all things anxiety healing!
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#theanxietyhealer #anxietydisorders #anxietyisreal #anxietyissues #anxietytips #anxietycure #anxietytools #mentalhealthhelp #mentalhealthtips #mentalhealthawarenessweek #anxietyhealing #anxietysurvivor #anxietysufferer #ansiedase #depressionandanxiety #ansia #anxietyattacks #ansiedad #Angst #anxiété #ansiedadegeneralizada #stressmanagement #ångest #overcominganxiety #anxietyrecovery #recovery #supportingothers
#anxietyfree #anxietyrelief #anxietymanagement #anxietyrecovery #anxietyhealing

CHANGING REACTIONS⁠ ⁠ We’ve seen the three r

CHANGING REACTIONS⁠
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We’ve seen the three reactions that are driving that faulty brain link between fear and danger. The reaction before, the reaction during, and the reaction after. Now that we understand how they work; we can look at how to change them into something more straightforward and more effective. All by doing NOTHING. ⁠
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You heard me. NOTHING. We’re going take all the “something” that you’ve been doing to save yourself and turn it into “nothing.” We are going to prevent all those old reactions and replace them with no response. Why? Because “nothing” works, and it works faster and more efficiently than “something.” ⁠
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Exposure therapy is a cornerstone of cognitive-behavioral therapy. But it’s not just exposure. It’s called EXPOSURE AND RESPONSE PREVENTION (ERP). It’s not just about intentionally doing scary things; it’s about doing them without responding in the old non-productive ways!⁠
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This an excerpt from my anxiety recovery guide. Learn more by following the recovery guidebook link from my bio.⁠

VALUE DRIVEN RECOVERY This gem from @joeryan is a

VALUE DRIVEN RECOVERY

This gem from @joeryan is a great reminder of what we’re working for:

Making your choices based on “I WANT” rather than “I CAN’T”. When unsure of what to do in recovery, lean toward the “I want” choices even when those feel scary or impossible.
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@joeryan 👉 Podcast link in bio or visit
joeryan.com/links

I've Spent Too Much Time Focusing On What I’m Not And Not Enough Time On Being Who I Am
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#traumahealing #boundariesarehealthy #traumacoach #agoraphobia #trauma #cptsdawareness #trauamcoaching #narcissistsurvivorgroup #personalgrowth #emotionalhealing #ifmywoundswerevisible #traumatherapy #setboundaries #cbt #vulnerable #selfacceptance #healingfromwithin #selfhealer #covertabuse #cptsd #vulnerability #healthyboundaries #abuseawareness #traumaticchildhood #Narcaware #traumaquotes #relationaltrauma #origianlpain #socialanxeity #shame

HOW DID YOU KNOW IT WAS JUST ANXIETY?⁠ ⁠ I did

HOW DID YOU KNOW IT WAS JUST ANXIETY?⁠
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I didn't. We can never be 100% sure of anything in life. I had to act even in the face of uncertainty. I had to stop trying to think my way out of irrational fear and start DOING my way out of it.⁠
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DOING meant acting as if everything was fine even when anxiety was telling me I was dying and in danger. Doing the exact opposite of what my thoughts and fears were demanding. I stopped trying to think my way into certainty and starting acting despite uncertainty.⁠
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THAT changed everything. Rather than trying to change my thoughts or rationalize them away, I fed my brain a steady died of experiences that showed the thoughts to be wrong again and again and again. Over time, it was the experiences that mattered. The experiences - the DOING even while afraid and uncertain - triggered the change I wanted.⁠
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I stopped trying to know that it was "just anxiety". Once I stopped trying to know ... I knew. Odd how that works, eh?

EVERYTHING CHANGED⁠ ⁠ When I had finally had e

EVERYTHING CHANGED⁠
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When I had finally had enough of running and hiding from anxiety, fear, panic, and all the things that came with it ... things began to change.⁠
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I started giving my brain experiences with positive outcomes based on my ability to tolerate and navigate through loud - but false - threat alarms.⁠
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I started treating anxiety and panic as my teachers and as opportunities for recovery, rather than as enemies and nightmares to be avoided.⁠
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I start feeling accomplished again rather than discouraged. You have no idea what a drive around the neighborhood can do for you until you actually do it!⁠
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I started seeing a way out of the anxious, fearful mess I was in. Small steps paved the way for big steps. Big steps paved the way for full recovery.⁠
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This was some of the hardest work I've ever done in my life, but also some of the most rewarding. I know you may think this impossible, but you are wrong. What you see as dangerous is not - it is simply difficult. But you can do difficult things. And when you do ... everything can change.

