640: The power of changing our internal dialogue for anxiety relief

This week on the Anxiety Slayer Podcast we’re talking about the power of changing your internal dialogue for anxiety relief.

 

 

SUBSCRIBE TO THE ANXIETY SLAYER PODCAST:
APPLE PODCASTS | STITCHER | PODBEAN | GOOGLE PODCASTS | SPOTIFY I TUNEIN

This episode of Anxiety Slayer is sponsored by Cozy Earth, the world’s leading bedding, bath, and apparel company. Get Up to 35% off sitewide when you use the code “SLAYER” at www.cozyearth.com

Notes from this week’s episode:

Welcome back to the Anxiety Slayer Podcast. This week, Ananga and I are discussing the power of changing your internal dialogue for anxiety relief.

We know anxiety affects how we feel, and sometimes how we function, but another way it affects us that we often overlook is the way we talk to and about ourselves.

Anxiety changes our internal dialogue, which in turn affects our self-esteem and our outlook on life.

Some examples:

You might describe yourself as weak

Or affirm that something is wrong with you

Or get stuck in repeating negative “what if” worries using language that always anticipates the worst

You might tell yourself nothing works, or I’m stuck like this

All are just words, but they are words that hold us hostage to a fixed state and outlook that doesn’t help us live well.

 

Be in the question

When you’re struggling with your inner dialogue, practice being in the question.

How can it get any better than this? What else is possible?

We invite you to challenge negative thoughts. Once you've identified negative self-talk, ask yourself if there is any evidence to support these thoughts or if there are any alternative explanations. If you think "I’m stuck with anxiety, or I’ll never be free of anxiety" ask yourself, "What real evidence do I have to support that?" and again, what else is possible here that I’m not getting?

Instead of thinking in negative terms, try to reframe your thoughts in a more positive and empowering way. Instead of thinking "I'll never be able to do this," reframe it as "I may not be able to do it right away, but with practice, I can improve."

 

The words we live by – our words

Every so often, it’s helpful to review our running dialogue:

  • The way we talk to ourselves internally.
  • The way we refer to ourselves when talking to others.
  • The way we respond when people ask how we are.
  • The stories we run about how we’re doing.
 

A remedy for an anxious dialogue

Listen out for negative running dialogues, and replace them with a statement of purpose. Choose some words that mean something to you and draw you towards what you want to experience. How you would like to live vs. how you are living now under the shadow of anxiety.

Remember that changing your internal dialogue takes time and practice. Be patient with yourself and keep working on it. Over time, you'll be able to reduce your anxiety and feel more confident in yourself.

 

Affirmations

Create positive affirmations that you can jot down in your journal or repeat to yourself when you start to feel anxious. Affirmations like "I am capable," "I am strong," or "I am worthy." Repeat these affirmations regularly to help reinforce positive self-talk and reduce anxiety.

 

Identify negative self-talk

Again, practice paying attention to your internal dialogue and take note of any negative thoughts or beliefs that may be contributing to your anxiety. If you find yourself thinking "I'm not good enough" or "I'll never be able to do this," recognize that these thoughts are not helpful and can fuel your anxiety. EFT tapping can help here.

Tapping to clear old unhelpful dialogues and “tap in” new ones. More than anything, practice self-compassion and self encouragement. Be kind and gentle with yourself. Remind yourself that it's okay to make mistakes and that everyone has their struggles. Treat yourself with the same kindness and understanding that you would give to a close friend.

Follow along with Shann’s Guided Tapping Session on our Patreon. This session supports noticing and softening the harsher words we often express towards ourselves when trying to cope with anxiety.

You’ll also gain access to over 120 guided relaxations, Tapping sessions and teachings for calming anxiety at Patreon.com/anxietyslayer

self help anxiety relief, internal dialogueAnxiety Slayeranxiety support