1065: Untangling the Anxiety Trio: Thoughts, Emotions, Feelings Part 2

In today's episode, Gina concludes her discussion of the differences between thoughts, emotions and feelings and how to use this knowledge to make progress clearing chronic anxiety. Five exercises are provided to help you explore what you are experiencing and how to change your thoughts to make better sense of it all and to find more peace and calm. Get your journals out and take notes, these exercises will take you a long way in your anxiety recovery journey!

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Quote:

It is not the things themselves that disturb men, but their judgments about these things."

-Epictetus

Chapters

0:23 Introduction to Anxiety Trio

5:13 Awareness of Thoughts, Emotions, and Feelings

10:05 Reframing Negative Thoughts

14:06 Grounding with Physical Sensations

16:10 Practicing Self-Compassion

17:52 The Power of Journaling

Summary

In today's episode of the Anxiety Coaches Podcast, I delve into part two of "Untangling the Anxiety Trio," focusing on the distinct interplay between thoughts, emotions, and feelings. This follow-up aims to provide you with practical exercises that can help you effectively manage and understand your anxiety. If you missed part one, I highly recommend listening to it first, as it lays the foundation for the discussions today.

To start off, I introduce the concept of awareness. It's essential for anyone dealing with anxiety to develop a keen sense of awareness regarding their thoughts, emotions, and feelings. Often, we conflate these elements into a chaotic mix, dismissing their individual significance. I encourage you to pause during moments of anxiety, take a deep breath, and identify the specific thought that just crossed your mind. For instance, if the thought is "I'm not prepared for this meeting," you might notice physical sensations, such as tension in your chest, manifesting as you recognize your anxiety. Writing these observations down can help clarify and confront the anxiety head-on, making each element less overwhelming.

Next, we explore the exercise of reframing our thoughts. This involves replacing negative thoughts with more balanced, realistic alternatives. When a thought like “I’m going to fail” surfaces, ask yourself if it's entirely true. More often than not, it’s an exaggeration. By reframing it to something like “I’ve prepared for this, and I’ll do my best,” you create a shift in the emotional and physiological response. This process of reframing can serve as a valuable tool to interrupt the anxiety cycle before it spirals out of control.

Grounding exercises are another pivotal theme we cover. When anxiety intensifies, it can be beneficial to redirect your focus through physical sensations. I introduce the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding technique, which encourages you to identify things you can see, touch, hear, smell, and taste, assisting you in reconnecting with the present moment. By engaging with your environment and senses, you provide your mind with a break from the relentless march of anxious thoughts, often resulting in a calming effect.

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