The Best 17 TED Talks for Anxiety

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The best 17 TED talks for anxiety can teach you about how anxiety is a common emotion felt by many. Anxiety can cause physical symptoms like a racing heart, stomachache, or an upset feeling. It can also cause psychological effects such as difficulty concentrating, worrying about what might happen, and difficulty sleeping. Anxiety can be triggered by stressful or unfamiliar situations and even become overwhelming at times. Knowing how to recognize and manage anxiety is important for creating a calm and balanced life.

Definition of Anxiety

Anxiety is an emotion that causes feelings of worry, nervousness, and fear. It’s an expected reaction to stress and can be helpful in some situations. However, when it becomes out of proportion to its cause or lasts for too long, it can become a problem. Anxiety disorders are mental health conditions that cause constant worry and fear even when there is no danger present. Anxiety can cause physical symptoms like rapid breathing, increased heart rate or even sweating. Knowing the signs is the first step to managing anxiety.

Prevalence and Impact of Anxiety

Anxiety is a common mental disorder that impacts millions of people worldwide. According to recent statistics, one in 13 people across the globe experienced an anxiety disorder within the past year. In America, nearly 20% of adults suffer from an anxiety disorder during any given 12-month period, and over 8% of U.S. teens aged 6-17 suffer from a severe anxiety disorder. Knowing these statistics should remind us all to take our mental health seriously and seek help when necessary.

Coping Strategies for Anxiety

Anxiety can be difficult to deal with, but there are simple coping strategies that can help. Taking deep breaths can reduce fear and worry. Practicing relaxation techniques like meditation or yoga will help you stay focused. Exercise is beneficial as it increases endorphins that naturally reduce stress. Talking to friends, family, or a therapist may bring relief. Positive self-talk helps you reframe anxious thoughts.

Structuring your days by setting routines can give a feeling of control back. Writing about your thoughts can help you process them better. Listening to ambient music or sounds of nature has a calming effect. Minimizing caffeine intake and avoiding drugs are important for improving mental health. Finally, getting enough sleep is key to feeling calm and refreshed each day.

The Best 17 TED Talks for Anxiety

TED Talks can be amazing resources to help with anxiety management. They cover topics such as how to reduce stress, how to accept yourself, and how to practice mindfulness. With 17 videos to choose from, it is easy to find resources that speak to individual needs. Listening and learning from experts can provide meaningful strategies for managing anxiety. Have a listen and find the talks that resonate with you!

1. How to Make Anxiety Your Best Friend | Luana Marques | TEDx Emory

Hear how Dr. Marques, a talented behavioral therapist, teaches her patients to fight and become comfortable with their anxiety. She explains the biological background of anxiety, and how her family taught her that anxiety is a necessity, not something we should avoid. Luana Marques is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and president-elect of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA).

2. Living With High Functioning Anxiety | Jordan Raskopoulos | TEDxSydney

As a comedian and performer, Jordan Raskopolous does not suffer from stage fright, but away from the lights, it’s a different story. In this compelling and funny talk, she shares her insights into what it is like to live with high-functioning anxiety and how people like her can be perceived – to be both shy and loud at the same time. A talk many will relate to and one that offers strategies for dealing with it.

3. Overcoming Anxiety | Jonas Kolker | TEDxTheMastersSchool

Jonas Kolker’s talk will explore the concept of “embracing the suck.” How does one turn a diagnosis into activism, empowerment, and coaching?

4. How to cope with anxiety | Olivia Remes | TEDxUHasselt

Anxiety is one of the most prevalent mental health disorders, with 1 out of 14 people around the world being likely affected. Leading up to conditions such as depression, increased risk for suicide, disability, and requirement of high health services, very few people who often need treatment actually receive it. In her talk “How to cope with anxiety”, Olivia Remes of the University of Cambridge will share her vision on anxiety and will unravel ways to treat and manage this health disorder.

5. How to stop feeling anxious about anxiety | Tim Box | TEDx Folkestone

What if it turned out that anxiety isn’t actually our enemy? What if we suddenly realized our fear was trying to help us? What would happen if we stopped trying to fight anxiety and embraced it as a trusted friend?

6. How to Replace Anxiety With Purpose | Jake Heilbrunn | TEDxEncinitas

Can you turn anxiety into an advantage? Jake Heilbrunn answers this question and more, sharing why young people today are more anxious and depressed than ever before…and what to do about it. Jake offers a 3 step solution to the anxiety crisis, powerfully conveyed through his ‘Into the Wild’ esque journey of self-discovery.

