@365daysBookClub I do want to give a shout out to @exislebooks for making Your Anxiety Beast and You a reality.

@365daysBookClub Dr. Paul Gilbert's work gives a wonderful explanation as to what anxiety really is--a survival mechanism that was designed to help our prehistoric ancestors to survive. Our cultures changed suddenly and dramatically, but anxiety remains..

@365daysBookClub ..a primitive part of our brains. It is always working in the service of protecting us from threats--but it is very glitchy in the modern world for which it was NOT designed for.

@365daysBookClub Messages that we can "cure" anxiety are just false, marketing buzzwords. Rather than focusing on trying to banish anxiety, which makes us anxious about anxiety and feeling shame when it remains--I recommend that we resolve to have a better relationship with it.

@365daysBookClub My book focuses on developing a better relationship with anxiety, soothing it where we can, teaching it where we can, and learning to bring it with us through the journey of life.

@365daysBookClub I was taught to be an anxiety specialist using antagonistic metaphors such as calling anxiety a bully, competitor, demon, etc. I stopped this after learning about CFT from Dr. Gilbert. My clients focus on teaching and living with their anxiety-not fighting.

@365daysBookClub I use the metaphor of a "beast" to acknowledge just how unpleasant anxiety can feel--truly beastly. However, the beast I refer to is like the one from Beauty and the Beast--It comes across as a villain superficially, but down deep it is a misunderstood hero.

@365daysBookClub So, whatever we treat as a threat (even our own inner experience) anxiety will learn and it will then try even harder to protect us. How we respond to anxiety, therefore teaches more threat or safety.

@chisi_98 @365daysBookClub Instead of focusing on getting rid of anxiety, we can do basic things like sleep, meditate, and choose substances wisely in order to give our inner companion a good home in our nervous system.

@365daysBookClub @chisi_98 Thank you. Yes. If we focus on forcing ourselves to feel better (make the beast go away) we make it a threat and it typically turns out poorly. Making it a good home is consistent with compassionately accepting, soothing, and then gently teaching our anxiety.

@365daysBookClub ACT Auntie We went through a few iterations, but she and I both liked the one vaguely reminiscent to Captain Caveman--from an old cartoon. Prehistoric, furry, hyperactive, and easily confused.

@365daysBookClub ACT Auntie I am hoping that the visual aspect of the cartoons can help deepen the learning that anxiety is not a demon, villain, or any other antagonist. It is just glitchy.

@KateSnewin @365daysBookClub @chisi_98 It is aimed at adults. I have been toying with using these concepts for a book directed at adolescents. I think I would use a different metaphor to get the same point across. I am thinking bumbling, but well-meaning superhero sidekick.

@365daysBookClub ACT Auntie Yes! That is definitely an inspiration for my anxiety beast!

@365daysBookClub ACT Auntie In my clinical practice, I often use the metaphor of anxiety as a hyperactive bodyguard that happens to be a toddler. It rushes in with the best of intentions but is most often perplexed about modern life.

@365daysBookClub I have a long history of being my own worst critic. We all have an automatic harsh internal critic and I used to match its criticisms and raise it a level or two. Now I try to meet my critic with understanding--and respond by jumping to my own defense.

@365daysBookClub CFT has benefited me professionally and personally in ways I cannot begin to describe in a Tweet. I am grateful for everything I have learned from Dr. Gilbert.

@365daysBookClub Right. It is raging because it perceives a threat and putting us down is a great way to demoralize us--so that we give up on stepping outside of our comfort zones, which is where our brains are misperceiving threat.

Thank you Eric, you have such a wonderful creative mind you made the process so easy and enjoyable! x

We love this video from ACT Auntie because it takes a really difficult concept like values and makes it simple to understand. #selfcaresummer youtube.com/watch?v=cZM9Z4…