When Panic Attacks

I’ve often said that depression is the world’s oldest and cruelest con, because you fool yourself into believing things that simply aren’t true. You tell yourself that you’re no good, that you should be better than you are, and that you’ll never experience any real joy, satisfaction, creativity, or intimacy again.

fact, I sometimes think of anxiety as the “niceness disease.”

Jeffrey discovered that the truth was the opposite of what he’d always believed. He’d always tried to keep his weaknesses and vulnerabilities hidden because he thought they were so shameful. But in spite of all his wealth, power, and success, Jeffrey had never really gotten close to people or discovered any inner peace or happiness. In contrast, his human, vulnerable side turned out to be his greatest asset.

Jeffrey believes that he’ll be doomed to a life of destitution and misery if even a single person rejects him.

Magical Thinking. If I worry enough, everything will turn out okay.

For example, if you feel sad or depressed, you’re probably telling yourself that you’ve lost someone you love or something important to your sense of self-esteem.

When you’re anxious, you’re always avoiding something that you fear

Was this experience truly a “failure,” as he so firmly believed? Or was it the doorway to the inner peace and joy that had always eluded him

22. Low Frustration Tolerance. I should never be frustrated. Life should always be easy

20. Spotlight Fallacy. Talking to people is like having to perform under a bright spotlight. If I don’t impress them by being sophisticated, witty, or interesting, they won’t like me