Living with anxiety can feel like a never-ending cycle of worry. I find myself fretting over the most trivial things, like whether my laugh sounds odd or if I’m bothering someone with my messages. My concerns range from significant issues, like my body image—which is tied to my weight anxiety—to smaller, persistent thoughts, such as whether my dog feels loved. Despite taking multiple medications, my anxiety often overwhelms me, leaving me restless and shaky.
However, I recently discovered a surprisingly effective coping mechanism, thanks to a post by a mental health advocate named Jamie Rivers, a survivor of an eating disorder. This simple yet empowering technique has the potential to transform how we handle negative thoughts.
I decided to give it a try almost immediately. Just moments after reading Jamie’s post, I looked in the mirror and thought, “I dislike my body.” I paused and imagined those words in the voice of a certain public figure. Then, I firmly responded, “Get lost, [insert name here].” In that instant, I felt a surge of empowerment that I hadn’t anticipated.
I continued to practice this technique. When I lay beside my partner at night, I caught myself thinking, “Ugh, my stomach is so jiggly.” Again, I paused, replayed the words in that same voice, and retorted, “You don’t define my worth!” The act of dismissing those negative thoughts was incredibly liberating.
That being said, I found this method didn’t quite work for vague feelings of dread. It’s challenging to confront an amorphous sense of anxiety. I attempted to attribute those feelings to the same figure and instruct them to retreat, but it didn’t yield the same relief. In those moments, nothing beats a prescribed medication to manage generalized anxiety.
However, confronting specific self-criticisms using this technique is undeniably effective. When I felt overwhelmed by the thought, “I’m going to ruin my kids’ lives with my issues,” I recognized it, imagined it in that same voice, and said, “Leave me alone, you toxic influence!” This simple act brought me satisfaction and a sense of strength.
I utilized this approach repeatedly—whether I was anxious about completing a book review, fretting over my communication with my editor, or worrying I hadn’t hugged my kids enough. Each time, the act of dismissing those negative thoughts became a source of humor and relief.
Interestingly, this technique resembles dialectical behavioral therapy’s Teflon Mind, where negative thoughts pass over you without sticking, as well as cognitive behavioral methods that focus on acknowledging and resisting harmful thoughts. Mental health professionals agree that assigning blame to a public figure for your self-doubt and telling them to go away can genuinely aid in mental wellness.
While I’m not dismissing the importance of my medications or my healthcare providers, I believe that incorporating this method into my routine could yield positive outcomes for my mental health.
In closing, I never anticipated I’d express gratitude in this manner. But here we are, and let’s just say that there’s a lot to critique about certain policies and actions.
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Summary
This article discusses a unique coping mechanism for managing anxiety by channeling frustration into dismissive remarks aimed at a public figure. This method helps in dealing with personal negative thoughts while acknowledging that it does not replace professional help or prescribed medication. The author emphasizes the effectiveness of this technique in creating a sense of empowerment and liberation from self-doubt.