1174: Why A Bad Anxiety Day Might Be A Sign Of Healing
The Anxiety Coaches Podcast
Gina Ryan
4.6 • 1.9K Ratings
🗓️ 7 September 2025
⏱️ 23 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In today's episode, Gina discusses how small changes in behavior, which are not difficult to achieve, can represent significant milestones on the way to recovery from anxiety. If we can demonstrate some of these beneficial thoughts and behaviors, even amidst an unpleasant anxiety storm, we can recognize that we are making progress and use these moments of recognition to help stabilize ourselves and carry on despite the stormy anxiety weather. Listen in to learn how to do this and make your anxiety recovery journey that much easier!
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Quote:
Resilience is knowing that you are the only one that has the power and the responsibility to pick yourself up.
-Mary Holloway
Chapters
0:26 Introduction to Healing
0:42 The Illusion of Failure
3:16 Recovery: A Spiral Journey
8:44 Hidden Milestones in Recovery
13:18 Shifting Mindsets
18:06 Celebrating Small Victories
18:19 Expecting Bumps Ahead
Summary
In this episode, we delve into the important topic of the illusion of failure within the journey of anxiety recovery. I explore the common struggles many face when seeming setbacks occur, such as experiencing a panic attack after a period of calm or revisiting old triggers. These moments can feel disheartening, making it seem as if all progress has been lost. However, I emphasize that these experiences are not failures; rather, they can signify healing and growth. Citing Mary Pickford, I remind listeners that true failure lies not in stumbling but in remaining down.
Recovery from anxiety is not a linear process. Rather than picturing it as a smooth ascent, I liken it to a spiral, where individuals revisit familiar struggles but do so with enhanced strength and awareness. Each encounter with past triggers can be viewed as an opportunity to practice skills developed throughout the journey. It's crucial to understand that these "step backs" can serve as valuable invitations to reinforce and apply the tools one has acquired over time.
I also address the natural emotional exhaustion accompanying this journey. It’s normal to feel overwhelmed when confronting fears, and I urge listeners to practice self-compassion in these times. Each confrontation is an opportunity for growth, highlighting a milestone in overcoming avoidance—an essential step in reducing anxiety. Recognizing triggers as they appear demonstrates significant self-awareness, marking a shift from mindless reactions to conscious understanding.
#anxiety #anxietyrecovery #mentalhealth #emotionalwellness #panicattacks #mindfulness #resilience #healing #selfcare #selfcompassion #setback #progress #mindset #personalgrowth #journaling #podcast #copingmechanisms #nervoussystem #triggers #avoidance #confrontation #stressmanagement #selfawareness #emotionalexhaustion #trusttheprocess #ACP #anxietycoachespodcast #GinaRyan
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Transcript
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| 1:05.0 | Welcome to the Anxiety Coaches podcast, a relaxing and informative show where we explore anxiety, panic, and PTSD, sharing how you can overcome them for life. |
| 1:22.9 | Aloha. Welcome back to the Anxiety Coaches podcast. |
| 1:34.1 | I'm your host and coach, Gina Ryan, and I am so happy to be with you again today as together we can consider the many ways to bring your mind and body back to its natural peace and calm. |
| 1:43.4 | In today's episode, we're going to talk about something almost |
| 1:47.3 | everyone in anxiety, clearing, or recovery bumps into the illusion of failure. I want to talk |
| 1:55.8 | about why a bad day with anxiety might be a sign of healing. You know that moment when you feel like you've |
| 2:05.5 | taken 10 steps back? Maybe you had a panic attack after weeks of being calm and on keel. Or maybe |
| 2:14.9 | old triggers suddenly appear. Or maybe you just woke up feeling heavy with anxiety |
| 2:21.7 | all over again. It feels discouraging like all your hard work has been wasted, like you're not |
| 2:29.8 | getting anywhere. But here's the truth. These moments are not failure, and they can actually be signs of |
| 2:39.4 | progress. So I wanted to start today's episode with a quote. This is from Mary Pickford. She said, |
| 2:46.6 | what we call failure is not the falling down, but the staying down. And again, that's from |
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