Jung On Purpose Podcast: Navigating Anxiety - Jungian Insights in a Chaotic World

Hosted by Debra Maldonado & Robert Maldonado, PhD (CreativeMind)
Episode Date: January 19, 2026

Overview

In this episode, Debra and Dr. Rob Maldonado address the pervasive issue of anxiety in a world that feels increasingly chaotic. Drawing from Jungian psychology, neuroscience, and Eastern spirituality, they explore why anxiety is on the rise, how modern life intensifies it, and what practical and spiritual tools we can use to navigate and transform our experience—both personally and collectively.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Modern Anxiety Epidemic

• The hosts frame anxiety as an adaptive response gone awry in our hyper-connected, information-overloaded culture.
• Anxiety is rampant, with 1 in 5 American adults affected—a trend mirrored globally. (02:47)
• “We have to address this question… it is basically human suffering on a large scale and it’s preventable.” – Robert [02:47]
• The news and social media amplify anxiety by keeping us in a state of constant alertness.

Notable Quote:
“You could literally wake up in a good mood and just go online and immediately start worrying about everything.” – Debra [03:46]

2. Sources and Triggers of Anxiety

• The shift from limited, daily news consumption to 24/7 digital media exposes us to a relentless flood of distressing information. (03:46–05:41)
• Social media algorithms are designed to provoke fear and keep users engaged (05:41).
• Anxiety is further intensified by social comparison and exposure to others’ suffering or outrage on social platforms.

Notable Quote:
“When we see other people suffering, we connect to it in some way. We feel the suffering of others.” – Debra [11:10]

3. Understanding Anxiety: Symptom, Not Enemy

• Anxiety is reframed as a necessary human defense mechanism, not a pathology. (07:13)
• It's the body's natural alert system: increased heart rate, hormones, and overthinking are evolutionary tools for survival.
• The main problem in modern life is that instead of rare threats, we're stuck in a "revved up" state all the time. (12:52)

Notable Quote:
“We don’t want to get rid of anxiety—we need it, it’s useful… these mechanisms, we want to see them for what they are.” – Robert [07:13]

4. Fear vs. Anxiety

• Fear = Immediate, present-moment physiological response to clear danger (e.g., a truck approaching).
• Anxiety = Anticipatory or memory-based, a “fear loop” that persists with or without a clear trigger. (13:47–16:29)

Notable Exchange:
“Would anxiety be like a fear stuck in a loop?...more of an imagined danger?” – Debra [14:29]
“Yeah…now it becomes that reoccurring firing of the same neurons…which is not necessarily true.” – Robert [14:37]

5. Physiology and Neuroscience of Anxiety

• The amygdala is the brain’s fear center; repeated activation strengthens its neural circuits (18:15–21:27).
• Extended anxiety suppresses rational cognition and executive function, leading to increased reactivity and impulsiveness online and offline (21:27).
• Trauma patterns and early childhood experiences amplify anxious responses.

Notable Quote:
“When incidents are so shocking…they leave a powerful imprint that goes beyond the nervous system and goes into our psychology.” – Robert [22:50]

6. The Ego and Predictability

• Our ego craves predictability for security, but also novelty for growth—creating a tension at the heart of the human experience (25:20–26:36).
• Collective anxiety can be seen as the ego's attempt to regain lost control and continuity when confronted with societal or global disruption (23:38).

Notable Quote:
“Chaos precedes the transformation because there needs to be a disruption in the status quo for us to change.” – Debra [26:36]

7. Jungian, Eastern, and Neuroscience Approaches to Managing Anxiety

Individual Strategies

• Nervous System Regulation:

  • Engage the parasympathetic (“rest and digest”) system with breathing, meditation, and mindful movement (28:11–29:16).
  • Exercise is as effective as psychotherapy for anxiety (05:41).

