Do I Really Have To Sit With Anxiety? (Ep 295)

Embracing Anxiety Without Sitting Still: A New Approach to Thriving Amidst Anxiety

Anxiety is an unwelcome guest that many of us encounter. Traditionally, the advice has been to “sit with it,” but do we really have to do that? “Sitting with it” really just means experiencing anxiety without interference, fitting this approach into your unique circumstances at any given time..

Redefining “Sit with Anxiety”

The term “sit with anxiety” often trips people up. It is not a literal command to stop all activity and sit. Instead, it’s about allowing yourself to feel anxiety without trying to fix or escape it. This approach is adaptable, whether you’re at work, running errands, or relaxing at home. The goal is to let anxiety be present without interference, helping you to learn to manage these feelings without them dictating your actions.

Navigating Anxiety in Daily Life

Let’s talk about the concept of allowing anxiety without resistance  into your daily routine. Whether you’re in a meeting, on a phone call, or even in a busy mall, you can let anxiety flow through you without resisting it. This method empowers you to handle anxiety in various settings, teaching you that you don’t need a quiet, calm place to manage it effectively. By continuing with your tasks, you demonstrate to yourself that anxiety doesn’t have to derail your day. You might sit, or choose to sit, but the actual act of sitting isn’t always required.

Shifting Focus from Calm to Acceptance

A major shift in recovery is moving your focus from achieving calm to accepting the experience of anxiety.  Sitting with anxiety isn’t about achieving a state of relaxation but about not fighting the experience. This shift in perspective can lead to a reduction in fear over time, as you become more accustomed to feeling anxious without it overwhelming you.

Embracing Anxiety on the Go

Living with anxiety on the go is possible. If you’re driving, shopping, or in any other situation where stopping to sit isn’t feasible, you can still embrace anxiety. The key is to continue your activity while allowing the anxious feelings to be present. This practice helps reduce the power anxiety holds over your life, enabling you to engage fully in your daily activities.

Navigating …. Not Eradicating (Sitting or otherwise)

This approach is about learning that you can navigate through anxiety without letting it dictate your life, not eradicating it. The more you practice allowing anxiety to be present without interference, the more you build resilience and reduce the fear associated with anxious feelings.

Practical Tips for Embracing Anxiety

1. Acknowledge Your Feelings: Recognize that you’re feeling anxious and that it’s okay. This acknowledgment is the first step in allowing anxiety to be present without resistance.

2. Stay Engaged: Continue with your activities, whether you’re at work, running errands, or relaxing. Staying engaged helps you integrate anxiety into your daily routine.

3. Avoid Resisting: Try not to fight or fix the anxious feelings. Allow them to flow through you, understanding that they will eventually subside if you stop trying to hard to make them subside.

4. Practice Patience: Be patient with yourself. Learning to navigate through anxiety without resistance takes time and practice.

The Importance of Context

The context in which you experience anxiety matters. Your approach can change depending on your circumstances. Sometimes, you may need to sit quietly and allow the anxiety to pass. Other times, you can continue with your activities while letting the anxiety be present. The key is to adapt your approach to fit your unique situation, ensuring that you manage anxiety effectively without it dictating your actions.

Building Psychological Flexibility

Psychological flexibility is a critical component in recovery. This means being able to handle various emotional experiences, including anxiety, without needing to fix or avoid them. By allowing anxiety when it pops up without automatically trying to fix it (symbolically or literally sitting with it), you work on developing greater psychological flexibility. This is essential for overall mental health and well-being.

Links Of Interest

• My Panic Attacks Explained Workshop
• My Agoraphobia Explained Workshop
• My Panic and Agoraphobia Recovery Guidebook
• Follow me on Instagram
• My YouTube Channel
• Disordered – With Josh Fletcher

Disclaimer: The Anxious Truth is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. Listening to The Anxious Truth does not create a therapeutic relationship between you and the host or guests of the podcast. Information here is provided for psychoeducational purposes. As always, when you have questions about your own well-being, please consult your mental health and/or medical care providers. If you are having a mental health crisis, always reach out immediately for in-person help.