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How to Overcome ANXIETY and CONTROL Negative Thoughts | Tom Bilyeu

Tom Bilyeu | April 6, 2026



If you fall into the camp of the 40 million Americans diagnosed with clinical anxiety, you recognize the feeling of your thoughts running completely away into the land of ‘what ifs’ and endless possibilities (the nightmare edition). If you haven’t been formally diagnosed and your reading this at a time when NFTs are on the rise, crypto is growing as a threat, concern and opportunity simultaneously and someone may have just coughed on you with Covid, you may frequent the land of ‘what ifs’ also.

Rehearsing failure and potential catastrophe is the anxious way of living that some people decide to wear as a badge of honor. If you were to stop rehearsing your failures and impending doom, you may actually have to start planning for success. Action cures all, and that includes anxiety. As a long time sufferer of anxiety Tom shares his own experience, tips that have helped him reframe his messaging and daily preparation to keep anxiety low and positive feelings high.

In this episode Drew Ramsey, a nutritional psychiatrist, David Burns, psychiatrist of behavioral sciences, and Mikhaila Peterson, TEDs Speaker, podcaster and supermom join in on the discussion with techniques and wisdom sure to help you limit your trips to potential disasters that never happen so you can optimize your productivity and mental health.

“Let failure catch you by surprise, stop planning to fail and start rehearsing how to success”
-Tom Bilyeu

Recommended Resources:
Book from David Burns, Feeling Great: https://www.amazon.com/Feeling-Great-Revolutionary-Treatment-Depression/dp/168373288X

Drew Ramsey’s Full Episode: https://youtu.be/KnDJrDjAjQM
Mikhaila Peterson’s Full Episode: https://youtu.be/XWZOworbJIc
David Burns’ Full Episode: https://youtu.be/qJpwEFTh1y0

SHOW NOTES:

0:00 | Introduction
0:39 | Overcoming Anxiety
5:59 | Effects of Depression & Anxiety
8:29 | Break the Pattern
18:42 | Dealing With Failure
22:40 | Influence of Your Diet

QUOTES:

“Do and believe that which moves you towards your goals.” Tom Bilyeu [3:12]

“When you’re depressed and anxious, it’s not the events of your life that are upsetting you, it’s the messages you’re giving yourself, the way you’re interpreting events.” David Burns [6:05]

The thoughts that trigger depression and anxiety are not valid thoughts. Depression and anxiety is the world’s oldest con.” David Burns [7:00]

The general American diet in both of those places is atrocious and damaging to brain health.” Drew Ramsey [31:25]

Follow Drew Ramsey: www.drewramseymd.com
Follow Michaila Peterson: https://mikhailapeterson.com/
Follow David Burns: https://feelinggood.com/

Written by Tom Bilyeu

Comments

This post currently has 43 comments.

  1. @gary5799

    April 6, 2026 at 8:21 am

    I wonder how much of the diet thing and mood is the placebo effect and my kid has suger and no crazy tantrums, i think if a kid understands that the suger can be blamed for their behaviour they are going to act that way. Tell a kid they have drank alcahol and they will behave drunk and theyll believe they actually are

  2. @EndPoliceBrutailty

    April 6, 2026 at 8:21 am

    My anxiety makes people treat me like a horrible person then it makes my anxiety worse. How do I overcome this when counseling and meds aren't helping because most of the people mal treating me I can't escape like neighbors, family and random aggressive drivers who hate that I drive the speed limit?

  3. @theanxietymd

    April 6, 2026 at 8:21 am

    I love the UT podcast. I deeply appreciate your guests and moving people to better lives. I wrote the highest rated book on anxiety on Amazon and with respect, most of what is said here on the true source of anxiety is almost completely wrong. Anxiety is NOT a PRIMARILY a cognitive issue and therefore merely changing cognitive
    processes will NOT heal your anxiety. It will help you COPE with anxiety but unless you deal with the true root cause of anxiety (which is old unresolved trauma held on your BODY aka The Body Keeps the Score) simply interrupting THOUGHT patterns with OTHER thought pattern SIMPLY DOES NOT WORK. It is simply too much effort for someone who’s already in anxiety with all the physiological changes of the body reflecting survival mode to expect them to all of a sudden think more positively. There is no doubt that thinking more positively will help you, but it only helps in the SHORT TERM. It is simply too much work for the brain to think positively when the body is in a deep state of alarm. It is simply not sustainable. This is why CBT therapy consistently wears off over time.