HORMONES ARE A DRAG!⁠ ⁠ As a man, I just want

HORMONES ARE A DRAG!⁠
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As a man, I just want to acknowledge this struggle, and share a helpful resource.⁠
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From @honestlyholistic⁠
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Ugh, hormones 🙄 you feel me?⁣⁠
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As long as we are healthy and our bodies are functioning as they should we really do have so much to be grateful for. ⁣⁠
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But listen, if you’re struggling with your hormones, I understand. You are allowed to say “this sucks!”⁣⁠
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Just like with anxiety, we shouldn’t fight against or resist how we feel. ⁣⁠
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First we acknowledge and accept before we can move forward. ⁣⁠
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Hormones have been a pretty big topic in our community.⁣⁠
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Whenever I have done any posts on hormones, periods, pmdd, I always receive such a big response from you, asking me to keep the convo going, so here we are yet again. ⁣⁠
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I know so many of you struggle with heightened anxiety and awful symptoms due to your hormones and hormonal changes. I want you to know you are not insane and you are not alone. ⁣⁠
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Whether it's your period, pregnancy, hormonal imbalances, menopause; our hormones are always playing a role in how we feel. ⁣⁠
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Of course I cannot diagnose you, I always recommend talking to your doctor, I just wanted to share how hormones can impact your mood and your anxiety.⁣⁠
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How it can contribute to symptoms. ⁣⁠
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I would always experience shortness of breath and heart palpitations, dizziness too in the days leading up to my period. ⁣⁠
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When I really struggled I would suffer a good 2 weeks before!⁣⁠
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Changing the foods I was eating, exercising, certain supplements, finding ways to manage my stress, all helped me to slowly start managing my symptoms better. ⁣⁠
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So if you struggle, stay tuned because as soon as it is ready I will let you know!⁣⁠
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For now, I do have more posts on this with some tips. I also have a page called @thesensualfeminine that I started a while ago and to be honest, haven’t been great at keeping up. There is some more info on there that may help though. ⁣⁠
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Graphic by @marketingforhumans

EXPOSURE MISTAKES AND MISCONCEPTIONS The word exp

EXPOSURE MISTAKES AND MISCONCEPTIONS

The word exposure appears all over the place in the anxiety and anxiety recovery discussion. There’s a reason for that. Exposure is a key component of a good recovery plan!

But there are also plenty of misconceptions surrounding what exposure actually means, and these lead to common mistakes that can hinder the recovery process or even stall it completely.

Here are a few key points about what exposure is, and isn’t. Take the time to get familiar with these concepts, then think about what you’re doing. If you’re “doing things” but nothing is changing, there’s a chance that you’re making some of the most common exposure errors. That’s OK. Everything is fixable, and we can learn from our mistakes!

My recovery guide - The Anxious Truth - is quite literally a written course in exposure for disorders like agoraphobia and panic disorder. You can find it by following the book links 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 #mentalhealthmatters #anxietysucks #exposuretherapy #exposure #cognitivebehavioraltherapy

THIS! From @ahealthypush 🔥 ... @ahealthypush G

THIS! From @ahealthypush 🔥
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@ahealthypush Googling, scanning and checking for symptoms, and seeking reassurance often leads to, or heightens anxiety, panic, and the symptoms.

Instead of doing these things, go inward and ask yourself what you can do instead that will help you to relieve or push past the anxious feelings.

What productive action can you take? What do you have control of?

Taking productive action and focusing on things you have control of will help you to trust and believe that you are well.

And if you have a symptom that you are truly concerned about, it's always best to connect with a healthcare provider. ♥️
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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

COGNITIVE DISTORTIONS Let’s look at a few of th

COGNITIVE DISTORTIONS

Let’s look at a few of the common cognitive distortions that drive disordered anxiety. Cognitive distortions can be seen as “thinking through colored lenses”. 👓

Emotional reasoning leads you into avoidance and escape based on what it “feels like”, ignoring all evidence to the contrary.

Mind reading drives faulty conclusions and choices but can often be deeply ingrained when you use words like “empath” or “intuitive” as part of who you are or want to be be seen as.

All-or-none thinking is what leads you to declare failure at the slightest sign of fear or anxiety.

Catastrophizing turns a possibility or a simple thought into a raging disaster and certain doom in your mind. This is the primary driver behind health anxiety and anticipatory anxiety.

Understand that all people are victims of cognitive distortions at one time or another. Disordered anxiety just magnifies them on us. Your brain is not damaged or broken. It’s just gotten into some bad habits!

When we are aware of our cognitive distortions we can choose to ACT in opposition to them, making difficult but productive choices that teach our brains new lessons and new ways.

Created with Lauren at @theobsessivemind as part of an IG live we did together on this topic. Find it on my IGTV. Thanks Lauren! 🙂
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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 #ocd #cognitivedistortions #obsessivecompulsivedisorder

YOU DON’T HAVE TO LIKE IT ... From @obsessively

YOU DON’T HAVE TO LIKE IT ...

