become.	This	self-defeating	process	is	a	learned	habit	that	actually	worsens
anxiety	over	time,	in	part	because	it	reinforces	anxious	thoughts	and	anxiety-
driven	behavior.	This	happens	because	to	keep	the	unwanted	emotion	at	bay,
we	have	to	continually	work	at	avoidance.	Over	time,	keeping	up	this
avoidance	becomes	something	else	we’re	anxious	about.	When	we,	despite
our	best	efforts,	drop	our	guard	even	for	a	moment,	the	pushed-away
emotions	come	flooding	in	and	we	again	anxiously	push	them	away.	On	this
merry-go-round	the	original	negative	emotion	goes	unaddressed	and	we
remain	ill	at	ease	and	hypervigilant.
STRATEGY:
	
CHECK-IN
How	Do	You	Feel	Right	Now?
As	you	learn	to	better	identify	your	feelings	you	will	gain	greater	emotional
control.	This	means	you	will	be	less	prone	to	intense	emotional	reactions,
such	as	panic	attacks,	emotional	meltdowns,	blowups,	crying	spells,	and
worried	thinking.	Plus,	knowing	what	you’re	feeling	means	you	can	address
the	real	issue	and	feel	better.	When	you’re	upset	or	aware	you’re	experiencing