The Intersection of Culture, Religion, and Anxiety: Understanding Our Emotional Landscape

Hey everyone! In this episode I'm joined by Amy Green Smith, a personal development coach from North Carolina. We're diving deep into the world of anxiety, and Amy shares her own personal journey. She talks about growing up in a conservative religious household and the impact of her father's passing. We discuss how these experiences led to people-pleasing behaviors and affected her self-worth. Together, we explore the effects of cultural conditioning, the power of emotional intelligence, and practical strategies for self-advocacy and setting healthy boundaries. It's a conversation that's both relatable and inspiring. Thank you for listening and you can find me on IG: @theanxietymd if you have any questions. PS. If you would like to join the MBRX family of 4000+ anxiety WARRIORS who are shifting from coping with their anxiety to actually HEALING it, click the link below: https://www.theanxietymd.com/MBRX ______________________________ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction 01:13 - Amy Green Smith's Journey 02:13 - Father's Death Impact 03:32 - Family Dynamics and Expectations 04:42 - Learning to Advocate for Oneself 06:50 - Litigating for Rightness 09:43 - Complexity of Childhood Emotions 11:57 - Roots of People-Pleasing 13:08 - Misconceptions about People-Pleasing 14:10 - Self-Worth and People-Pleasing 15:29 - Pain of Breaking the Cycle 16:45 - Understanding Motivations for People-Pleasing 18:24 - Oxytocin and Gender Dynamics 19:22 - Cultural Conditioning of Women  20:23 - Primitive Defense Mechanisms 22:07 - Cultural Reinforcement of Gender Roles 23:40 - The Impact of Religious Upbringing 25:09 - Cultural Shifts Post-WWII  25:59 - The Role of Medication in Women's Mental Health 26:17 - Pain and Change in Society 26:45 - Political Figures as Cult Leaders 27:45 - Religious Trauma and Identity 29:49 - The Search for Validation 30:11 - The Concept of the 'Magical Other' 31:36 - Critique of Religious Narratives 33:20 - Order vs. Chaos in Society 34:33 - The Feminine Perspective in Religion 40:48 - The Pressure of Social Media on Identity 42:09 - The Nuance of Societal Order 44:03 - Political Divisions and Identity 47:23 - Media Influence and Extremism 49:42 - Emotional Intelligence as a Solution 51:26 - Cultural Messaging of Emotions 52:36 - The Role of Emotions in Decision Making 53:35 - Order and Uncertainty 01:00:01 - Creating Emotional Intelligence in Women