A 3-Step Plan to Transform Anxiety into Power with Dr. Luana Marques

Dr. Luana Marques, associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and author of Bold Move, joins us to discuss her life-changing journey. She shares how facing conflict and avoiding avoidance enabled her to understand the anxiety spectrum. We learn how low levels can improve performance. Moderate levels can be managed with cognitive behavioral therapy and severe levels where fight or flight responses take over. She emphasizes the significance of mental health and physical well-being as they directly impact success. Tune in for an inspiring journey from poverty to success and practical ways to manage Anxiety![00:00 - 07:55] Opening SegmentIntroducing Dr. Luana to the showThe motivation behind her book, Bold Move, was to help as many people as possible learn the skills that she used to get out of poverty and adversity in BrazilHer mother and grandmother taught her how to approach instead of avoid, think differently, and open the door to a different lifeAnxiety can be misused in modern life - it has physical symptoms[07:55 - 15:35] Unpacking the Fever vs. Infection of AnxietyAnxiety is a fever, and psychological avoidance is an infectionThe ability to pause our brain is a superpowerTEB Cycle: Thoughts, Emotions, and Behavior CycleApproach not Avoid: Opposite action to push back against AnxietyValues-Driven Life: Align daily activities with fundamental values[15:36 - 23:41] Achieving Balance and Reducing Stress Through Cognitive Behavioral TherapyAudit your week ahead to see if it aligns with your stated valuesDon't put activities on your calendar that are not value-drivenBrain health deserves the same attention as physical healthIf you wake up with dread, work on your thinking or do some exercise[23:42 - 33:49] Overcoming Cognitive Distortions and Dissonance to Achieve SuccessMental health and physical wellness directly impact one's ability to be successful in professional and family lifeCognitive distortions are caused by the brain creating categories for things and interpreting them as fast as possibleSuccessful people often dismiss their success due to dissonance between their beliefs and reality[33:50 - 35:38] Closing SegmentQuotes:"Although Anxiety is debilitating, it's a fever. The infection is avoidance, and avoidance is really what robs us of a meaningful life." - Dr. Luana Marques"What we say to ourselves is shaped by our history and how we are programmed in our brain. And so once you identify what you're saying to yourself, it may not be a hundred percent accurate or helpful." - Dr. Luana MarquesConnect with Dr. Luana!Website: www.DrLuana.com Connect with me on LinkedIn!LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, AND LEAVE US A REVIEW on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or whatever platform you listen on. Thank you for tuning in, and Stay Tuned for the Next Episode COMING SOON!  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.