When faced with an intense emotional storm or panic, it is advisable not to flee the situation, not to believe catastrophic thoughts as absolute truths, and to avoid excessively monitoring one’s bodily sensations so as not to amplify anxiety.

noli's read

Dr. Julie Smith draws here on very solid concepts derived from behavioral stress management. The idea of not fleeing the situation (exposure) is validated by a major network meta-analysis published by Pompoli and colleagues (2021) in The British Journal of Psychiatry, which confirms the major efficacy of behavioral exposure in the face of intense anxiety manifestations. Regarding the practice of distancing oneself from alarmist thoughts, cognitive realignment approaches are widely proven; a meta-analysis by Gould and colleagues demonstrates that this mental restructuring helps to defuse the spiral of worry. Finally, the advice to avoid scrutinizing one’s body is in perfect alignment with theoretical models in cognitive science (such as that of researcher Clark), which show that hyper-attention focused on physical signals self-perpetuates and amplifies stress. Although these tools are historically derived from clinical protocols, their popularization in the form of daily wellness reflexes is scientifically irreproachable.

the sources

No named source held this one up — that absence is part of the verdict.