From @obsessivelyeverafter - I don’t need my clients to ~want~ to do the hard things in treatment or ~enjoy~ doing the hard things.
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Facing your fears and taking away safety behaviors is HARD and SCARY and everyone would do it if it were enjoyable.
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I do need my clients to be willing to do hard things. I need them to be willing to be uncomfortable. I need to to be willing to trust the process and do the work. I need them to be willing to do what it takes to recover.
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Willingness is one of the biggest determinants of successful treatment. You have to be willing to get better.
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Sometimes people are at rock bottom and come in bleeding willingness. Sometimes people are at rock bottom and still don’t know if they’re willing to do the work. Willingness can be cultivated, and must be present, for successful recovery.
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#ocd #pureo #pureocd #pocd #rocd #harmocd #soocd #obsessivecompulsivedisorder #intrusivethoughts #edawareness #eatingdisorderrecovery #recovery #therapy #therapist #anorexianervosarecovery #bodydysmorphia #depression #erp #panicattack #trauma #ptsd #dietculture #bulimiarecovery #therapistsofinstagram #anxious #anxiety #postpartum #postpartumocd #mentalhealth #mentalhealthquotes

Cognitive Distortions Chat w/ @theobsessivemind. C

Cognitive Distortions Chat w/ @theobsessivemind. Cognitive distortions - thinking through colors and fear biased lenses - are a primary component in disordered anxiety. Lauren @theobsessivemind stopped by to talk about this important topic today. Great chat!
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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

ANXIETY & MENTAL HEALTH - LATINX PERSPECTIVES⁠
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This week I had a chat with Dr. Lisa Cortez - @theanxietydr - about her personal and professional experiences with anxiety recovery and mental health in the Latinx community.⁠
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All cultures have norms, biases, and beliefs. Those sometimes present challenges in recovery. We can't change things if we don't talk about them, so I'm happy to have this perspective represented on the podcast.⁠
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theanxioustruth.com/151 to listen or follow the podcast or web links in my bio.

ANXIOUS ABOUT NOT BEING ANXIOUS My friend @kimber

ANXIOUS ABOUT NOT BEING ANXIOUS

My friend @kimberleyquinlan addressing a thing I see asked all the time!
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@kimberleyquinlan Have you ever noticed this phenomenon? It can feel like you're doing something wrong, but it's really the opposite. Your body is just readjusting to not being in a constant state of fight-or-flight.⁠⁠
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What have you gained in the absence (or decrease) of your anxiety?⁠⁠
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Follow @kimberleyquinlan for education and support for OCD, anxiety, eating disorders, and body-focused repetitive behaviors.⁠⁠
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anxietydisorder #anxietyrelief #ocdawareness #obsessivecompulsivedisorder #erp #exposuretherapy #pureocd #cbt #panicdisorder #anxietytherapist #ocdrecovery #anxietyattacks #anxietysucks #panicattack #mentalhealth #mentalillness #panicdisorder #relationshipocd #perfectionism #exposureresponseprevention #intrusivethoughts #pureo #depressionsupport #anxietyquotes #uncertainty #itsabeautifuldaytodohardthings #bfrbawareness #bfrb #wecandohardthings

YOU ARE NOT FAILING! You just might think you are

YOU ARE NOT FAILING!

You just might think you are because you’ve forgotten a few key points about what recovery looks like. So here they are as a reminder.

1. Fear is never failure

2. You don’t “get” it until you DO it

3. Change your behavior, then your thoughts will follow

So ... keep these in a safe place and tag a friend that might need these too!
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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

LIFE CAN BE EXPOSURE! 🔥 I’ll just let Lauren

LIFE CAN BE EXPOSURE! 🔥

I’ll just let Lauren - @theobsessivemind - explain this one:

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Exposures aren't just things we create in treatment to help you on your path toward recovery. For those with OCD, exposures are everywhere. They're the things you avoid because you don't want to have thoughts or feelings. They're the things that you do that lead you feel anxious and that ignite the desire to do compulsions. ⁠
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Take a daily walk that happens to go past a park? This might be an exposure for someone with POCD. If you work at a restaurant and have fears about alcohol contamination, every time you serve an adult beverage you're doing an exposure. If you're studying a war in school, you might be doing a harm OCD exposure. ⁠
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These are only a small sampling of examples. As I said, exposures are everywhere. Active exposure work is usually a meaningful part of effective treatment, but it's purpose is to support people with these passive, real life exposures that they will face ongoing.⁠
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🧠 Follow for daily tidbits on dealing with Anxiety Disorders, OCD, Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders and Eating Disorders.⁠ 🧠⁠
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🛋️Interested in treatment for OCD, Anxiety and Eating Disorders? Feel free to DM or email me through my website (link in bio). 🛋️⁠
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#ocd #obsessivecompulsivedisorder #ocdrecovery #ocdtherapy #ocdsupport #ocdhelp #pureo #pureocd #postpartumocd #scrupulosityocd #religiousocd #hocd #harmocd #rocd #relationshipocd #ppocd #pocd #ocdlife #ocdrelief #ocdproblems #ocdtips #ocdadvocate #ocdawareness #obsessivecompulsive #livingwithocd #erp #exposureresponseprevention #embracetheunknown #realocd

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