My Personal Triumph: Discovering the Two Voices Within
Hey there, it’s Dennis Simsek. If you’re battling health anxiety, this post is for you, because I’ve been where you are. Today, I’m sharing a transformative idea that’s sparked healing breakthroughs in our community: the difference between your hypervigilant inner protector and your calm, witnessing presence. This isn’t just theory, it’s a game-changer.
The Exhausted Inner Protector
When you’re deep in health anxiety, every day feels like survival. You’re constantly scanning your body, heart rate, sensations, unfamiliar twingesthen spiraling into hours of Googling and worst-case scenarios. That voice? That’s your inner protector. It’s loud, intense, and utterly exhausted. It means well (it wants you safe!), but it’s stuck in overdrive, like a smoke alarm blaring over toast.1
Your True Self: The Witnessing Presence
Here’s what changes everything:
You are not the protector.
You’re the quiet presence behind it, the one who notices the racing thoughts, the fear, the body tension. You’re not the panic; you’re the space where panic appears. This “I” has never been exhausted or afraid. Reconnecting with it, even for 10 seconds, sends a new signal to your nervous system: “I don’t need survival mode anymore.2
A Healing Milestone: From Fighting to Witnessing
Arguing with the inner protector backfires. It fuels resistance and fear. The shift? Stop fighting. Start witnessing.3
Why Arguing Fails
Trying to logic your way out of anxiety (“Nothing’s wrong!”) often amplifies it. Your protector interprets discomfort as danger, and when you fight it, it digs in harder.4
A Victory in Practice: Reclaiming Your Awareness
Ready to try? If it feels safe:5
- Close your eyes. Place a hand on your heart or rest your hands gently.
- Notice body sensations and thoughts without judgment.
- Ask softly: “Who is noticing this?”
That question invites you back to your true self, the “I” that existed before anxiety and remains when fear fades. Open your eyes.
Your Recovery Journey: Where Healing Begins
Whether today feels manageable or overwhelming, hear this:
You are not your fear, thoughts, or symptoms.
You are the presence behind them.
Resting in this awareness, even briefly, is where healing unfolds. Not by force, but by surrendering to what’s always been true: You’re not the protector. You’re the loving awareness watching it try to protect you. The more you anchor here, the safer your nervous system feels to release old patterns.
Join Our Community of Healing
This insight emerged from a powerful Facebook discussion, thank you to everyone who shared. If this resonated:
- Explore my Health Anxiety Recovery Program at anxietyguyprograms.com. It’s packed with tools to rewire your nervous system and find lasting peace.
- Grab my books on Amazon for deeper dives into anxiety recovery.
- Subscribe to The Anxiety Guy Podcast (new episodes every Saturday!).
You’re doing better than you know. Remember: You’re not alone, and the strength to heal is already within you.
With gratitude,
Dennis Simsek
Founder, The Anxiety Guy
P.S. Share this post with someone who needs it. Together, we rewrite health anxiety stories into triumphs.
References
- Anderson, F., Sweezy, M., & Schwartz, R. (2017). IFS Skills Training Manual. PESI. ↩︎
- Daniel M. Wegner, D. J. Schneider, S. R. Carter, & T. L. White. (1987). Paradoxical effects of thought suppression. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 53, 5–13. ↩︎
- Khoury, B. et al. (2013). Mindfulness-based therapy: A comprehensive meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 33(6), 763–771. ↩︎
- Kuyken, W. et al. (2010). How does mindfulness-based cognitive therapy work? Behaviour Research and Therapy, 48, 1105–1112. ↩︎
- Jon Kabat-Zinn. (1979). MBSR Program Manual. University of Massachusetts Medical School.
APA. (2018). Mindfulness meditation: A research‐proven way to reduce stress.
Health.com. (2023). The health benefits of mindfulness.
New York Post. (2025). Meditation changes brain waves linked to anxiety and depression. ↩︎
Comments (2)
I cried listening to this because it’s so on point.
It was great to hear.
The negative is that I’ll be 58 and have been suffering with this most of my life.
It makes me feel like it’s just apart of me now, and it will never go away.
Totally understand! remember Colonel Harland Sanders was 65 years old when he started franchising Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) in 1952!!! Not saying KFC is very healthy, but I think you understand my point, it’s never too late to make big changes in your life!