TELLING	YOU?
When	you	experience	anxious	thinking,	it	likely	stops	you	in	your	tracks
because	you	take	it	as	a	signal	or	even	a	command	for	you	to	worry	and
ruminate.	This	may	be	your	negativity	bias	operating	at	full	tilt.
What	if	the	anxious	thinking	is	not	a	signal	to	stop	and	wring	your	hands
but	rather	a	sign	that	something	you	really	care	about	or	desire	is	at	stake?
When	you	recognize	you’re	making	anxious	predictions,	complete	the
following	statements	to	see	what	might	be	on	the	other	side	of	the	anxiety	for
you	and	then	test	out	your	prediction.
1
	
.
	
Write	down	an	anxious	prediction	(or	thought).
Example:
	
“If	I	drive,	I’ll	have	a	panic	attack.	Yet	I	haven’t	seen	my
mother	in	a	long	time.	I	worry	all	the	time	about	why	I	can’t	drive.	I
also	beat	myself	up	for	being	so	weak.”
2.
	
Write	down	why	this	matters	to	you.
Example:
	
“I	want	to	visit	my	elderly	mother	and	spend	time	with	her.
She	lives	in	a	nursing	home	over	an	hour	away,	so	I	have	to	drive.	I’ve
already	missed	out	on	so	much	time	with	her,	but	I	can’t	deal	with	the
panic.”
3.
	
Write	down	strategies	that	might	help	you.
Example: