Your Brain Wants You To Be Anxious

What if anxiety isn't just something happening to you, but something you're unknowingly holding on to? Psychotherapist Owen O'Kane argues that most people are addicted to their anxiety, not because they enjoy it, but because it carries a promise of safety they're not willing to give up. This episode breaks down the real reason anxiety is so hard to treat, and what it actually takes to change your relationship with it. 🎧 WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: • Why anxiety is addictive, and the psychological mechanism that keeps people stuck even when they desperately want to heal • What "positive beliefs about worry" are, and how they're working against your recovery without you realizing it • Why anxiety can implode suddenly in adulthood, even if you had a "good" childhood • A live guided exercise Owen uses with clients • Why your breathwork, supplements, and wellness routines might be keeping you stuck • What working in palliative care for a decade taught Owen about fear, uncertainty, and letting go • The single most important question to ask yourself before trying any anxiety treatment • Why fighting your anxiety is the one thing guaranteed to make it louder • The question Owen asks every new client, and why he won't proceed until they can honestly answer it CHAPTERS: 00:00:00 Introduction: Are We Addicted to Our Anxiety? 00:01:49 Why Would Anyone Be Addicted to Something That Feels Terrible? 00:03:16 How Do You Know If You're Afraid to Let Go of Your Anxiety? 00:06:38 Why Is Anxiety Addictive? Owen's Story Growing Up in Conflict 00:13:36 Why Did My Anxiety Seem to Come Out of Nowhere? 00:26:59 How Does Recognizing Anxiety as an Addiction Change How We Treat It? 00:31:07 What Does It Mean That We Fundamentally Don't Feel Safe? 00:34:07 Is Your Fear Actually Protecting You Or Just Holding You Back? 00:34:30 What Can We Do to Get More Comfortable with Uncertainty? 00:35:46 What Did Working with Dying People Teach You About How to Live? 00:40:17 Are You Afraid of Death? Lessons from the Palliative Care Ward 00:41:41 I'm Ready to Change, So Where Do I Start? 00:48:10 Why Are We Addicted to the Physical Sensations of Anxiety? 01:01:30 Can We Meet Our Anxious Self Right Now? (Live Guided Exercise) 01:02:09 After the Exercise: How Often Should You Practice This? 01:18:05 What Are We Missing When We Use Wellness Tools to Avoid Feeling? 01:17:12 Three Rapid-Fire Questions to Close LISTEN / SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST YouTube: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6dBAMh1... Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... NEW EPISODES DROP EVERY MONDAY & WEDNESDAY! Mondays = Solo deep dives on real-life application Wednesdays = World-class expert interviews CONNECT WITH ME Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lizmoody/?h... Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lizmoody?lang=en Substack: https://lizmoody.substack.com/ Order my book 100 Ways to Change Your Life: The Science of Leveling Up Health, Happiness, Relationships & Success: https://www.lizmoody.com/100-ways-to-... Website: https://www.lizmoody.com Discount codes: https://www.lizmoody.com/codes Apparel, convo cards, & more: https://shop.lizmoody.com/ CONNECT WITH OWEN O’KANE Website: https://www.owenokane.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/owenokanete... Linkedin:   / owen-o-kane-10465841   Addicted to Anxiety, https://read.macmillan.com/lp/addicte... If you’re new here, I’m Liz Moody! I’m a longtime journalist, thought leader, and best-selling author. I host The Liz Moody Podcast where every week, we’re sharing real science, real stories, and realistic tools that ACTUALLY level up every part of your life. If you want to know more, visit my website or check me out on The TODAY Show with Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager: https://lizmoody.com    • Micro workouts, eating well and more tips ...   This podcast and website represents the opinions of Liz Moody and her guests to the show. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for information purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions. #lizmoody #lizmoodypodcast #TheLizMoodyPodcast #OwenOKane #OwenOKane #OwenOKaneAddictedToAnxiety #OwenOKaneTenToZen #OwenOKaneHowToBeYourOwnTherapist #OwenOKaneTenTimesHappier #OwenOKaneAnxiety #OwenOKaneAnxiety #anxiety #fear #scared #depression #mentalhealth #innerchild #ifs #partswork The Liz Moody Podcast Episode 414.