--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When we suffer prolonged anxiety, we have…" description: "\"“When we suffer prolonged anxiety, we have a tendency to become self-obsessed...You believe the whole world is thinking about you constantly. You belie..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/060/sophie-kinsella-719_anxiety_when-we-suffer-prolonged-anxiety-we-have_1058124.png" --- # When we suffer prolonged anxiety, we have a tendency to… ![“When we suffer prolonged anxiety, we have a tendency to become self-obsessed...You believe the whole world is thinking about you constantly. You believe the world is judging you and talking about you...The more you engage with the outside world, the more you'll be able to turn down the volume on…” quote by Sophie Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/060/sophie-kinsella-719_anxiety_when-we-suffer-prolonged-anxiety-we-have_1058124.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/060/sophie-kinsella-719_anxiety_when-we-suffer-prolonged-anxiety-we-have_1058124.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/060/sophie-kinsella-719_anxiety_when-we-suffer-prolonged-anxiety-we-have_1058124.png) > ““When we suffer prolonged anxiety, we have a tendency to become self-obsessed...You believe the whole world is thinking about you constantly. You believe the world is judging you and talking about you...The more you engage with the outside world, the more you'll be able to turn down the volume on those worries. You'll see that they're unfounded. You'll see that the world is a very busy and varied place and most people have the attention span of a gnat. They've already forgotten what happened. They don't think about it.”” [Sophie Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-kinsella/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Anxiety fuels self‑centered thoughts; engaging with life shows most people are preoccupied elsewhere, reducing fear of judgment. **In simple terms:** Worrying about others' opinions is often unfounded; stay busy to quiet those thoughts. Key Takeaway Connect with the world to lower anxiety. Themes anxiety self‑perception social comparison Mood reflective encouraging Type advice motivational When to use this quote - social events - workplace - public speaking - online interaction Key Concepts cognitive bias attention focus Questions to Reflect On - How does real‑world engagement change your self‑judgment? - What small activity can you try today to shift focus outward? A Different Perspective If you avoid interaction, anxiety may persist despite knowledge. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) [Attention span](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention-span/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Outside world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outside-world/) [Self obsessed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-obsessed/) [Whole world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole-world/) ## Related quotes > [“the root of our human frustration and daily anxiety is our tendency to live for the future, which is an abstraction,” and that “our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-cuddy/the-root-of-our-human-frustration-and-daily-anxiety-is-our-tendency/) [Amy Cuddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-cuddy/) > [Thinking constantly about world domination can give you a little vertigo. The way I usually get through my day is by limiting my horizon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-kelman/thinking-constantly-about-world-domination-can-give-you-a-little/) [Glenn Kelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-kelman/) > [With Shakespeare, there's no subtext; you're speaking exactly what you're thinking constantly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-isaac/with-shakespeare-there-s-no-subtext-you-re-speaking-exactly-what-you/) [Oscar Isaac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-isaac/) > [Leaders need to be thinking constantly about what they're doing to create a basic sense of security and stability throughout an organization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/leaders-need-to-be-thinking-constantly-about-what-they-re-doing-to/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [Thinking about someone constantly but knowing you never cross there mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/thinking-about-someone-constantly-but-knowing-you-never-cross-there/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“By the end of the week she was thinking constantly about where her body stopped and the air began about the exact point in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/by-the-end-of-the-week-she-was-thinking-constantly-about-where-her/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [The thing about being an outsider... is that it teaches you to hear what people are thinking because you're constantly looking for the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-nichols/the-thing-about-being-an-outsider-is-that-it-teaches-you-to-hear-what/) [Mike Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-nichols/) > [It's extraordinary how self-obsessed human beings are. The things that people always go on about is, 'tell us about us', 'tell us