What is this podcast episode all about? Well, It’s about the formula of Unconscious Habits. The structure and the formula that you use, unconsciously of course, that creates your experience that is health anxiety.
Welcome to the Anxiety Guy podcast, where we delve deeper into the topic of anxiety. Providing you with the tools, insights, and inspiration to reclaim your life from the grips of fear and uncertainty. I’m your host, Dennis Simsek, a former anxiety sufferer turned anxiety healer. Each week, we explore proven strategies, share personal stories, and create moments toward inner peace and empowerment. Get ready to break free from the chains of anxiety and step into a life filled with purpose, joy, and unshakable confidence. This is the Anxiety Guy podcast, and your path to liberation starts now.
Recognizing the Structure of Health Anxiety
These unconscious habits shape how you feel every day. I never even knew that I had a structure until someone brought it to my attention. They said, Dennis, you know, don’t you think that you do things that cause you to feel this way? Don’t you think that you think things that cause you to feel this way? Don’t you think that you create certain images in your mind that transfer over to your body that make you feel this way? And then I went, oh my goodness, you know, you could have a point there.
Understanding Your Unconscious Formula
Photo by Alexander Olm CC BY-NC 2.0
Morning Routines That Increase Anxiety
Let me give you an example of my morning routine, okay? This was the structure. When I awoke in the morning, I sensed my body. I physically touched various places of my body to determine if my symptoms, or feelings, were present. And of course, they were present, which brought me to the following section. Based on my symptoms, I began to imagine all of the worst-case scenarios.
So I began to think, well, it may be this or that, or ooh, maybe it’s connected to the same ailment or symptom that this person had, my old buddy or a family member, so my mother. My thoughts began to run in all different directions.
The Rush of Anxiety
After that, I started to rush in the morning. These unconscious habits of feeling out my body and thinking catastrophically led me to rushing because the fight-or-flight system was on, and it meant that I needed to speed up because speeding up was in line with my much-needed speed. I showered fast, ate fast, drove fast, and got to work fast, and I didn’t even know what I ate. Then I would work very rigorously to avoid pain-causing situations and play out the artificial mask that I held up each and every day. This was my structure for creating the experience that was my health anxiety.
Breaking the Habit Cycle
Positive Body Focus
What did I do to start improving my situation? In the morning, instead of exploring my body for physical symptoms, I focused on feeling the areas of my body that I was proud of. For example, my quadriceps are really powerful. I’m so glad that these feet can carry me wherever. Instead of touching my body and wondering, “Oh my, are my symptoms present?” I began to feel distinct bodily parts and developed the habit of enjoying them.
Imagining the Best Case Scenarios
When I started thinking catastrophic endings, I began imagining the best-case scenario instead. Because the subconscious mind understands visual images and emotions, I realized that my unconscious habits of imagining the worst could be reversed. I said, if I can imagine the worst event, let me start imagining the best event. I began running these images through my head of the best-case scenario rather than the worst.
Slowing Down Consciously
Instead of hurrying every morning, I did the exact opposite. I began intentionally slowing down. When I slowed down, I signaled to my nervous system that this scenario was not to be dreaded. I don’t need to equip my physique to combat the saber-toothed tiger. I’m in a safe environment.
Welcoming the Pain
I accepted the pain rather than avoiding painful events and putting on a mask. I demonstrated that it is far worse in my brain than in actuality. I accepted the impending anguish and thought, maybe what I’m making up in my thoughts is far worse than what’s going to happen in my actual world.
Identifying Your Health Anxiety Formula
Now I want you to recognize your unique recipe for causing health worry. Take a look at the minor things.
- What time of day is it?
- What are you thinking about?
- What are you doing now?
- What types of associations have you made?
- What kinds of pictures are racing through your mind?
- Write them down so you can start resisting those things and developing new behaviors.
Transforming Skills from Negative to Positive
With my health worries, I saw that this was a skill. I had unconsciously honed an incredible skill that increased my health worries. I might easily bring up my health worries by engaging in specific thoughts, behaviors, and mental images. This realization was pivotal. If I could develop this talent negatively through my unconscious habits, then I could also develop it positively.
- I started by identifying the specific thoughts that triggered my anxiety. Instead of dwelling on catastrophic outcomes, I trained myself to focus on positive, uplifting scenarios. This required consistent effort and practice, but over time, my mind began to default to these healthier patterns.
- Next, I tackled my behaviors. My mornings were once filled with rushed, anxious routines. By consciously slowing down and taking deliberate, calming actions, I sent signals to my nervous system that everything was okay. This helped to break the cycle of anxiety that had become second nature to me.
- Finally, I worked on the mental images that plagued me. I replaced the frightening pictures in my head with positive, reassuring ones. This visual shift was crucial in transforming my emotional state from fear to calm. By actively engaging in these new habits, I retrained my brain to respond to situations with less anxiety and more confidence.
The transformation didn’t happen overnight, but with persistence, I developed a new skill set. These positive unconscious habits gradually became my new norm, leading to a significant reduction in my health anxiety.
Final Thoughts
The key is to learn how to replace the scary pictures floating in our heads. These unconscious habits of visualizing fear can be changed. Take today’s episode, think about it, analyze it, write down your health anxiety formula, and oppose it. Understand that when the pictures in our minds begin to shift, we can change our emotional states for good.
I adore you both. Have a great day, because you deserve it. Remember that you are more than anxiety. Do you appreciate this podcast and want more? Please give it a favorable rating and review.
The most effective anxiety guidebooks for authentic anxiety recovery are now accessible on Amazon. Pick up Beyond Anxiety and F Coping Start Healing, to jump start your healing journey now. Remember that you are more than anxiety. See you on the next podcast episode.
