Comedian Aparna Nancherla has always struggled with anxiety — can a new technique help her cope?



Episode summary:

Comedian Aparna Nancherla has always struggled with anxiety. Starting a new task at work, writing her book, talking to a baby — you name it, she worries about it. And while she’s built a career in stand-up comedy making light of her struggles, she still suffers. Aparna joins us to share what it’s like to try a new technique to cope with her anxiety. She tries to see her anxiety through a new lens, and actually lean into it. We also hear from psychologist and anxiety expert Dr. Tracy Dennis-Tiwary about this radical new approach to understanding anxiety and coping with it by understanding it not just as a crucial part of being human, but as a strength unto itself. 

Practice:


Ask yourself: what am I feeling anxious about? What do I want to happen? Take a few minutes to write out your answer.
Next, ask yourself: Is there something I can do right now to get closer to the outcome I described in question 1? If the answer is yes, go to part A. If the answer is no, go to part B.


A. Remind yourself: My body is preparing me to do what I need to do. I will be better at what I need to do because of these feelings. Then, do whatever it is you identified in question 2. If you still feel anxious and there’s nothing more you can do right now, go to part B.

B. Sometimes there are circumstances in our life that make us feel nervous or scared, and there’s nothing we can do in the moment to change our situation. When that’s the case for you, try a mindfulness practice to ground yourself in the present moment. Here are a few you can try:


Noticing Nature
Walking Meditation
Mindful Breathing
Body Scan Meditation
Savoring Walk




Today’s guests:

Aparna Nancherla is a comedian, writer, and actress in New York City whose stand-up often focuses on her experience living with depression and anxiety.

Check out more videos from Aparna: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KR_pr8Pdh84

Follow Aparna on Twitter: https://twitter.com/aparnapkin

Follow Aparna on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aparnapkin/



Tracy Dennis-Tiwary is an anxiety researcher and psychology professor at Hunter College. She just published a new book, Future Tense: Why Anxiety is Good For You.

Learn more about Tracy and her book: https://www.drtracyphd.com/future-tense

Follow Tracy on Twitter: https://twitter.com/tracyadennis

Follow Tracy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.tracyphd/



Resources for Surfing Anxiety

TED - How to Cope with Anxiety: https://tinyurl.com/copeanxiety

Harvard Health - Anxiety: What it is, What to do: https://tinyurl.com/anxietyhowto 

10% Happier - How a Buddhist Monk Deals with Anxiety: https://tinyurl.com/2wpa9pz2



More resources from The Greater Good Science Center:

How to Turn Bad Anxiety into Good Anxiety: https://tinyurl.com/goodanxiety

Can We Help Young Brains Fight Off Anxiety: https://tinyurl.com/HelpBrains

How to Be Yourself When You Have Social Anxiety: https://tinyurl.com/Socialanxious



Tell us about your experiences with anxiety by emailing us at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or using the hashtag #happinesspod.

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