I know a lot of random stuff.
Most of it isn’t very useful but it makes me a decent Trivial Pursuit partner.
Part of what I know is because I love to learn.
The other part is because I spent years Googling myself to death.
When you’re anxious, it can feel necssary and productive to learn all you
can about what you’re worried about.
Whether you worry about your health, the state of the world, your safety on the road, or anything else, knowing seems like a good idea.
You’re looking for information to keep you safe and help you feel better,
but instead, you end up more anxious.
Here’s why learning more won't make you less anxious.
Your brain has something called negativity bias.
A negativity bias means that because the scary things make you anxious,
you’ll notice more of what you don’t want to see.
This is also why your anxious brain latches onto the 1% chance
that something will go wrong or kill you.
But what if you already know everything enough?
So when you notice you’re feeling or thinking anxiously,
you practice breathing or another grounding method.
What if when you chose to trust yourself that you’re only anxious,
and know that it will pass without having to learn more.
In fact, it will pass faster when you don’t give the thoughts more attention.
Lets talk about what you already know, what you think you still need to learn, and how you can start feeling better before the holidays.
Megan
P.S. Your life beyond stress and anxiety begins with a decision. You can decide now to change how your body feels and how you respond when you're anxious, so anxiety loses its power. The question isn't, “Am I ready?” The question is, “Have I decided to be ready?” Ready is just one decision away. Talk to me about how I can help you make your decision a reality.
P.P.S. Be sure to check out Episode 60 of the More than Anxiety Podcast to hear more about how Too Much Information Is Making You More Anxious wherever you listen. While you’re there, take a quick minute to leave a review and follow so you don’t miss a beat and help others find the podcast as well. Thanks!
