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Heard Lucy Quote by Charlie Brooker

“There's a characteristically brilliant Peanuts strip which opens with Linus sitting on the living-room floor, anxiously clutching his mouth. Lucy enters and asks what's wrong. "I'm aware of my tongue," he explains. "It's an awful feeling! Every now and then I become aware that I have a tongue…” quote by Charlie Brooker
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““There's a characteristically brilliant Peanuts strip which opens with Linus sitting on the living-room floor, anxiously clutching his mouth. Lucy enters and asks what's wrong. "I'm aware of my tongue," he explains. "It's an awful feeling! Every now and then I become aware that I have a tongue inside my mouth, and then it starts to feel lumped up... I cant's help it... I can't put it out of my mind... I keep thinking about where my tongue would be if I weren't thinking about it, and then I can feel it sort of pressing against my teeth." Loudly declaring this the dumbest thing she's ever heard, Lucy scowls away. But a few steps down the corridor, she stops dead in her tracks. She clutches her own mouth. Suddenly she's aware of her tongue too. She runs back and chases him round the room, shouting, "You blockhead!" with her gigantic booming gob. Occasionally, late at night, while I'm trying to sleep and failing, I experience someting similar - except instead of being aware of my tongue, I'm aware of my entire body, the entire world, and the whole of reality itself. It's like waking from a dream, or a light going on, or a giant "YOU ARE HERE" sign appearing in the sky. The mere fact that I'm actually real and actually breathing suddenly hits me in the head with a thwack. It leaves me giddy. It causes a brief surge of clammy, bubbling anxiety, like the opening stages of a panic attack. The moment soon passes, but while it lasts it's strangely terrifying.””

Charlie Brooker

About This Quote

Source Essay: 2022 column in The Guardian on mindfulness and anxiety

Hyper‑awareness of bodily sensations can trigger existential panic, yet also reveals deep presence.

In simple terms: Over‑focus on sensations can cause anxiety.

Key Takeaway

Notice sensations without judgment.

Themes

mindfulness anxiety existential awareness psychology

Mood

reflective introspective

Type

philosophical psychological

When to use this quote

  • meditation practice
  • therapy sessions
  • stressful work environments

Key Concepts

cognitive awareness sensory focus panic triggers

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can you observe sensations without spir?
  • What techniques calm the “tongue‑awareness” panic?
A Different Perspective

Such awareness can become obsessive and impair functioning.

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