about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-attenborough/it-s-extraordinary-how-self-obsessed-human-beings-are-the-things-that/) [David Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-attenborough/) > [We live in a time where loving yourself is mistaken for Self Obsessed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hqlinestumblr/we-live-in-a-time-where-loving-yourself-is-mistaken-for-self-obsessed/) HQLinesTumblr > [The movement of grace toward gratitude brings us from the package of self-obsessed madness to a spiritual awakening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/the-movement-of-grace-toward-gratitude-brings-us-from-the-package-of/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [All you ever think about it yourself! The reason you're depressed is because you're so self obsessed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/all-you-ever-think-about-it-yourself-the-reason-you-re-depressed-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There's a danger in Hollywood of becoming self-obsessed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-broderick/there-s-a-danger-in-hollywood-of-becoming-self-obsessed/) [Beth Broderick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-broderick/) > [Me: I'm fat. Society: Attention seeker! Me: I'm skinny. Society: Self obsessed!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-m-fat-society-attention-seeker-me-i-m-skinny-society-self/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [People do complain about the way I act on stage... They think on stage I act too arrogant, too self-obsessed, solecistic, self-contained, synonyms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/people-do-complain-about-the-way-i-act-on-stage-they-think-on-stage-i/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [I pray not to be such a whiny, self-obsessed baby, and give thanks that I am not quite as bad as I used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/i-pray-not-to-be-such-a-whiny-self-obsessed-baby-and-give-thanks-that/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) ## More by Sophie Kinsella > [If your life's at a juncture and you need to think about things, there's nowhere better than home. However old you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-kinsella/if-your-life-s-at-a-juncture-and-you-need-to-think-about-things-there/) [Sophie Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-kinsella/) > [Our eyes met in the math class. How were we to know that trigonometry would lead to matrimony?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-kinsella/our-eyes-met-in-the-math-class-how-were-we-to-know-that-trigonometry/) [Sophie Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-kinsella/) > [“Buy calmly and with meaning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-kinsella/buy-calmly-and-with-meaning/) [Sophie Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-kinsella/) > [You fall in and out of love, but when you really love someone...it's forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-kinsella/you-fall-in-and-out-of-love-but-when-you-really-love-someone-it-s/) [Sophie Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-kinsella/) > [“Men who want to get married propose. You don’t need to read the signs. They propose and that’s the sign.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-kinsella/men-who-want-to-get-married-propose-you-don-t-need-to-read-the-signs/) [Sophie Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-kinsella/) > [I can't get over this. Dad isn't Sam's dad? Dad is a friend? How was I supposed to know that? People shouldn't be allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-kinsella/i-can-t-get-over-this-dad-isn-t-sam-s-dad-dad-is-a-friend-how-was-i/) [Sophie Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-kinsella/) > [“Oh God. I'm losing it. Everyone knows this is how criminals get caught. They add too many details and trip themselves up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-kinsella/oh-god-i-m-losing-it-everyone-knows-this-is-how-criminals-get-caught/) [Sophie Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-kinsella/) > [“Of all the crap, crap, crappy nights I've ever had in the whole of my crap life. On a scale of one to 10,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-kinsella/of-all-the-crap-crap-crappy-nights-i-ve-ever-had-in-the-whole-of-my/) [Sophie Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-kinsella/) > [Visiting any shop for the first time is exciting. There's always that buzz as you push open the door; that hope; that belief -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-kinsella/visiting-any-shop-for-the-first-time-is-exciting-there-s-always-that/) [Sophie Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-kinsella/) > [“And the truth is, the country is very cool. It’s absolutely the new town.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-kinsella/and-the-truth-is-the-country-is-very-cool-it-s-absolutely-the-new-town/) [Sophie Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-kinsella/) > [Lover? I don't know. I don't know if she loves me. I don't know if I love her. All I can say is, she's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-kinsella/lover-i-don-t-know-i-don-t-know-if-she-loves-me-i-don-t-know-if-i/) [Sophie Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-kinsella/) > [“I trail away into silence. I've just shared details of my condom use with my son's teacher. I'm not sure how that happened.