The biggest enforcer of your anxiety isn't out there
19 Jun 2026 · 1 min
0:50
In this monologue, Dr. Aziz argues that the primary source of anxiety is not external circumstances but an internal, chronic self‑evaluation process he calls the “approval economy.” He describes how people constantly police themselves—asking whether they are okay, whether what they say will be approved or disapproved—leading to hyper‑focused, anxious preparation for any social interaction (talks, interviews, dates). This self‑monitoring creates a loop of replay, where individuals obsess over past or future moments, scanning for potential disapproval and feeling their self‑worth threatened. The result is an inability to act authentically and confidently because the mind is perpetually tuned to seek or avoid approval.
