Being stuck feels exhausting.

You know what you want. You see the next step. And somehow, you still end up doing nothing. Not because you are lazy. Not because you lack motivation. But because your brain learned a pattern that once kept you safe.

In this episode, we name that pattern. The anxiety loop that keeps you frozen, second-guessing, and returning to the same familiar place even when you want change.

This is part two of our fear conversation. It goes deeper into why avoidance feels relieving, why relief keeps anxiety in control, and how small, intentional shifts help you move forward without forcing yourself to become someone you are not.

In this episode, you’ll learn…
• What an anxiety loop is and why your brain repeats it
• How threat bias shapes overthinking and keeps fear loud
• Why relief reinforces avoidance and strengthens anxiety over time
• How balanced thinking interrupts fear without forcing positivity
• Why anxiety protects an old identity and resists change
• How lowering friction helps you take action without overwhelm
• Why small wins build confidence more effectively than big leaps

This episode is for you if you feel stuck between wanting more and fearing what it might cost. It matters now because anxiety thrives on repetition, and awareness creates your first opening for change.

Alex Hormozi and Jay Shetty Interview
https://youtu.be/gEF67-G9MO0?si=-4WUN7dl04RiwGAf

Got a question or feedback? Text us and share your thoughts—we’d love to hear from you!

RESOURCES:
Get your FREE Anxiety Survival Toolkit to help you when your anxiety is overwhelming!

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🎙️ Presented by Davis-Smith Mental Health

This podcast was created by Davis-Smith Mental Health, offering counseling for teens & young adults in Illinois (only). We accept BCBS PPO, Aetna PPO, and self-pay clients.

Links:
Anxiety Survival Toolkit:
https://www.blockoutthenoisepodcast.com/anxiety-survival-toolkit/

Davis-Smith Mental Health:
https://www.davis-smithmentalhealth.com/

⚠️ Disclaimer: Block Out the Noise provides personal insights and practical strategies to help manage anxiety and self-doubt. The content is intended for educational and informational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional mental health care, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing a crisis or need immediate assistance, please contact emergency services or a trusted mental health professional immediately.

If you have ever felt stuck in your own life, knowing exactly what you want but freezing the moment fear shows up, this episode is for you. Anxiety convinces you that staying still is safer, but waiting only keeps you trapped in self-doubt. It stops you from applying for the job, trying something new, or going after what you want. Fear feels massive when you avoid it, and this episode will show you how to change that.

In this episode, Jessica Davis, licensed therapist and creator of the C.O.U.R.A.G.E. Method, explains why anxious teens and young adults stay stuck and how fear quietly takes over your decisions. You will learn how vague fear grows, how to identify the voice you are afraid of, and why judgment shows up whether you act or stay silent. You will also learn how to take one small step forward even when your hands are shaking.

Resource mentioned:
I was inspired by an interview where Jay Shetty talks with Alex Hormozi about fear and why people stay stuck. You can watch the full interview here.

✨ In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• Why fear grows when you avoid it
• How vague fears turn into overwhelming stories
• Why naming your fear makes it smaller
• How other people's opinions shape your confidence
• Why judgment happens whether you act or stay silent
• How to stop letting fear delay the life you want
• What to do when anxiety freezes you
• How to take your first step toward courage

Got a question or feedback? Text us and share your thoughts—we’d love to hear from you!

RESOURCES:
Get your FREE Anxiety Survival Toolkit to help you when your anxiety is overwhelming!

📱 Follow Us:

Instagram | Facebook | Threads

🎙️ Presented by Davis-Smith Mental Health

This podcast was created by Davis-Smith Mental Health, offering counseling for teens & young adults in Illinois (only). We accept BCBS PPO, Aetna PPO, and self-pay clients.

Links:
Anxiety Survival Toolkit:
https://www.blockoutthenoisepodcast.com/anxiety-survival-toolkit/

Davis-Smith Mental Health:
https://www.davis-smithmentalhealth.com/

⚠️ Disclaimer: Block Out the Noise provides personal insights and practical strategies to help manage anxiety and self-doubt. The content is intended for educational and informational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional mental health care, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing a crisis or need immediate assistance, please contact emergency services or a trusted mental health professional immediately.

If you have ever stayed quiet so you would not stand out, downplayed your accomplishments, or held yourself back because you did not want to make anyone uncomfortable, this episode is for you. Anxiety convinces you that shrinking is safer, but playing small comes at a cost. It keeps you from opportunities, relationships, and the version of you that wants to grow.

In this episode, Jessica Davis, licensed therapist and creator of the C.O.U.R.A.G.E. Method, breaks down why anxious teens and young adults dim their light and how to stop letting fear make your decisions. You will learn why shining bright is not arrogance, how other people’s insecurities shape your confidence, and how to reclaim the parts of you that you buried to feel safe.

