50 | Why Anxiety Feels Unbearable Before It Gets Better

• Why does anxiety feel worse right before things start improving?
• What if this phase is not proof you are failing, but proof you are building strength?
• What would change if you stopped waiting for someone else to make you feel okay?

If anxiety feels crushing right now, this episode gives you a different way to understand what is happening. This is the phase where everything feels hard because you are building coping skills from scratch, without past wins to lean on.

You will learn why relying on reassurance keeps the anxiety cycle going, and how self-trust starts when you stop handing other people the scoreboard. You will also hear a simple story that explains why confidence is built through volume, not perfection.

Listen through the end for a clear mindset shift you can use the next time anxiety tells you it is too much.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode
• Why the beginning stage of anxiety growth feels like the hardest part
• How small brave moments build coping skills and resilience over time
• Why reassurance and validation create a loop that never feels finished
• How to start building self-trust when you feel like you are starting at zero
• Why repetition builds confidence more than “getting it right” once
• How to define wins for yourself without needing an audience
• What it looks like to move forward with anxiety instead of waiting for it to disappear

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

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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/

Newsletter:
https://blockoutthenoisepodcast.substack.com/welcome

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

1:1 Confidence Coaching:
https://tidycal.com/blockoutthenoise/confidence-coaching

⚠️ Disclaimer: Block Out the Noise provides personal insights and practical...