Episode
The Wisdom of Anxiety with Dr. Tracy Dennis-Tiwary
34:16
Published: Tue Feb 28 2023
Description
Anxiety is the crown jewel of human evolution. That’s the professional opinion of neuroscience professor and clinical psychologist Dr. Tracy Dennis-Tiwary, who is driving a paradigm shift in how we understand anxiety. The emotion isn’t a sickness or a flaw in human design – it’s an evolved advantage that protects us and strengthens our creative and productive powers. So even though anxiety doesn’t feel good…it can be good to feel anxious.This is… A Bit of Optimism.For more on Dr. Dennis-Tiwary and her work check out: https://www.drtracyphd.com/https://www.harpercollins.com/products/future-tense-tracy-dennis-tiwary?variant=39708426797090
Chapters
The speaker discusses their point of view that anxiety is not necessarily negative and can be leveraged to build better relationships and better manage uncertainty.
00:00 - 02:20 (02:20)
Summary
The speaker discusses their point of view that anxiety is not necessarily negative and can be leveraged to build better relationships and better manage uncertainty. They believe anxiety is the crown jewel of human evolution.
EpisodeThe Wisdom of Anxiety with Dr. Tracy Dennis-Tiwary
PodcastA Bit of Optimism
Anxiety is the feeling of nervous apprehension towards an uncertain future, while fear is the reaction to an immediate danger.
02:20 - 05:38 (03:17)
Summary
Anxiety is the feeling of nervous apprehension towards an uncertain future, while fear is the reaction to an immediate danger. Anxiety can be alleviated by projecting positive outcomes, unlike fear which requires a fight or flight response.
EpisodeThe Wisdom of Anxiety with Dr. Tracy Dennis-Tiwary
PodcastA Bit of Optimism
The stigma surrounding anxiety causes it to mostly be studied in the context of pathology, but anxiety can actually provide advantages in certain situations, such as affording better preparation for potential risks.
05:38 - 09:55 (04:17)
Summary
The stigma surrounding anxiety causes it to mostly be studied in the context of pathology, but anxiety can actually provide advantages in certain situations, such as affording better preparation for potential risks.
EpisodeThe Wisdom of Anxiety with Dr. Tracy Dennis-Tiwary
PodcastA Bit of Optimism
The desire to suppress, deny, ignore anxiety or to believe that you are broken or weak and try to treat that feeling is a mistake, according to experts.
09:55 - 15:57 (06:02)
Summary
The desire to suppress, deny, ignore anxiety or to believe that you are broken or weak and try to treat that feeling is a mistake, according to experts. It is vital to feel the emotion and allow yourself to experience it, rather than suppress it.
EpisodeThe Wisdom of Anxiety with Dr. Tracy Dennis-Tiwary
PodcastA Bit of Optimism
Mental health is often misunderstood and associated only with mental illness rather than the positive state of well-being it encompasses.
15:57 - 19:21 (03:23)
Summary
Mental health is often misunderstood and associated only with mental illness rather than the positive state of well-being it encompasses. This perception can be a hindrance to individuals seeking to improve their mental fitness.
EpisodeThe Wisdom of Anxiety with Dr. Tracy Dennis-Tiwary
PodcastA Bit of Optimism
Learn about the brief interventions and the positive impact that mindset resets can have on anxiety through the example of interpretting it as excitement during turbulence on a plane.
19:21 - 24:06 (04:45)
Summary
Learn about the brief interventions and the positive impact that mindset resets can have on anxiety through the example of interpretting it as excitement during turbulence on a plane.
EpisodeThe Wisdom of Anxiety with Dr. Tracy Dennis-Tiwary
PodcastA Bit of Optimism
Shared hardship and struggle create a certainty of community and relationships and can increase oxytocin, which can help manage anxiety and form deep connections.
24:06 - 30:02 (05:56)
Summary
Shared hardship and struggle create a certainty of community and relationships and can increase oxytocin, which can help manage anxiety and form deep connections. Helping someone with the same anxiety can be one of the best ways to manage one's own anxiety and build meaningful relationships.
EpisodeThe Wisdom of Anxiety with Dr. Tracy Dennis-Tiwary
PodcastA Bit of Optimism
By exaggerating the negative sides of anxiety, we are denying ourselves the opportunity to connect with real community and leverage it for meaningful purpose.
30:02 - 34:10 (04:07)
Summary
By exaggerating the negative sides of anxiety, we are denying ourselves the opportunity to connect with real community and leverage it for meaningful purpose. This is why we need to embrace the messy, beautiful work of being human to break free from the negativity and self-pathologizing.