Hi and welcome back everyone I'm Dr. Ellen Hendrickson and this is the

savvy psychologist podcast. Every week I'll help you meet life's challenges with evidence-based research, a sympathetic ear, and zero judgment.

All right, so to follow up on the big response to the recent episode, Two Big Beliefs Linked to Depression,

I thought we could fry another big fish this week with the two big beliefs linked to anxiety.

And the two beliefs that follow aren't necessarily conscious,

so your brain probably doesn't say these things overtly.

Instead, these two thoughts are more of an undercurrent, but like a riptide, it can be dangerous to swim in these waters.

So here are the two beliefs that will pull you under.

Belief number one is the worst case scenario is sure to happen.

So you probably know someone who can find the silver lining in any bad event.

Someone dear to them dies and they're thankful the suffering has ended.

Or they get fired, but they relish the chance at a fresh start. You probably also know someone who will complain about anything.

The beach was too sandy, the sangria was too fruity. And finally, you probably also know or are someone who can think of the worst case scenario in any situation.

You have a headache, what if it's a brain tumor? There's traffic. Your boss is sure to notice when you walk in late.

You're going to a resort in Cancun for a week? Well don't get ice in that Sangria or you'll be sick the whole time.

So this is the dubious talent of anxiety.

It's the ability to take a situation that's anywhere from ambiguous to slightly threatening

and forecast a really big catastrophe.

Now sometimes this is useful.

You see your kids hauling a toboggin up the playground slide and you assume they're not

just planning on enjoying the view from the top.

But other times it's not so useful.

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