Assi Azar Shares Personal Strategies for Managing Anxiety and Negative Thoughts
Translated & summarized from Ice by baba
Israeli host Assi Azar, a prominent advocate for mental health awareness, shared personal strategies for managing anxiety and negative thoughts. In an Instagram Q&A, he discussed overcoming feelings of loneliness through professional help and community support. Azar also detailed four practical methods for dealing with intrusive thoughts, including personifying the inner critic as "Bentsi" and using physical actions to break mental loops.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Assi Azar shared personal strategies for managing anxiety and negative thoughts on Instagram.
- He described overcoming feelings of loneliness and isolation through professional help.
- Azar personifies his critical inner voice as "Bentsi" to manage negative self-talk.
- He advocates for physical actions to interrupt anxious thought loops.
- Azar advises acknowledging negative thoughts rather than fighting or fleeing them.
Israeli host and creator Assi Azar has become a prominent voice in discussions about mental health and anxiety, openly sharing his experiences with panic attacks and psychological treatment. He recently spearheaded the Ministry of Health's "Kol Ma She'Ozer" (Everything That Helps) initiative and hosted the Channel 12 program "Mi Rotzeh Lehat'chil?" (Who Wants to Start?), which featured celebrities discussing their emotional struggles. Azar's personal disclosures and media projects have positioned him as a relatable figure for many seeking tools and validation for mental health challenges.
In a recent Instagram Q&A, Azar candidly addressed a follower's question about feeling "literally alone and very lonely," describing the isolation he experienced at the beginning of his struggle with anxiety. He admitted to feeling ashamed to share his distress and struggling to articulate his feelings. However, he emphasized that seeking professional help and delving into the subject allowed him to overcome this burden, noting the supportive community that has grown on his social media page.
Further elaborating on his coping mechanisms, Azar shared a post detailing four practical methods he uses to combat negative thoughts that can escalate anxiety. One surprising technique involves personifying the critical inner voice, which he calls "Bentsi." When this voice asserts he is "not good enough," Azar responds dismissively, "Bentsi, thanks. Not now," thereby externalizing the thought and treating it as separate from his identity.
Azar also stressed the importance of interrupting mental loops through physical action, suggesting that leaving a room, splashing water on one's face, and taking deep breaths can calm the mind. He also advised separating past experiences from future anxieties, as the mind can project negative memories onto upcoming events. Finally, Azar recommended acknowledging negative thoughts directly with a greeting like "Hi, I see you," rather than fighting or fleeing them, explaining that unresisted thoughts lose their power. He concluded by reassuring his followers that anyone experiencing such a "Bentsi" is not alone.