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-kinsella/i-trail-away-into-silence-i-ve-just-shared-details-of-my-condom-use/) [Sophie Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-kinsella/) > [“Every one is allowed to have a false start”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-kinsella/every-one-is-allowed-to-have-a-false-start/) [Sophie Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-kinsella/) > [I think a lot of people still fantasise about that first love and what might happen if they rekindled the relationship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-kinsella/i-think-a-lot-of-people-still-fantasise-about-that-first-love-and/) [Sophie Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-kinsella/) > [I can do this, I tell myself firmly. I can be attracted to him. It's just a matter of self control and possibly also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-kinsella/i-can-do-this-i-tell-myself-firmly-i-can-be-attracted-to-him-it-s/) [Sophie Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-kinsella/) [Explore all 388 Sophie Kinsella quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-kinsella/) ## More Anxiety quotes > [“Anything that you find yourself worrying about regularly may find you suddenly wanting unrealistic changes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagisa-tatsumi/anything-that-you-find-yourself-worrying-about-regularly-may-find-you/) Nagisa Tatsumi > [Bein Crazy is the least of my worries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/bein-crazy-is-the-least-of-my-worries/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [“Fear of seeing a police car pull into the drive. Fear of falling asleep at night. Fear of not falling asleep. Fear of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/fear-of-seeing-a-police-car-pull-into-the-drive-fear-of-falling/) [Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/) > [I get nervous when I don't get nervous. If I'm nervous I know I'm going to have a good show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beyonce-knowles/i-get-nervous-when-i-don-t-get-nervous-if-i-m-nervous-i-know-i-m/) [Beyonce Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beyonce-knowles/) > [“Every invention comes through anxiousness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakesh-wadhwani/every-invention-comes-through-anxiousness/) [Rakesh Wadhwani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakesh-wadhwani/) > [“Do Not Be Anxious 25 e “Therefore I tell you,  f do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-be-anxious-25-e-therefore-i-tell-you-f-do-not-be-anxious-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Nothing happens on its own, you have to make things happen. If you really want to come out of your stressful situation than you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subodh-gupta/nothing-happens-on-its-own-you-have-to-make-things-happen-if-you/) [Subodh Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subodh-gupta/) > [“I guess if we're talking about my anxiety, the even truthier truth is it started way before that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-winfrey/i-guess-if-we-re-talking-about-my-anxiety-the-even-truthier-truth-is/) [Kerry Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-winfrey/) > [I was a very good student. Procrastinating gives me anxiety, and getting a B really ticked me off. Sure, I didn't always want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-loren/i-was-a-very-good-student-procrastinating-gives-me-anxiety-and/) [Josie Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-loren/) > [“The suspense: the fearful, acute suspense: of standing idly by while the life of one we dearly love, is trembling in the balance; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-suspense-the-fearful-acute-suspense-of-standing-idly-by-while-the/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [The party in Alobar’s head, which agitation and anxiety were throwing, now was crashed by a notion: existence can be rearranged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-party-in-alobar-s-head-which-agitation-and-anxiety-were-throwing/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [As you know, I have been very open about my struggle with social anxiety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/summer-walker/as-you-know-i-have-been-very-open-about-my-struggle-with-social/) [Summer Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/summer-walker/) > [Anxiety is not to be managed it is a sin that needs to be repented of](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/anxiety-is-not-to-be-managed-it-is-a-sin-that-needs-to-be-repented-of/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [“I’ve always seen this in you, ever since you were a little girl — this hunger to love other people into their highest selves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-elisabeth/i-ve-always-seen-this-in-you-ever-since-you-were-a-little-girl-this/) [Jennifer Elisabeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-elisabeth/) [Browse all 4,944 Anxiety quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“When we suffer prolonged anxiety, we have a tendency to become self-obsessed...You believe the whole world is thinking about you constantly. 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