Ever walk into a room and instantly feel like all eyes are on you — where you sit, how you sit, whether people are judging you? Your chest tightens, your mind goes blank, and suddenly, speaking up feels impossible. That’s social anxiety. And if you’ve ever felt stuck behind that invisible wall, this episode is for you.

In this special Q&A episode, Jessica Davis (licensed therapist and creator of the C.O.U.R.A.G.E. Method) answers three powerful listener questions about fear, judgment, and speaking up when anxiety takes over. You’ll learn what’s actually happening in your brain during these moments, how to calm your body when panic sets in, and why courage — not confidence — is what helps you break free.

✨ In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• How to handle the fear of being judged every time you speak up or participate in class
• Micro-courage: the small steps that retrain your brain to feel safe in social moments
• What to do when presentations trigger full-body panic (and how to reframe nerves into energy)
• Simple grounding tools to help you stay calm when anxiety spikes
• The truth about control: why you don’t need to control anxiety to take control of your life
• The single question that helps you take back your power: What’s one thing fear doesn’t get to decide today?

💬 Listener Q&A:
1️⃣ How do I deal with the fear of being judged?
2️⃣ How do I calm down before and during presentations?
3️⃣ How do I stop anxiety from running my life?

💡 Key Takeaway:
Confidence doesn’t come from being fearless — it comes from choosing courage when fear is loud.

Got a question or feedback? Text us and share your thoughts—we’d love to hear from you!

RESOURCES:
Get your FREE Anxiety Survival Toolkit to help you when your anxiety is overwhelming!

Grab your FREE 90-Day Courage Challenge Cheat Sheet and start building confidence today.

📱 Follow Us:

Instagram | Facebook | Threads

🎙️ Presented by Davis-Smith Mental Health

This podcast was created by Davis-Smith Mental Health, offering counseling for teens & young adults in Illinois (only). We accept BCBS PPO, Aetna PPO, and self-pay clients.

⚠️ Disclaimer: Block Out the Noise provides personal insights and practical strategies to help manage anxiety and self-doubt. The content is intended for educational and informational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional mental health care, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing a crisis or need immediate assistance, please contact emergency services or a trusted mental health professional immediately.

Around this time of year, something shifts.

You might feel your anxiety climb, your energy crash, and your emotions spiral between motivation and exhaustion. If you’ve found yourself wondering, “What’s wrong with me?” — you’re not alone.

In this episode, Jessica Davis, licensed therapist and creator of The C.O.U.R.A.G.E. Method, breaks down the connection between anxiety and depression — especially how seasonal changes, school stress, and life transitions can make both feel heavier. You’ll learn three research-backed ways to reset your mind, re-engage with life, and rediscover a sense of control even when everything feels overwhelming.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• How anxiety can disguise itself as depression (and why that’s more common than you think)
• The difference between consuming and creating — and how tiny acts of creation rebuild motivation
• A practical “effort + reward” strategy to retrain your brain’s motivation system
• Why your expectations shape how you experience life — and how to adjust them to reduce pressure
• The one mindset shift that helps you feel capable again, even when you feel stuck

Takeaway:
You don’t have to wait for motivation to start; you create it. Every small act of courage, even when life feels heavy, is proof that you’re still moving forward.

Mentioned in this Episode:

• Dr. Scott Eilers – on the link between purpose and depression
• Steve Bartlett – “The Diary of a CEO” on expectations and happiness

Got a question or feedback? Text us and share your thoughts—we’d love to hear from you!

RESOURCES:
Get your FREE Anxiety Survival Toolkit to help you when your anxiety is overwhelming!

Grab your FREE 90-Day Courage Challenge Cheat Sheet and start building confidence today.

📱 Follow Us:

Instagram | Facebook | Threads

🎙️ Presented by Davis-Smith Mental Health

This podcast was created by Davis-Smith Mental Health, offering counseling for teens & young adults in Illinois (only). We accept BCBS PPO, Aetna PPO, and self-pay clients.

⚠️ Disclaimer: Block Out the Noise provides personal insights and practical strategies to help manage anxiety and self-doubt. The content is intended for educational and informational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional mental health care, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing a crisis or need immediate assistance, please contact emergency services or a trusted mental health professional immediately.

So often we tell ourselves we need more time—but what we really need is more discipline. In this episode of Block Out the Noise, Jessica shares why waiting is a thief of progress, how a clear plan becomes your lifeline when emotions spike, and what it actually looks like to build momentum day by day. You’ll hear a powerful client story (night-and-day change in one semester), hard truths from Jay Shetty’s wife on discipline, and a simple formula you can use immediately: Discipline + Action + Plan + Support = Transformation.

✨ In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why “later” keeps you stuck (and how to break the cycle today)
• The real role of discipline when anxiety and overwhelm show up
• How to build a plan that removes in-the-moment decision fatigue
• Mindset shifts that turn consistency into confidence
• What evidence-building looks like (and why it’s the key to self-trust)
• The honest truth about motivation vs. action (and how to start anyway)
• How the 90 Day Courage Challenge gives you structure, coaching, and community so you’re not doing this alone

Got a question or feedback? Text us and share your thoughts—we’d love to hear from you!

RESOURCES:
Get your FREE Anxiety Survival Toolkit to help you when your anxiety is overwhelming!

Grab your FREE 90-Day Courage Challenge Cheat Sheet and start building confidence today.

📱 Follow Us:

Instagram | Facebook | Threads

🎙️ Presented by Davis-Smith Mental Health

This podcast was created by Davis-Smith Mental Health, offering counseling for teens & young adults in Illinois (only). We accept BCBS PPO, Aetna PPO, and self-pay clients.

⚠️ Disclaimer: Block Out the Noise provides personal insights and practical strategies to help manage anxiety and self-doubt. The content is intended for educational and informational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional mental health care, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing a crisis or need immediate assistance, please contact emergency services or a trusted mental health professional immediately.