this post was submitted on 10 Apr 2025
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i've started trying to one up my anxiety & intrusive thoughts by adding "and then a meteor hits and we all die" to those thoughts and honestly it's making me feel better lol
"what if a car suddenly appears and crashes into you out of nowehere in this parking lot" is only slightly more likely to happen than "and then the meteor hits and we all die" and it helps me see anxiety for what it is - anxiety, not rational thoughts that warn me of dangers, but a hypersensitive gremlin in my brain dreaming up the worst case scenarios for every life situation there is
This method reminds me of a technique used in ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) to deal with pain or fear. Exaggerating a thought or giving it a silly voice or character, while staying neutral toward that part of yourself, can be a solid way to manage anxiety.
It’s called cognitive defusion. You notice when you're "fused" with a thought or pattern, and by using techniques like the one you mentioned, you create distance between the thought and your sense of self.