✨ In This Episode, You Will Learn:
• Why anxiety convinces you to stay small
• How fear of judgment leads to shrinking
• Why other people’s insecurities impact your confidence
• What it actually means to shine bright
• How to stop apologizing for your strengths
• How to notice when you are dimming your light
• How to rebuild identity when you feel like you have lost yourself
• Why vulnerability is the foundation of real confidence

Got a question or feedback? Text us and share your thoughts—we’d love to hear from you!

RESOURCES:
Get your FREE Anxiety Survival Toolkit to help you when your anxiety is overwhelming!

Grab your FREE 90-Day Courage Challenge Cheat Sheet and start building confidence today.

📱 Follow Us:

Instagram | Facebook | Threads

🎙️ Presented by Davis-Smith Mental Health

This podcast was created by Davis-Smith Mental Health, offering counseling for teens & young adults in Illinois (only). We accept BCBS PPO, Aetna PPO, and self-pay clients.

⚠️ Disclaimer: Block Out the Noise provides personal insights and practical strategies to help manage anxiety and self-doubt. The content is intended for educational and informational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional mental health care, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing a crisis or need immediate assistance, please contact emergency services or a trusted mental health professional immediately.

Holidays are supposed to feel joyful, but for many, they bring pressure, anxiety, and guilt. You want to keep the peace, but you also want to protect your mental health. You want to show up, but not lose yourself in the process.

In this episode, Jessica Davis, licensed therapist and creator of the C.O.U.R.A.G.E. Method, breaks down the hidden emotional labor behind family gatherings, why people pleasing is a survival response, and how to set boundaries without feeling like the bad guy. You’ll learn how to manage family expectations, calm anxiety before it spirals, and show up with confidence instead of fear.

✨ In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why holiday anxiety starts weeks before family gatherings
• The hidden reason people pleasing feels “safer”
• How to recognize the signs of emotional burnout around family
• Five practical tools for handling family pressure
• Simple boundary phrases to protect your peace
• How to show up as yourself without guilt or shame

Got a question or feedback? Text us and share your thoughts—we’d love to hear from you!

RESOURCES:
Get your FREE Anxiety Survival Toolkit to help you when your anxiety is overwhelming!

Grab your FREE 90-Day Courage Challenge Cheat Sheet and start building confidence today.

📱 Follow Us:

Instagram | Facebook | Threads

🎙️ Presented by Davis-Smith Mental Health

This podcast was created by Davis-Smith Mental Health, offering counseling for teens & young adults in Illinois (only). We accept BCBS PPO, Aetna PPO, and self-pay clients.

⚠️ Disclaimer: Block Out the Noise provides personal insights and practical strategies to help manage anxiety and self-doubt. The content is intended for educational and informational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional mental health care, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing a crisis or need immediate assistance, please contact emergency services or a trusted mental health professional immediately.

You’re sitting on your couch, minding your business, when your heart starts racing and your chest feels tight. There’s no test, no fight, no deadline. Just anxiety that appears out of nowhere.

In this episode, Jessica Davis, licensed therapist and creator of the C.O.U.R.A.G.E. Method, explains why anxiety doesn’t need a reason to show up and what’s actually happening in your brain when it does. She breaks down how to calm your body when your mind feels hijacked, why your brain thinks it’s protecting you, and what to do when you can’t find the “why” behind your anxiety.

✨ In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why anxiety can hit even when nothing is wrong
• What your amygdala does and how it tricks your brain into panic
• The hidden triggers that cause anxiety to feel random
• Why anxiety isn’t the enemy, but a poor communicator
• What your body needs to calm down when your brain spirals
• Three grounding tools to stop the panic cycle and regain control

Got a question or feedback? Text us and share your thoughts—we’d love to hear from you!

RESOURCES:
Get your FREE Anxiety Survival Toolkit to help you when your anxiety is overwhelming!

Grab your FREE 90-Day Courage Challenge Cheat Sheet and start building confidence today.

📱 Follow Us:

Instagram | Facebook | Threads

🎙️ Presented by Davis-Smith Mental Health

This podcast was created by Davis-Smith Mental Health, offering counseling for teens & young adults in Illinois (only). We accept BCBS PPO, Aetna PPO, and self-pay clients.

⚠️ Disclaimer: Block Out the Noise provides personal insights and practical strategies to help manage anxiety and self-doubt. The content is intended for educational and informational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional mental health care, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing a crisis or need immediate assistance, please contact emergency services or a trusted mental health professional immediately.

If you find yourself constantly asking, “Are you sure?” or replaying conversations to make sure you didn’t say something wrong, you’re not alone. When anxiety takes over, it convinces you that you can’t trust your own judgment. You end up depending on reassurance from others to feel safe or certain, only to realize the comfort never lasts.

