Andrea Petersen > Quotes

“Anxiety is a thief that steals the present moment.”
― Andrea Petersen, On Edge: A Journey Through Anxiety

“Scientists define perfectionism as the will to achieve high standards combined with excessive self-criticism. Perfectionists expect, well, perfection. Anything less won’t do. In their minds, a mistake equals failure. Perfectionists also tend to doubt their actions.”
― Andrea Petersen, On Edge: A Journey Through Anxiety

“Anxiety is a thief that steals the present moment. So some of my headiest travel experiences—visceral, beautiful moments of strangeness—have been muted, dulled by a steady drumbeat of anxious thoughts. Still, a tenacious desire for these moments propels me on to new spots on the globe.”
― Andrea Petersen, On Edge: A Journey Through Anxiety

“The most frustrating—actually heartbreaking—fallout from my anxiety is that, when I’m in the thick of it, it separates me from those I love. Anxiety is an isolation chamber where worry and fear elbow out human connection.”
― Andrea Petersen, On Edge: A Journey Through Anxiety

“Research shows, however, that anxiety is linked to some aspects of perfectionism but not others. Specifically, while anxious people are concerned about mistakes and doubt their actions, they don’t necessarily have superhigh personal standards. Worriers actually tend to lower their standards when stressed out. It isn’t that they want to be the best. They just don’t want to mess up.”
― Andrea Petersen, On Edge: A Journey Through Anxiety

“Anxious people aren’t just constantly on guard; they actually see more peril in the world. If a situation is ambiguous, they are more likely to perceive it as negative or threatening.”
― Andrea Petersen, On Edge: A Journey Through Anxiety

“Real peril galvanizes me. It's fear -- not danger -- that shuts me down.”
― Andrea Petersen, On Edge: A Journey Through Anxiety

“In my early thirties, I started traveling alone. At first it was for only a few days at a time, but even so it was transformative. Without a traveling companion, there was no buffer, no distraction from experience. I met people easily. And perhaps unexpectedly, I was sometimes less anxious on these excursions. If anxiety overwhelmed me, I didn’t have to pretend I was okay, because there was no one to disappoint.”
― Andrea Petersen, On Edge: A Journey Through Anxiety

“Anxiety shrinks my world, but travel expands it. The heightened sensations of travel, the extremes in colors and tastes, can sometimes drown out the worries and obsessions.”
― Andrea Petersen, On Edge: A Journey Through Anxiety