Bob Newhart - STOP IT! The best two word coaching you'll ever get ...

The late comedian, Bob Newhart, known for his deadpan delivery on "The Bob Newhart Show," and hilarious stand-up routines, also offered a surprisingly simple yet effective strategy to combat anxiety and negative thought spirals. This technique, sometimes referred to as "Bob Newhart infinite ledge psychology," is showcased in a classic skit from "The Bob Newhart Show" where Newhart, playing a therapist, treats a woman with a fear of being buried alive.

In this iconic scene, often remembered by the line "Hi Bob Newhart," the woman, played by Marcia Wallace, pours out her anxieties to Dr. Newhart, expressing her claustrophobia and crippling fear of being buried alive in a box. She explains how this fear severely limits her life, preventing her from entering tunnels, elevators, or even feeling safe in a house. Newhart's response is unexpectedly simple: "Stop it."

This seemingly blunt advice catches the woman off guard, but Newhart assures her that simply interrupting the thought spiral can be effective. The skit, with Bill Daily as a co-star, highlights the comedic genius of Newhart while also touching upon a valuable psychological concept.

While the interaction is played for laughs, it underscores the power of interrupting negative thought patterns. By consciously saying "stop it" to ourselves, we can disrupt the cycle of overthinking and potentially alleviate anxiety. This approach, while not a cure-all, can be a surprisingly effective tool in our mental health toolkit.

If you found this video helpful, give it a thumbs up, share it with a friend who might need it, and subscribe for more strategies to improve your mental well-being. Let us know in the comments how you plan to use the "Newhart" technique in your own life.

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[BearanormalPodcast]

MADtv, in comparison to SNL, was so criminally underrated. This show was absolutely so amazing and on the same level as SNL.

[Gord.Stewart]

I have seen this so many times! the best. RIP Bob ~ July 18/24

[timothybright]

This sketch tickles me every time I watch it. Yes, I havevapplied STOP IT to my life and many times IT WORKS!😊😊😊

[susankelseyville]

My friend and I always holler STOP IT when we go on about nonsense, then we both burst out laughing!!😂

[dethledr]

A young Mo Collins!!! She's always been so funny. She captures comedic characters so well. Love her!

[jenerin]

My husband plays this when I start getting upset and then madder and madder. Somehow, it actually works! 😂

[craksracingcom]

i know any pshychologist wont if we "did " the stop it thing we would see life its easier than what we do from it....

[LifeOutsideTheBubble]

Do you think the description is ai generated? I kept waiting for Marcia Wallace

[johnblackhawk]

Adler’s teleology right there. Excellent.
Gurdjieff would also have loved this !

[cathie]

"God intends to give us what we need, not what we now think we want." - C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain

The easiest path towards healing most of society's woes is for people to --stop it!

Proverbs 3:5-12
The Message
5-12 Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
he’s the one who will keep you on track.
Don’t assume that you know it all.
Run to God! Run from evil!
Your body will glow with health,
your very bones will vibrate with life!
Honor God with everything you own;
give him the first and the best.
Your barns will burst,
your wine vats will brim over.
But don’t, dear friend, resent God’s discipline;
don’t sulk under his loving correction.
It’s the child he loves that God corrects;
a father’s delight is behind all this.

[ImHandlingIt]

Wish the title didn't give away the punchline