In this episode, Jessica Davis, licensed therapist and creator of the C.O.U.R.A.G.E. Method, breaks down why reassurance-seeking becomes such a powerful habit for anxious minds and how to break free from it. You’ll learn practical ways to rebuild self-trust, calm the constant “what ifs,” and find confidence in your own decisions again.

✨ In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why reassurance feels good in the moment but fuels long-term anxiety
• How anxiety tricks you into believing certainty equals safety
• The hidden link between people-pleasing, perfectionism, and constant seeking of approval
• Tools to help you stop second-guessing yourself and start trusting your instincts
• How to handle the urge to text, ask, or over-explain when fear takes over
• What it really means to feel secure from within, rather than relying on others to validate you

Got a question or feedback? Text us and share your thoughts—we’d love to hear from you!

RESOURCES:
Get your FREE Anxiety Survival Toolkit to help you when your anxiety is overwhelming!

Grab your FREE 90-Day Courage Challenge Cheat Sheet and start building confidence today.

📱 Follow Us:

Instagram | Facebook | Threads

🎙️ Presented by Davis-Smith Mental Health

This podcast was created by Davis-Smith Mental Health, offering counseling for teens & young adults in Illinois (only). We accept BCBS PPO, Aetna PPO, and self-pay clients.

⚠️ Disclaimer: Block Out the Noise provides personal insights and practical strategies to help manage anxiety and self-doubt. The content is intended for educational and informational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional mental health care, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing a crisis or need immediate assistance, please contact emergency services or a trusted mental health professional immediately.

Have you ever sat down to study and realized you’ve read the same sentence five times and still have no idea what it says? Your heart’s racing, your mind’s jumping between “I need to focus” and “I can’t do this right now.”

If that sounds familiar, this episode is for you. Jessica Davis, licensed therapist and creator of the C.O.U.R.A.G.E. Method, dives deep into how to handle test anxiety when you’re exhausted, anxious, and running on empty. Instead of pushing harder, this episode teaches you how to protect your energy, calm your body, and finish strong without burning out.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why exhaustion can look like failure and how to tell the difference
• What’s actually happening in your brain when stress peaks before exams
• How short, focused study sessions improve memory and reduce anxiety
• Simple ways to reset your nervous system and calm your body fast
• How to rest without guilt and let go of the “I should be studying” voice
• The importance of self-compassion when perfectionism takes over
• Why sleep is one of the most powerful study tools you have

Got a question or feedback? Text us and share your thoughts—we’d love to hear from you!

RESOURCES:
Get your FREE Anxiety Survival Toolkit to help you when your anxiety is overwhelming!

Grab your FREE 90-Day Courage Challenge Cheat Sheet and start building confidence today.

📱 Follow Us:

Instagram | Facebook | Threads

🎙️ Presented by Davis-Smith Mental Health

This podcast was created by Davis-Smith Mental Health, offering counseling for teens & young adults in Illinois (only). We accept BCBS PPO, Aetna PPO, and self-pay clients.

⚠️ Disclaimer: Block Out the Noise provides personal insights and practical strategies to help manage anxiety and self-doubt. The content is intended for educational and informational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional mental health care, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing a crisis or need immediate assistance, please contact emergency services or a trusted mental health professional immediately.

You tell yourself you’ll just check one thing, but suddenly, it’s an hour later. Your heart feels heavy, your mind feels cluttered, and instead of feeling calm, you feel worse. This episode isn’t about guilt. It’s about awareness, understanding how your phone quietly feeds your anxiety, and how to take your power back one small step at a time.

In this episode, Jessica Davis, licensed therapist and creator of the C.O.U.R.A.G.E. Method, shares why constant notifications and scrolling leave you overstimulated and disconnected, along with five realistic ways to reset your relationship with your phone.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• How your phone and social media quietly activate your anxiety
• The real science behind notifications, dopamine, and overstimulation
• Why awareness, not restriction, is the first step to calm
• Simple strategies to reduce screen time without guilt
• The power of stillness and how boredom actually helps you reconnect
• A 15-minute daily challenge to help you regain focus and peace

Got a question or feedback? Text us and share your thoughts—we’d love to hear from you!

RESOURCES:
Get your FREE Anxiety Survival Toolkit to help you when your anxiety is overwhelming!

Grab your FREE 90-Day Courage Challenge Cheat Sheet and start building confidence today.

📱 Follow Us:

Instagram | Facebook | Threads

🎙️ Presented by Davis-Smith Mental Health

This podcast was created by Davis-Smith Mental Health, offering counseling for teens & young adults in Illinois (only). We accept BCBS PPO, Aetna PPO, and self-pay clients.

⚠️ Disclaimer: Block Out the Noise provides personal insights and practical strategies to help manage anxiety and self-doubt. The content is intended for educational and informational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional mental health care, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing a crisis or need immediate assistance, please contact emergency services or a trusted mental health professional immediately.