Part 5: How Worry Tricks Your Brain Into Thinking You are in Danger When You're Not

Psychologist Dr. Jennifer Degler explains how worry tricks your brain into thinking you're in danger when you're actually in discomfort. She discusses how to stop fighting and fleeing from anxiety, and to instead "float" with the discomfort so that it will eventually pass. She recommends Dr. David Carbonell's books "The Worry Trick" and "Outsmart Your Anxious Brain."
This is the 5th video in the series "Helping Your Stressed Out Brain Chill Out: Worry and Anxiety Management Strategies."

[shannonmoore]

Dr. Degler, I appreciate you so much!. I've been struggling with a certain level of anxiety throughout my entire life. As a child, without meaning to, I developed coping strategies that I still use today. But 2 years ago, in Cozumel, Mexico, my anxiety threw me into uncharted territory as I had a terrible panic attack. This was devastating to me, in that it didn't stop for 2 months. I tried to talk myself through it, I prayed and prayed and prayed, refused to give in to it by continuing to live my life which led to more panic attacks. IT wasn't just mental, it caused debilitating physical problems as well. Eventually, I thankfully realized Satan was using my weakness to lie to me and make things worse. One of those lies was telling me that I couldn't live this way, and the Enemy actually put a thought of suicide in my head. But I knew it was him so every time he lied to me, all I would say is "Jesus" and he would flee. I was so weak and sick that it was about all I could do, but it was enough. He also told me it would be a lack of faith to go to the doctor. That's why it took me 2 months to go to the doctor. It had gotten to the point that I was getting agoraphobic, and I knew I was going to have to get a medical leave of absence from my teaching job if I didn't find some relief. I've since gotten some medicine (of which I never have to take the full dosage), dealt with well-meaning friends and family who tell me it's all in my mind and spent loads and loads of time studying anxiety, panic, and the brain. I've learned so much about my mental illness beginning as an actual physical issue within my brain, but your videos have made what I've learned even more understandable. THANK YOU!

[sandraduff]

I saw part 1 and 2 and 5, but cant see parts 3 and thanks again for all the info on anxiety.