Picture this scenario: you encounter an ambiguous and uncertain situation, and then, of course, you quickly try to solve it. You anticipate all types of scenarios and try to prepare for each one of them, without realizing you are worrying and consumed with anxiety.

Worry is primarily a thought-based process, and that’s what makes it tricky. 

We’ll worry from time to time; that’s unavoidable. But playing-it-safe by worrying all the time takes a hefty toll on your well-being, happiness, and relationships.

In this episode, I interview Dr. Chad Lejeune, Ph.D.

We discussed the subtleties of worrying, what keeps worry cycles, and the importance of developing a new relationship with your mind. In the second part of the interview, I shared with Chad an unexpected situation I encountered when traveling, and we used that event as an opportunity to discuss micro-skills to manage uncertainty, what-if thoughts, and reassurance-seeking and information-seeking behaviors.

Key Takeaways

• How to develop a new relationship with thinking
• How to distinguish effective problem-solving from ineffective one
• Understanding fear and anxiety
• Defining worry and its impact
• The role of worry thoughts
• Distinguishing between productive and nonproductive worry
• The consequences of worry
• Addressing beliefs about worry
• Changing our relationship with our thoughts
• Dealing with unexpected situations
• Embracing uncertainty and ambiguity
• The anxious brain and uncertainty
• Productive thoughts and problem-solving
• The power of narratives and storytelling
• The distinction between problem solving and creating narratives
• The danger of excessive information seeking
• The power of accepting uncertainty
• The importance of learning from the past

About Chad Lejeune, Ph.D.

Dr. Chad LeJeune is a professor of psychology at the University of San Francisco. He has more than 30 years experience treating people with anxiety problems. He is a founding fellow of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy, and was among the first clinicians to receive training in acceptance and commitment therapy. He lives and works in San Francisco.

Dr. LeJeune offers compassionate, focused, research-supported treatment for individuals and couples using both Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. He specializes in the treatment of anxiety-related problems.