anxietyrelief
3 episodes tagged "anxietyrelief".
Are You Addicted to Chaos?
You say you want peace. You say you want sobriety. You say you want a happy marriage. But every time things get too quiet, you set your own house on fire just to remember what the smoke smells like. I’m Michael. I’m a psychologist in training, a sober dad, and today I am probably going to hurt your feelings. But if I don't, I'm not doing my job. If you've been following the channel, you know I am a recovered alcoholic. But the insidious thing about recovery is this: Sobriety isn't just putting down the bottle. It is staying away from the vibe of the bottle. And for a lot of us, the vibe of the bottle is absolute, unadulterated chaos. A few weeks ago, I was making espresso on a Saturday morning. The West Texas sun was shining, Skylar was in the other room, and my son was playing quietly. Bills were paid. Nobody was sick. It was a perfectly beautiful morning. Suddenly, my chest tightened up. I felt this venomous itch to find a problem. To check my bank account for a charge that didn't belong. To pick a fight over how the dishwasher was loaded. Why? Because when you have spent over a decade wiring your brain for disaster, peace feels like a threat. It's time to stop the self-sabotage.
Stop Confusing "Uncomfortable" With "Unsafe"
Taking a shower feels like climbing Everest? Answering an email feels like emotional warfare? 🏔️ You aren't broken—you are deconditioned. In this video, I explain why "bed rotting" is actually a safety behavior that creates an "Anxiety Soup." You are feeding your brain high dopamine (screens) with low physical output. Your brain is running a marathon while your body is paralyzed. The world isn't too hard; you've just stopped lifting the "life weights." It’s time to relearn the difference between being unsafe and just being uncomfortable. 👇 Discussion: Be honest: Do you feel more exhausted after scrolling for 2 hours than you do after working out? Let me know below.
Why Tiny Wins Matter More Than You Think
🥪 Start with Lunch, Not Your Life Plan: The Psychology of Tiny Wins You don’t need a five-year plan today. You just need to choose what to eat for lunch. Seriously. Start there. One small decision builds momentum for the next. That’s how real change begins—not in a spreadsheet, but in the sandwich aisle. If you’re ADHD? Those micro-wins keep you from spiraling into impulsivity. OCD? Practice quick, low-stakes decisions—like what to wear—to chip away at the checking loop. I’ve been there. Closet full of pearl snap shirts, and I’m stuck spiraling: Did I wear this last week? Will people notice? Is this the “Tuesday shirt”? Eventually, I just had to pick one… and go. Autistic? Start with something familiar. Familiarity is a grounding strategy—it builds the decision-making muscle without triggering sensory overload. And then—here’s the kicker—accept regret. Not every choice will be perfect. And that’s okay. The goal isn’t to be flawless. It’s to move forward. 🧠 The brain doesn’t thrive on perfection. It thrives on progress.