    I don’t know if you’ll read this Tom, but the second edition of my book comes out mid September 2024 and I would be happy to come on your show to talk about the REAL cause of anxiety and a REAL and sustainable way to heal it and not just cope with it.

    Again, I deeply respect your work and I am not trolling you. I am just stating that this video misses the point in healing anxiety. Again, changing your cognition, will help you cope, but unless you deal with the underlying root of ALARM stored in your body from old trauma, you will never actually heal your anxiety. I can show you how to actually HEAL instead of just COPE.

    Russell Kennedy MD also known as The Anxiety MD

  4. @alphasiera1757

    April 6, 2026 at 8:21 am

    Anxiety is caused by failure of fight or flight. You are stucked in a middle which causes surge of cortisols which causes you symptoms. I suggest either you fight(face your problems) or flight(let go).

  5. @bumble8588

    April 6, 2026 at 8:21 am

    Anxiety is fear of the world as it is today – you can't tell me that its not very very bad. Why do you think so many have anxiety? It's a no brainer. We are fearing and trying to prepare for what WILL happen. Current environment is a forecast of whats coming. To close your eyes to this obvious alert that every 'body' is feeling would be wrong. God gives us this for a reason – to wake up and be alert to the warning.

  6. @jahn_piano

    April 6, 2026 at 8:21 am

    Your video on anxiety is truly inspiring and a beacon of hope for those who are going through a tough time. Thank you for sharing your story and offering comfort to those who need it. 🙏❤

  7. @ryan2130

    April 6, 2026 at 8:21 am

    The only way to stop it is to do what the Bible says. The Bible says only think of the things in Heaven and not the things on earth. It says to be spiritually minded is peace.

    The Bible also says don't worry about anything, pray about everything instead. Worry means to think about fears.

    Any other cure for anxiety won't work.

  8. @alexcanada9614

    April 6, 2026 at 8:21 am

    I have anxiety from health issues scared of getting sick and disappointing people because of my health conditions how do I fix that. I try minimizing risks and preparing for all eventualities but it makes me not enjoy everything cause I'm always just worried about getting sick

  9. @videomobscene

    April 6, 2026 at 8:21 am

    1. Pattern interrupt. Say, "I'm not that good yet. If I put time and effort into this I'll get better " 9.45 min
    2. Deal with subconscious. 16-17 min.
    3. Subconscious to win
    4. Diet, meat and veggies til 6/7 some fruit. Tandrums probably tied to diet. 30-31 mins.

  10. @padraick96mc56

    April 6, 2026 at 8:21 am

    I’m trying and failing nothing I do seems to help me overcome my anxiety. A Normal day for me consists of never being able to focus, being incredibly tired worrying about everything from paying bills to being terrified that the one close friend I have doesn’t like me and that I’m a bother and a waste of space. Am I alone?

  11. @DirtRoad83

    April 6, 2026 at 8:21 am

    Been praying and having faith for a while tryin to beat this but realized faith without works is dead, i can have faith all i want but til i exercise that faith and get out n try ill never get anywhere…have to push forward and do your part and believe…may take a lil while but it will work out if u keep goin i promise

  12. @indielightly3308

    April 6, 2026 at 8:21 am

    My issue is that when I get an anxiety attack, I feel like I have to go to the bathroom, so it's very uncomfortable to sit with emotional and physical discomfort. It's limited my life, travel… Road trips etc are off the table until I can get past this issue 🙁

  13. @bleachedout805

    April 6, 2026 at 8:21 am

    No, my trauma is what has induced my anxiety and having people in my life use my failures to construct this belief I will only ever fail at everything like that is something unique to me.
    Also, I've had trauma with racist people as well that make me realize people are only nice as a facade but when they feel threatened which can be simply triggered by one not looking similar to them than that falseness drops.
    I had a random woman accuse me of theft only for her to find what she was looking for in her shopping bag. She made a whole scene of it and when it was discovered she didn't apologize. I said she should and the security guard just told me not to push it.
    Like how do I overcome that kind of trauma? I don't want to be angry or fearful. So how do I get over it?

