Does Your Anxiety Thermostat Need an Adjustment?
Briefly

The article discusses the concept of 'anxiety tolerance' using the metaphor of a thermostat, explaining how individuals like Chloe and Zoe manage their anxiety differently. Chloe has a low tolerance for anxiety, prompting her to avoid situations that generate even minor anxiety, which exacerbates her feelings of distress. In contrast, Zoe maintains a high tolerance, allowing her to confront uncomfortable situations despite feeling anxious. This distinction emphasizes the importance of increasing one's anxiety tolerance for better emotional regulation and management of anxiety symptoms, suggesting that greater confidence in handling anxiety can reduce its overall impact.
For Chloe, even a minor degree of anxiety feels like an overwhelming, intolerable experience. Her anxiety thermostat is set low, so it takes less discomfort to trigger an avoidance response.
Zoe, on the other hand, has a high tolerance for anxiety. She's not afraid to feel anxious as long as it's within a moderate level of intensity.
Read at Psychology Today
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