chapter 8
Unhelpful Habits
A
nxiety can prove difficult to overcome, in part
because it’s deep- seated and ingrained. It’s not as if
you have complete control over when you feel nervous. Cues
from your surrounding environment can prompt you to turn
on your internal alarm clock. Being driven to pay attention
to certain kinds of information leads you to form interpreta-
tions that are hard to dispute. Think about entering a scary
social situation: W hat’s the first thing you notice? Well,
often it’s not good. An innocuous environment can appear
to be a threatening arena of glares, stares, and judgment.
Taking what you learned in chapter 6, we will explore addi-
tional ways to conquer the cognitive and attentional biases
that darken your experiences.
Attention and Confronting Your Fears
You have likely heard the phrase “seeing things through
rose- colored glasses.” Individuals suffering from anxiety
exhibit a tendency to see things through dark- colored
glasses. In other words, their world is fraught with threats
and danger. Seemingly neutral objects can transform into