  “Get them [kids] involved in physical exercise and you’ll help them reduce [anxiety].” – Robert [05:41]

• Metacognition and the Witness Mind:

  • Practice becoming the “witness” of your thoughts and feelings rather than identifying with them.
  • This meta-awareness, rooted both in Eastern meditation and Western psychology, neutralizes the anxiety loop. (34:36–38:41)

  Memorable Analogy:
  “Our mind is like a rushing river… you could either be in the water trying not to drown, or you can sit on the bank and watch the river going—all the emotions, all the thoughts.” – Debra [37:27]

Collective and Social Dimensions

• Emotions are contagious—leaders and algorithms amplify collective anxiety (30:31).
• Mob mentality is rooted in the same nervous system responses as individual anxiety—thus, calm and emotional discipline have outsized ripple effects.
• “Calm and compassion and love are so much more powerful. If you refuse to buy into the fear, you are actually more powerful.” – Debra [32:34]

8. Non-Dual & Spiritual Insights

• Non-dual philosophy (the witness or “wisdom mind”) provides a spiritual anchor, allowing us to observe but not be engulfed by anxiety. (34:36–36:11)
• Judgment is to be replaced with neutral observation: “bringing light into a dark room.”
• “With the wisdom mind, if you practice it before you have the panic attack, you might be able to do it because you’re observing yourself experiencing anxiety.” – Robert [36:37]

9. Activism, Compassion, and Creative Response

• Avoidance is not a solution—shutting out the world may reduce triggers, but also reduces potential for meaningful engagement and growth (42:57).
• Effective change comes from compassion and creative responses, not from fear-driven opposition. (45:02–47:55)
• The example of Buddhist monks engaging in peaceful, non-violent activism demonstrates the power of presence and compassion in the face of collective anxiety and aggression.

Notable Quote:
“How would I respond if I had no fear? Fear response is defensive, protective, and clouded. But if you’re in the calm, you really know.” – Debra [47:55]

10. Practical Guidance for Anxiety Today

Key Tactics:

• Limit news/social media exposure
• Move your body; cultivate exercise habits
• Practice breathing, meditation, and progressive relaxation
• Teach children about self-regulation early
• Use self-inquiry: “What am I trying to control?” and “Where am I going?” (50:47)
• Bring witness awareness to your emotions
• Hold a vision for transformation—both personal and collective

Final Reflection:
“The world has always been uncertain…what’s new is that we can re-know that uncertainty is part of being in this world, and we have to be at peace with that.” – Debra [50:50]

Memorable Moments & Quotes with Timestamps

• “You could literally wake up in a good mood and just go online and immediately start worrying about everything.” – Debra [03:46]
• “Anxiety is not the problem. Anxiety is the symptom. It’s an alert reaction…We don’t want to get rid of anxiety. We need it.” – Robert [07:13]
• “Would anxiety be like a fear stuck in a loop? …where there’s not an immediate or more of an imagined danger?” – Debra [14:29]
• “Chaos precedes the transformation, because there needs to be a disruption in the status quo for us to change.” – Debra [26:36]
• “We transmit emotions from one person to the next… Leaders of societies, groups, have a big impact on the crowd.” – Robert [29:16]
• “If you refuse to buy into the fear, you are actually more powerful.” – Debra [32:34]
• “Practice becoming the witness of your thoughts…immediately you’ll feel calm by doing that.” – Debra [34:36]
• “Our mind is like a rushing river… you could either be in the water trying not to drown, or you can sit on the bank and watch the river going.” – Debra [37:27]
• “How would I respond if I had no fear?” – Debra [47:55]

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Time | Topic | |------------|--------------------------------------------| | 00:04 | Show intro & context | | 02:47 | The prevalence of anxiety | | 03:46 | Digital overload as a trigger | | 05:41 | The power of exercise and regulation | | 07:13 | Anxiety as an adaptive response | | 13:47 | Fear vs. anxiety explained | | 18:15 | Neuroscience—role of the amygdala | | 21:27 | How anxiety impairs cognition | | 25:20 | Human need for both predictability/novelty | | 26:36 | Jungian transformation & chaos | | 28:11 | Calming the nervous system | | 34:36 | Non-dual & witness mind | | 37:27 | River analogy | | 42:57 | Avoidance vs. engagement | | 45:02 | Social action rooted in compassion | | 50:47 | Self-inquiry practices | | 52:14 | Closing reflections |

Conclusion

The episode reframes anxiety as not just a personal shortcoming, but a reflection of our collective state in a rapidly changing, information-saturated environment. The Jungian, neuroscientific, and spiritual perspectives converge on one message: While we cannot control the chaos of the world, we can transform our relationship with it—finding purpose, compassion, and creativity in the face of uncertainty. By cultivating self-awareness, mindful regulation, and a commitment to acting from love rather than fear, we become not only more resilient individuals, but agents of healing in the collective.

Be the light in the darkness. Shine it in your own life, and it will ripple out to others. – Debra [52:14]