• Why does working on yourself make your anxiety worse instead of better?
• Why do you feel more overwhelmed after you finally decide to change?
• What if this anxiety is not a sign to stop, but a sign that what you’re doing actually matters?

In this episode, Jessica Davis breaks down why anxiety often increases when you start working on yourself. If you’ve ever set a goal, started a new habit, or tried to improve your life and felt more stressed, more overwhelmed, or ready to quit, this episode will help you understand why.

She explains how your nervous system reacts when something feels important, why anxiety and excitement feel the same in your body, and how the avoidance cycle keeps you stuck. You’ll also learn how to tell the difference between anxiety that means “this matters” and anxiety that signals misalignment.

This episode walks you through six clear steps to help you stop quitting in moments of overwhelm, make decisions with a clear mind, and stay consistent even when progress feels slow. If you’ve been stuck in the cycle of starting and stopping, this will help you move forward with confidence and clarity.

What You’ll Learn in this Episode:

• Why anxiety often gets worse when you start working on yourself
• How your brain connects anxiety with avoidance and quitting
• The difference between anxiety that signals growth and anxiety that signals misalignment
• Why you should not make decisions when you feel overwhelmed
• How to pause without quitting and break the stop-start cycle
• Five questions to help you get clear on what you want
• Why your core values determine whether you should keep going
• How to handle the “middle phase” where nothing feels like it’s working
• Why most people quit too early and how to avoid it

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 stra...