The Anxiety Loop Explained, and How to Interrupt It with Dr. Judson Brewer
The Anxiety Loop Explained, and How to Interrupt It with Dr. Judson Brewer  
Podcast: Dealing with Feeling
Published On: Wed Jan 28 2026
Description: The worst part of anxiety is not the feeling. It's the loop. The "what if" that keeps feeding itself until it feels like truth. Dr. Marc Brackett sits down with Dr. Judson Brewer to unpack how worry becomes a habit, why reassurance and mental debate often backfire, and how curiosity can disrupt the cycle without forcing you to "think positive." In this conversation: How anxiety becomes a loop: trigger → worry → short relief → more worry Why worrying feels like control even when it isn't Curiosity as the interrupt that changes the pattern Anxiety vs stress vs overwhelm and why precise labeling matters A simple way to shift from "oh no" to "oh" About the guest: Dr. Judson Brewer is a psychiatrist and neuroscientist who studies habit change and anxiety. Judd's books: Unwinding Anxiety, The Craving Mind, The Hunger Habit https://drjud.com Programs & resources:  https://goingbeyondanxiety.com https://juddbrewer.substack.com Connect with Marc Brackett: Website: https://marcbrackett.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/marc.brackett X: https://x.com/drmarcbrackett Meta: https://facebook.com/drmarcbrackett LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/drmarcbrackett Dr. Marc Brackett's Books Permission to Feel Dealing with Feeling Explore Marc Brackett's work at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, where he serves as founding director, and learn more about RULER—an evidence-based, systemic approach to SEL developed at Yale that supports leaders, educators, students, and families in building emotional intelligence and creating healthier school climates. A special thank you to the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence for supporting this webcast. I also want to thank Oji Life Lab for their generous support. Visit https://ojilifelab.com and use promo code DEALINGWITHFEELINGS to save 25%.