You can’t outthink anxiety — but you can learn to understand it.In this episode, Patrick and Ted unpack what anxiety really is, how it hijacks your body and thoughts, and why most of us make it worse by trying to “fix” it. Patrick brings lessons from the therapy room; Ted brings the reality of battling self-sabotage. Together they unpack how awareness, breathing, and daily habits can help you regulate instead of shut down. This one’s about emotional clarity — not control. 💬 Send us your questions in the comments or at mandownpodcast@varianceincorporated.com Follow us on our Socials: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLzsGH4hM9TxHC4hHPvgMJw X: https://x.com/ManDownPodcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:lm4shifbvs6k63eb54k2gmho Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mandown.podcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mandownpodcast 00:00 Intro 00:25 Patrick on America 01:11 French Cowboy Boots Are Calling Patrick 01:35 Chili’s Got Cowboy Boots? 02:18 Fashion Kinks: The Allure of Line Dancing and Footwear 07:17 Why Good Jeans Make Everyone Look Great 09:27 Robin vs Taylor Swift 10:22 Taylor Swift + Swedish Producers? 10:58 Attraction Beyond Looks 12:12 Find your Joy 15:39 Seeing Behind People’s Masks 16:47 Patrick Can’t Take Compliments 17:16 Self-Sabotage in Action 19:29 Why Compliments Feel Weird 22:36 Anxiety: What It Really Is 24:00 Understanding Anxiety Symptoms 25:30 The Anxiety Loop 26:00 Slowing Down the Tempo 27:05 Finding the Real Fear 27:50 Pinpointing When Anxiety Starts 29:32 Physical Cues Matter 31:23 Recognising Emotional Impulses and Their Origins 33:07 The Importance of Self-Reflection in Managing Anxiety 35:50 Challenging Negative Automatic Thoughts 37:15 Breaking the Cycle of Anxiety 40:16 Is Your Body Holding Anxiety? 43:29 Sphincter Diamonds 44:16 Continuous Learning and Self-Discovery in Mental Health 47:57 Ted’s Routine for Processing Feelings 50:05 Breaking Down Anxious Thoughts 53:40 Can Discipline Build Emotional Resilience? 54:57 The Power of Affirmations and Self-Belief 56:56 Reprogramming Negative Thoughts 59:16 Understanding Anxiety and Its Triggers 1:01:42 Anxiety Tips/Tools 1:03:19 The Role of Medication and Long-Term Solutions 1:04:30 Outro