  14. @babykangaroo8769

    April 6, 2026 at 8:21 am

    I have become very anxious since both of my parents passed away a couple years ago, my long term partner also cheated on me, now I have nobody to rely on just living all by myself in a foreign country, to me I feel anxious has become normal now, because I don’t know where I’m going and how I’m going to spend the rest of my life by myself

  15. @jayzeept6059

    April 6, 2026 at 8:21 am

    I'm 52 yrs Old & only very recently diagnosed with ADHD after a lifetime of incorrect diagnosis & pill poppin Drugs prescribed by over worked Medical professionals…Feel mixed emotions, on one hand i'm relieved but on the other i'm angry & frustrated its takin best part of 52 yrs…my thought process is so deep routed I worry about my ability to find my true self

  16. @toocuteforwords2757

    April 6, 2026 at 8:21 am

    I used to try to THINK my way out of anxiety e.g There is no need to feel anxious or scared,, but it never worked. The only thing that works for me is relaxation breathing techniques . In order to control my anxious mind,, I had to control my body state first.

  17. @eonryan8491

    April 6, 2026 at 8:21 am

    1:04 – what people with anxiety do

    1:49

    2:17 – catastrophizing

    3:12 – action and faith

    3:18 – negative self narrative

    8:12 – break thought pattern

    9:03 – only time comparing to other people is acceptable

    9:16

    9:35 – pattern intterupt when negative thinking loop happens

    10:07 – I can get good at anything if I put time and energy and attention at something

    18:43 – stop rehearsing failure, start rehearsing success

    18:50 – let failure take you totally by surprise

    31:30 – diet

  18. @shyaaammeneen63

    April 6, 2026 at 8:21 am

    A very informative video. In life there are only 2 problems-mind and the body. To feel better reduce negative thoughts [overthinking]. Your breathing is closely related to the brain [mind] and gives good relief from stress-anxiety. To relax sit on a chair or lie down, neck straight, eyes closed and observe the sensations of your incoming–outgoing breath at the entrance of the nostrils for 5-10-15 minutes or more. Don’t fight your thoughts. With daily practice the mind will relax. No deep breathing needed. Do the practice without any expectations when taking a walk, before sleep, in school, at work, when reading, etc. Like me, make this a lifetime daily habit to have a better life. Reduce negative social media and avoid constipation as it affects the mind instantly. Best wishes–Counsellor.

  19. @jjoseph6166

    April 6, 2026 at 8:21 am

    Anxiety and panic usually comes down to the fear of fear. We fear the way it makes us feel and then the negative thoughts of those feelings start. Once you lose the fear it loses it’s power. Anxiety is there to protect you and can never harm you. It can just get a bit out of wack when you add fear to fear and you get stuck in the anxiety loop! You don’t have a mental illness, you’re human!

  20. @Maxqaq

    April 6, 2026 at 8:21 am

    My Anxiety is based on getting Anxiety and panicattacks. Im still at the start of healing and I may fall down again, but what gave me some hope was understanding that Im not alone with this, thats its not that hard to beat with therapy and one of the most important things, I read on the website from my therapist transalted it basically says "Your struggles base on emotions and thinking patterns you trained yourself for x amount of time, but as easy it is to train those, its just as easy to unlearn them again". It gave me so much hope for healing after I understood that.
    I dont really believe in god, but I pray that we all will beat the devil in our head and will get stronger to reach our dreams and goals in the future!
    Stay safe and healthy guys, we got it!

  21. @mr.reliable8123

    April 6, 2026 at 8:21 am

    I look at a few of the single most difficult times in my life. Once situation was when I was in Marine Corp bootcamp and another situation is when I was facing 3 years in jail for a felony crime. LSS, I was able to make it out of thise situations unscathed. Those are my "witness marks" that let's me know that 1) Nothing is as bad as it seems and 2) Everything works out the way that it's supposed to. Now don't get me wrong, the initial human reaction to stress, anxiety, pressure and those things is definitely a real thing, but focusing on those "witness marks" from the past allow me to recalibrate my thoughts and my faith.

  22. @jasminateodorovic1248

    April 6, 2026 at 8:21 am

    Diagnosed with anxiety over a decade ago. Never compared myself with others, never thought of myself of not being not good enough, never feared failure or making mistakes. The core is: projecting / living future (not NOW) and definitely action. Any action. Been through tons of talks, books, therapies, etc, etc. The more I read/listened/watched what I knew from the beginning, the more I got anxious. Stop listening/reading/talking. ACTION and (RE)FOCUS. Relentlessly

  23. @flor.7797

    April 6, 2026 at 8:21 am

    This video is all over the place. Really bad story telling with random cuts. Good for views maybe but the quality suffers from all the back and forth. It’s like reading this comment. Or a random note you’re trying to make. Diet is important. Maybe I’m not stoned enough to make sense of this neurotic video.

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