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It's Not You, It's Anxiety!
It's Not You, It's Anxiety is a podcast for people who are anxious, but haven't found relief from the usual anxiety help, and feel like there must be something wrong with THEM!
Overwhelmed, stuck in their heads, tired of overthinking, and exhausted, they're ready for a kind and straightforward way to understand and work with anxiety — especially in a world that feels anything but calm.
Hosted by Licensed Professional Counselor and coach Jessica Richards, this show blends psychology, compassion, and Jessica's insight as a counselor and as a person who struggled with anxiety and had to figure it out herself. It's time to make sense of your anxiety, ease constant worry and judgement, and believe in and trust yourself.
It's not your fault. Your anxiety actually makes sense and there is a way to work with it.
You're not the problem — you just need some understanding, the right tools, and some kind, but expert help!
Come learn how to understand and work with your anxiety...with kindness, compassion, and no judgement (even in these wild times).
It's Not You, It's Anxiety!
The Truth About Why You Feel Guilty All the Time
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If you live with anxiety, chances are you feel guilty all the time.
Guilty for disappointing people. Guilty for saying no. Guilty for wanting something different. Guilty for existing.
Episode Summary
In this episode, Jessica breaks down the truth about guilt — and it’s not what you think.
You’ll learn how guilt is another way anxiety tries to protect you, why it shows up in situations where you’ve done absolutely nothing wrong, and how to start seeing guilt for what it really is: a safety strategy, not a moral failing.
Jessica shares real-life examples (holiday plans, food waste, posting a selfie, and even existential guilt) to help you understand how anxiety uses guilt to push you toward the “safe,” “right,” or “expected” thing — even when that thing hurts you.
When you understand what guilt is actually doing, everything changes.
In This Episode, You'll Learn
- Why anxious people feel guilty all the time
- How guilt functions as a protection strategy, not a moral failing
- How anxiety scans your life for threats and misinterprets normal choices as dangerous
- Why guilt feels like absolute proof that you're doing something wrong
- The difference between real guilt and anxiety-driven guilt
- What existential guilt is — and why it’s so common for anxious people
- How guilt tries to push you toward “safe,” expected, socially approved choices
Key Quotes
“I haven't met a person with anxiety who doesn't experience guilt pretty much all the time.”
“Anxiety uses guilt to make you feel bad so that you'll supposedly be the way you need to be to stay safe.”
“Anxiety is a threat detector. It is not a good-outcome detector.”
“Sometimes the guilt gets so deep it feels like guilt for existing.”
“Guilt is one of the things that can really get us stuck because it’s so convincing.”
“Guilt is a way that anxiety is showing up to protect you. It's not you — it's anxiety.”
Main Takeaway
Overthinking isn’t a character flaw or bad habit — it’s anxiety reacting to a perceived threat in an attempt to keep you safe. Understanding why it happens immediately reduces shame, increases clarity, and gives you the power to begin shifting out of spiraling into calmer, clearer thinking.
Who This Episode Is For
This episode is for anyone who:
- Feels guilty constantly, even when nothing bad happened
- Overthinks decisions because they fear disappointing others
- Experiences deep or existential guilt
- Struggles to trust themselves
- Wants a grounded, compassionate explanation for their guilt
- Wants to stop guilt from controlling their choices and self-worth
Connect with Jessica
Instagram: @jessica_richards_counseling
Get My Free Guide: 3 Keys for Quieting Anxiety Now
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Enjoyed This Episode?
If this episode helped you see guilt differently, please share the show, leave a rating, or reach out. Everyone deserves clarity and compassion.
*Disclaimer* This show is for information and inspiration. It is not professional mental health counseling or medical advice. If you're struggling, please reach out to a mental health or medical professional.
Topics Covered in This Episode
- why guilt feels so intense
- anxiety and guilt connection
- why anxious people feel guilty
- guilt as a safety response
- understanding chronic guilt
- anxious guilt vs true guilt