#11: Session 10 > Anxiety, Attachment and Mentalizing

🎙️ Episode 11 – Session 10: Anxiety, Attachment and Mentalizing

Welcome back.

In the previous session, we explored how opening up in relationships can feel challenging but also healing.

Today, we focus on a powerful emotion that affects us all: anxiety.

Because anxiety is not just something to get rid of —

it’s something to understand.

⸻

📌 What this session is about

• Understanding anxiety as a basic human emotion that helps protect you from danger.

• How anxiety triggers the fight, flight, or freeze response.

• The difference between normal anxiety and anxiety that becomes overwhelming or persistent.

• How your attachment history influences the way you deal with fear and stress.

⸻

🔎 Real-life examples

• You avoid certain situations because they make you feel anxious.

• You feel sudden panic without knowing exactly why.

• You experience physical symptoms like a racing heart, sweating, or tension.

⸻

📚 Why it matters

Anxiety itself is not dangerous —

but avoiding it can make it stronger.

When anxiety takes over,

your ability to mentalize decreases.

This can lead to:

• overreacting

• withdrawing

• or feeling out of control

Understanding anxiety helps you respond with awareness

instead of fear.

⸻

✨ How MBT works with this

In MBT, anxiety is explored in connection with relationships.

You learn to:

• Recognize when anxiety is building

• Understand what it might be connected to

• Stay curious about your thoughts and feelings

• Seek support and reassurance from others

Sharing your anxiety helps reduce its intensity

and brings you back into connection.

⸻

💡 Practice from Session 10

This week, try to share something about your anxiety with someone you trust.

• What are you afraid of?

• How does it feel to talk about it?

• Does sharing help you feel more supported or understood?

Reflect on your experience.

⸻

🌟 Core message

Anxiety is not your enemy —

it is a signal.

When you understand it,

instead of avoiding it,

you create space for calm, connection,

and control