Dr. Julie Smith

But my goodness, you know, those night shifts where every cell in my body wanted to stay in bed and be comfortable and warm and not get up to the crying baby who was desperate for me at that point. But I did the uncomfortable thing because it mattered most to me at that point.

But my goodness, you know, those night shifts where every cell in my body wanted to stay in bed and be comfortable and warm and not get up to the crying baby who was desperate for me at that point. But I did the uncomfortable thing because it mattered most to me at that point.

But my goodness, you know, those night shifts where every cell in my body wanted to stay in bed and be comfortable and warm and not get up to the crying baby who was desperate for me at that point. But I did the uncomfortable thing because it mattered most to me at that point.

So avoidance of the thing that you fear, it lies to us. So it tells us that we are making everything better, but it makes fear worse over time, right? So let's, I mean, I talked about this in one of my videos with this kind of rainbow thing. And let me explain.

So avoidance of the thing that you fear, it lies to us. So it tells us that we are making everything better, but it makes fear worse over time, right? So let's, I mean, I talked about this in one of my videos with this kind of rainbow thing. And let me explain.

So avoidance of the thing that you fear, it lies to us. So it tells us that we are making everything better, but it makes fear worse over time, right? So let's, I mean, I talked about this in one of my videos with this kind of rainbow thing. And let me explain.

Well, I used to draw this out in therapy actually with rings. So I would kind of have, you know, you in the center of the page and then lots of rings that represent the different layers of your life. But this is the, you know, the rainbow represents the different layers of your life.

Well, I used to draw this out in therapy actually with rings. So I would kind of have, you know, you in the center of the page and then lots of rings that represent the different layers of your life. But this is the, you know, the rainbow represents the different layers of your life.

Well, I used to draw this out in therapy actually with rings. So I would kind of have, you know, you in the center of the page and then lots of rings that represent the different layers of your life. But this is the, you know, the rainbow represents the different layers of your life.

So let's say suddenly something, well, let's go with, rather than flying, let's go with something that kind of has that different layer. So maybe the social anxiety stuff again, right? So let's say suddenly going to really crowded places with lots of people you don't know starts to fill you with anxiety. And you're not sure why, but it just does, right? It just doesn't feel comfortable anymore.

So let's say suddenly something, well, let's go with, rather than flying, let's go with something that kind of has that different layer. So maybe the social anxiety stuff again, right? So let's say suddenly going to really crowded places with lots of people you don't know starts to fill you with anxiety. And you're not sure why, but it just does, right? It just doesn't feel comfortable anymore.

So let's say suddenly something, well, let's go with, rather than flying, let's go with something that kind of has that different layer. So maybe the social anxiety stuff again, right? So let's say suddenly going to really crowded places with lots of people you don't know starts to fill you with anxiety. And you're not sure why, but it just does, right? It just doesn't feel comfortable anymore.

So you decide, well, I'm not going to do that anymore then. I'm going to take that out of my life. So you now no longer go to any situations where there's big crowds, which means when your friend is getting married next week and they're having 200 people at the wedding, you're not going to go to that either. So you take that bit out of your life. And then being on a crowded train or bus or boat,

So you decide, well, I'm not going to do that anymore then. I'm going to take that out of my life. So you now no longer go to any situations where there's big crowds, which means when your friend is getting married next week and they're having 200 people at the wedding, you're not going to go to that either. So you take that bit out of your life. And then being on a crowded train or bus or boat,

So you decide, well, I'm not going to do that anymore then. I'm going to take that out of my life. So you now no longer go to any situations where there's big crowds, which means when your friend is getting married next week and they're having 200 people at the wedding, you're not going to go to that either. So you take that bit out of your life. And then being on a crowded train or bus or boat,

suddenly becomes anxiety-provoking. So you take that out of your life so you can't travel. And then being in a crowded restaurant, even with friends, suddenly becomes fearful. So you stop doing that too. And what happens is every time that something falls outside of your comfort zone and fills you with fear, the natural instinct is to avoid it, right? And even the moment you decide to avoid it...

suddenly becomes anxiety-provoking. So you take that out of your life so you can't travel. And then being in a crowded restaurant, even with friends, suddenly becomes fearful. So you stop doing that too. And what happens is every time that something falls outside of your comfort zone and fills you with fear, the natural instinct is to avoid it, right? And even the moment you decide to avoid it...

suddenly becomes anxiety-provoking. So you take that out of your life so you can't travel. And then being in a crowded restaurant, even with friends, suddenly becomes fearful. So you stop doing that too. And what happens is every time that something falls outside of your comfort zone and fills you with fear, the natural instinct is to avoid it, right? And even the moment you decide to avoid it...

you get this relief, this, oh, phew, I don't have to deal with that today. So it's quite addictive. But what happens is over time, when you keep doing that, when you live by that rule, your life shrinks.

you get this relief, this, oh, phew, I don't have to deal with that today. So it's quite addictive. But what happens is over time, when you keep doing that, when you live by that rule, your life shrinks.