Sticks and stones may break your bones but words will make you nervous. Well, if you let them anyway.
If you tell yourself the wrong things about anxiety symptoms over and over they tend to get more tenacious. This makes the words you choose to describe your anxiety symptoms super important.
That’s exactly what happened to me. When I first encountered anxiety symptoms I didn’t know what they were so I ended up associating threatening words with the symptoms I was experiencing.
This was a horrible mistake that a lot of rookie neurotics make. I’m sure you’ve probably done this too.
When anxiety symptoms strike the first few times it tends to leave you speechless and fumbling in your mind for an answer. So naturally you start making stuff up as to why you’re dying all of a sudden.
Palpitations turn into heart attacks, headaches into brain tumors, and racing thoughts into pure insanity.
But the words you choose to describe your anxiety symptoms, especially in the beginning, play a huge role in how your relationship with anxiety will play out.
In today’s episode of The Anxiety Guru Show I discuss my theory on why we tend to use threatening words to describe anxiety symptoms and how you can turn this around to help yourself regain control.
Don’t forget to comment below!
Thanks again Paul! 🙂
Hello. Your website has been a Godsend to me. I am currently having a rather nasty relapse of my fear of choking on food after a choking episode which triggered huge panic attacks. This is due to a slow build-up of life stressors as well as zero self esteem. At the moment I am listening to your podcasts although I will read through the articles shortly. I also joined your AG members (under my mum’s name as she paid the subscription) I will contribute the best I can. Once again many thanks for the site and the wonderful information. I look forward to reading, listening and participating. Cheers from the UK
I am very tempted to say you are the 21st century version of Claire Weekes.
Its so true… I have been doing really well lately with medication but anytime I feel any symptom such as chest tightness I tend to think that my blood pressure must be high and I’m going to have a heart attack. But in all reality its just a symptom of anxiety. I have had anxiety for over 10 years now and I may not be where I would like to be but I am truly blessed that I am not where I was thanks to my faith and also to the encouraging words from this website. Thank you
Awesome! Very stressful time in my life right now…I’m out of work because of a injury for a few weeks, my heart palpitations are getting worse because I’m stressed and I’m also moving my family into another house in a couple of weeks. It’s good to hear a little reminder on how to cope.
Thanks not long found your site, not to good as far as computers go but I’m doing the best I can, like the way you explained about stereotype anxiety, been putting so much pressure on myself thanks will keep reading and listening very useful thermocouple sharing your knowledge