7. Dealing with Anxiety- Making Anxiety your Best Fallible Friend! | Victoria Bristow | TEDxNorwichED

What if you could stop battling anxiety? The postnatal illness made me too anxious to leave the house, I was agoraphobic for three years. Thanks to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and study I learnt to see my anxiety as a well-meaning friend, who gets things wrong sometimes, my Best Fallible Friend.

8. Breaking The Loop of Anxiety | Colin Bien | TEDxLeuphanaUniversityLüneburg

Colin suffered from a panic disorder caused by malaria prophylaxes for over 2 years. During behavioral therapy, he learned how to break out of the vicious circle of anxiety. But not only that, but he also realized how to use the same approach to form new stress-relieving routines in his life. A personal journey about anxiety, stress, and happiness.

9. Be The Warrior Not The Worrier – Fighting Anxiety & Fear | Angela Ceberano | TEDxBedminster

What if there was a way to systematically fight every single fear you have?

10. What’s normal anxiety — and what’s an anxiety disorder? | Body Stuff with Dr. Jen Gunter

Everyone gets anxious at times, but how can you tell when it crosses the line and needs attention? Dr. Jen Gunter shares the science behind your brain’s threat-detection system, what makes it malfunction, and the most effective ways of treating it.

11. Rethinking anxiety: Learning to face fear | Dawn Huebner | TEDxAmoskeagMillyardWomen

Everyone gets anxious at times, but how can you tell when it crosses the line and needs attention? Dr. Jen Gunter shares the science behind your brain’s threat-detection system, what makes it malfunction, and the most effective ways of treating it.

12. How to Deal with Anxiety and Start Living a Happy Life | Jesse GIUNTA RAFEH | TEDxSouthLakeTahoe

Our minds have long been designed to protect us from danger, often placing us in a state of constant fear or state of anxiety. But emotions do not have to happen to us any longer. By reprogramming and outsmarting our survival mindsets, we can create an emotional state of fulfillment, positivity, and peace that best supports our true selves so we can thrive as happy adults. JESSE GIUNTA RAFEH is a psychotherapist and certified success coach who’s helped hundreds of young adults who feel lost find clarity and direction in their lives.

13. Addicted to the answer – anxiety in the age of information | Sheva Rajaee | TEDxUCLA

Sheva knows the power of not knowing. Turns out, for centuries, we’ve done quite well not knowing and actually thrived because of it. You all have phones near you, but can they help you answer the important questions, and how do we, in this digital age, work through what to know and what to wonder about?

14. Breaking free from anxiety | Mel Schwartz | TEDxBeaconStreet

Anxiety has reached epidemic rates in Western society. Most professionals simply try to manage it, primarily through medication. Psychotherapist and author Mel Schwartz shares his perspective on both the cause and the solution to this mass disquiet. He proposes that anxiety is often due to our relationship with our thoughts. These are thoughts that are perpetually seeking certainty.

15. The Impact of Anxiety and What We Can Do About It! | Sharon Selby | TEDxBrentwoodCollegeSchool

Anxiety is on the rise and it’s having a negative impact on children, teens, and adults everywhere. We all have some level of anxiety but when it heightens, we may not be aware of the best strategies for managing it. In Sharon’s TedX talk, she will share three powerful mind shifts, that we can implement right away.

16. Understanding and Rising Above Your Anxiety | Amanda Shenton | TEDxGoldeyBeacomCollege

Amanda Shenton discusses her experiences of anxiety and fear. She recounts some of her early fears and her separation anxiety from her mother. Amanda explains how her anxiety changed over time in middle school and her memories during the 9/11 attacks. Amanda Michelle Shenton is a former high school Italian teacher who, after spending 6 years in the educational setting, left her career behind in search of a more balanced lifestyle.

17. How to Make Anxiety Your Best Friend | Luana Marques | TEDxEmory

Hear how Dr. Marques, a talented behavioral therapist, teaches her patients to fight and become comfortable with their anxiety. She explains the biological background of anxiety, and how her family taught her that anxiety is a necessity, not something we should avoid.

Summary of Top 17 TED Talks for Anxiety

In conclusion, anxiety is a real and serious mental health issue that should be addressed with care. There are numerous coping strategies, including deep breathing, relaxation techniques, exercise, talking to friends and family, positive self-talk, setting routines, writing down your thoughts, listening to calming music or sounds of nature, reducing caffeine intake and avoiding drugs, and getting enough sleep. There are also a number of TED Talks available to provide advice and support on living with anxiety. With the right tools and strategies in place, it is possible to overcome anxiety and find a healthier state of mind.

Want more information? Read How To Stop Negative Thinking: A Perfectionist’s Guide.

FAQ’s For Anxiety