If you have ever stayed quiet so you would not stand out, downplayed your accomplishments, or held yourself back because you did not want to make anyone uncomfortable, this episode is for you. Anxiety convinces you that shrinking is safer, but playing small comes at a cost. It keeps you from opportunities, relationships, and the version of you that wants to grow.

In this episode, Jessica Davis, licensed therapist and creator of the C.O.U.R.A.G.E. Method, breaks down why anxious teens and young adults dim their light and how to stop letting fear make your decisions. You will learn why shining bright is not arrogance, how other people’s insecurities shape your confidence, and how to reclaim the parts of you that you buried to feel safe.

✨ In This Episode, You Will Learn:
• Why anxiety convinces you to stay small
• How fear of judgment leads to shrinking
• Why other people’s insecurities impact your confidence
• What it actually means to shine bright
• How to stop apologizing for your strengths
• How to notice when you are dimming your light
• How to rebuild identity when you feel like you have lost yourself
• Why vulnerability is the foundation of real confidence

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.

Holidays are supposed to feel joyful, but for many, they bring pressure, anxiety, and guilt. You want to keep the peace, but you also want to protect your mental health. You want to show up, but not lose yourself in the process.

In this episode, Jessica Davis, licensed therapist and creator of the C.O.U.R.A.G.E. Method, breaks down the hidden emotional labor behind family gatherings, why people pleasing is a survival response, and how to set boundaries without feeling like the bad guy. You’ll learn how to manage family expectations, calm anxiety before it spirals, and show up with confidence instead of fear.

✨ In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why holiday anxiety starts weeks before family gatherings
• The hidden reason people pleasing feels “safer”
• How to recognize the signs of emotional burnout around family
• Five practical tools for handling family pressure
• Simple boundary phrases to protect your peace
• How to show up as yourself without guilt or shame

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.

You’re sitting on your couch, minding your business, when your heart starts racing and your chest feels tight. There’s no test, no fight, no deadline. Just anxiety that appears out of nowhere.

In this episode, Jessica Davis, licensed therapist and creator of the C.O.U.R.A.G.E. Method, explains why anxiety doesn’t need a reason to show up and what’s actually happening in your brain when it does. She breaks down how to calm your body when your mind feels hijacked, why your brain thinks it’s protecting you, and what to do when you can’t find the “why” behind your anxiety.

✨ In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why anxiety can hit even when nothing is wrong
• What your amygdala does and how it tricks your brain into panic
• The hidden triggers that cause anxiety to feel random
• Why anxiety isn’t the enemy, but a poor communicator
• What your body needs to calm down when your brain spirals
• Three grounding tools to stop the panic cycle and regain control

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.