Anxiety and The Illusion of Control (Episode 116)

What If I Want To Control My Anxiety Holistically?


In this episode, Drew and Josh examine tension between wanting to control anxiety through holistic approaches and recognizing when that desire for control becomes part of the problem itself.






Key Topics Discussed:

• The difference between actual control and the illusion of control
• How the wellness and self-optimization industry can exploit anxiety sufferers
• Why treating anxiety as a threat teaches your brain to keep the alarm system activated
• The gray area between healthy self-care and anxiety-driven fixing behaviors
• How to recognize when "wellness" strategies become safety behaviors





Important Timestamps:


00:00 - A listener from Switzerland asks about holistic control strategies and when it feels like she can control things


02:30 - Introduction to the control illusion concept


04:20 - Drew explains the critical difference between knowing and controlling


5:45 - Josh's "why" question - examining motivations behind wellness pursuits


8:15- How your threat response learns from your control behaviors


11:45- Personal stories: Josh's magnesium bath experience and Drew's supplement journey


14:30 - The meditation paradox - using mindfulness as exposure vs. control


16:00- Drew's mini-rant about the billion-dollar wellness industry


21:15 - Did It Anyway: A listener's birthday triumph (train, crowds, and dating)


22:30- The Dr. Oz example of entertainment vs. medicine


31:45- The compatibility question: Can you pursue both control and acceptance?


35:00- Josh's "willful tolerance" exercise


39:00 - Did It Anyway: A listener conquers their emetophobia podcast fear


41:00 - First official announcement of the upcoming "Disordered Guide to Health Anxiety" book






Key Takeaways


The episode emphasizes that while basic wellness practices may be helpful, using them as anxiety control strategies often backfires. True recovery involves learning to be with difficult feelings rather than trying to eliminate them. The hosts stress the importance of asking "why" you're pursuing any wellness intervention - is it for general health or to avoid anxiety?






This episode offers practical guidance on distinguishing between healthy self-care and anxiety-driven control behaviors, helping listeners navigate the complex world of wellness marketing while staying focused on genuine recovery principles.






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Struggling with worry and rumination that you feel you can't stop or control? Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Worry and Rumination Explained (https://learn.theanxioustruth.com/wor...) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, a two hour pre-recorded workshop produced by Josh and Drew. The workshop takes a deep dive into the mechanics of worrying and ruminating, offering some helpful ways to approach the seemingly unsolvable problem of trying to solve seemingly unsolvable problems.


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