Dr. David Rosmarin | Why Anxiety Is Actually GOOD For You
5/16/20261 hr 20 min
In this week's episode of the Meaningful People Podcast, Dr. David Rosmarin challenges one of the biggest assumptions people have about mental health: that anxiety is something to eliminate. A Harvard professor and leading anxiety expert, Dr. Rosmarin explains why trying to avoid discomfort may actually be making people weaker, more anxious, and less resilient. From parenting and dating to fear of failure, public speaking, and panic attacks, this conversation explores why anxiety might not be the enemy at all.
The episode also dives into anxiety in the frum world, the pressures of shidduchim, eating disorders, fear-based parenting, and how vulnerability creates stronger relationships. Dr. Rosmarin shares practical strategies for dealing with anxiety, including the four-step framework he uses with patients, while Nachi opens up about his own fears and experiences throughout the conversation. This is a deeply honest and surprisingly empowering discussion about learning to stop running from fear and start growing through it.
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsNachi Gordon· Host0:00
What's the first thing that you would tell someone who is feeling anxiety?
David H. Rosmarin· Guest0:03
You're human. You're gonna feel anxious sometimes. That doesn't mean you're broken, doesn't mean something's wrong with you. My whole life I was taught anxiety is a huge problem.
Nachi Gordon· Host0:11
Mm-hmm.
David H. Rosmarin· Guest0:11
Not allowed to have it. Disease. But our society has gone way too far. We try to eliminate all anxiety completely. You're going to lose that fight.
Speaker 30:18
[static hisses] What if anxiety didn't have to be the enemy, but instead an ally? That's the promise from Dr. David Rosmarin, one of the world's leading anxiety experts from Harvard University. Dr. Rosmarin's thesis is that anxiety is a gift and a blessing. Helping millions embrace their anxiety rather than avoid it. Dr. David Rosmarin is about to flip everything that you know on its head about anxiety.
David H. Rosmarin· Guest0:44
[static hisses] Every single patient I've ever sat with who had an anxiety disorder was trying to get rid of it, trying to control it, not inviting it. The biggest tragedy of that approach is that people don't build resilience. You wanna achieve big things, you're gonna have significant anxiety. That's just the way it is.
Nachi Gordon· Host1:01
So are you saying that everyone who's really successful invites anxiety into their life?
David H. Rosmarin· Guest1:05
Correct. Anxiety isn't something to fear. I actually have four steps. You do the four steps, you're gonna be thriving with your anxiety.
Nachi Gordon· Host1:11
Let's hear it. [static hisses] This episode is sponsored by the PZ Deals. Yes, this episode is all about anxiety and mental health. And you know what helps your mental health, besides for a whole lot of things that you're gonna learn in this episode? Saving money. Saving money is so good for your mental health, and that happens on the PZ Deals app. So download the PZ Deals app right now. There's so