Episode 63 Anxiety in the life lab: The illusion of control

In the second episode of the anxiety series, Tom explores a pattern that sits at the heart of anxiety: the need for control.

Under pressure, we often try to manage everything: outcomes, opinions, and uncertainty. But instead of calming us down, this can leave us feeling drained and stuck in overthinking.

This episode introduces a simple framework to help: separating what’s in your control, what you can influence, and what’s outside of both. By focusing your energy in the right place, you can reduce mental clutter and respond more clearly.

This week’s experiment: when anxiety starts to spiral, map your thoughts into three columns : control, influence, and out of control, and focus only on what’s yours to act on.