They need incremental action.
I once worked with a client who had intense anxiety about eating in public places. When she was in a crowded restaurant, she became so self-conscious about how she was being perceived that she would become nauseous and sometimes even throw up.
Part of our work involved addressing the unhelpful thoughts driving her anxiety. But insight alone was not enough. We also had to retrain her experience through gradual exposure.
So we started small.
First, she sat outside at a quiet restaurant and simply drank a soda. She did that enough times for it to become normal. Then we made the situation slightly more challenging—perhaps sitting inside at a small restaurant and eating something simple like soup.
Step by step, we increased the difficulty.
Eventually she was able to sit in a crowded restaurant and eat comfortably. The anxiety that once overwhelmed her completely disappeared.
I’ve seen this pattern many times.
When cognitive work is combined with incremental behavioral steps, people often achieve changes they once believed were impossible.
Small steps, practiced consistently, can transform how a person experiences the world.
The best to you