If, like me, you have kids who have introduced you to the car game “Cheese on Wheels”, you’ll no doubt know what happens when a yellow car is spotted when you are on the road, in a car park or out and about. In my household, there is also much discussion about what constitutes the colour yellow and a passenger vehicle (the rules have now been laid down, and the first to spot a yellow car argues their winning declaration, and the debate rolls on). I’ve also found myself muttering ‘Cheese on Wheels when I’m in the car alone, send help.

So, are you now caught in the yellow car spotting awareness, too?

It’s not that more yellow cars have magically appeared overnight. It’s that your brain has tuned in and decided this detail is now worth paying attention to.

Here’s how being attuned to spotting yellow cars is a helpful way to understand how anxious thoughts work.

The Brain’s Filter System

Our brains process vast amounts of information every second. To prevent us from feeling overwhelmed, a filter system – known as the Reticular Activating System (RAS) – determines what to bring into our conscious awareness.

If you’ve unconsciously told your brain that yellow cars matter, the RAS ensures you notice them. With anxiety, the same process happens, but instead of yellow cars, your brain highlights potential dangers.

So if you’ve been worrying about health, relationships, or work, for example, your brain starts scanning for anything that confirms those fears. It keeps bringing anxious thoughts into your awareness, even if there’s no real threat.

Almost like it’s fueling the fire – It keeps you on high alert.

The Loop of Worry

It is because of this high alert, constant scanning, that anxiety can feel so relentless – and exhausting.

Once your brain is on the lookout for problems, every situation seems to provide “evidence” that something could go wrong,

  • A poor night’s sleep? → “I’ll never cope tomorrow.”
  • A friend doesn’t reply quickly? → “They must be upset with me.”
  • A minor mistake at work? → “Everyone thinks I’m incompetent.”

Just as seeing one yellow car makes you more alert for the next, one anxious thought triggers another, and another.

Very quickly, you find yourself caught up in a loop where it feels like your brain is constantly shouting warnings at you.

Shifting the Filter

The good news is that what the Filter is bringing to your attention isn’t permanent; it can be redirected and retrained to notice more positive, pleasant, and pleasurable things that you want to focus on.

Approaches like Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy work by encouraging the redirection and retraining of the RAS (Reticular Activating System) part of the brain, allowing you to focus your attention on the things you want to think about rather than those you don’t.

By calming the overactive, anxious part of the brain and strengthening the rational, solution-focused part, therapy helps your mind reset its filters. Instead of scanning endlessly for threats, your brain can begin to notice safety, calm moments, and evidence of your strengths, leaving you more relaxed, more rational, and better able to cope.

Over time, this creates a shift. Just as you once spotted yellow cars everywhere, you begin to spot the things that bring balance, confidence, and hope.

A Different Way of Seeing

Anxiety can trick you into believing that you are your thoughts – that the endless worries define you. However, the truth is that they are simply the result of a brain filter set to “danger mode.” And filters can change.

So if your anxious thoughts feel like yellow cars you can’t stop seeing, remember: it’s not a flaw in you, it’s just how your brain is tuned right now, and don’t worry too much about it, remember, you’re not alone if you’re declaring “Cheese on Wheels!” to yourself!

If you’re ready to change your Filtering from red alert to calm and relaxed, pop me a message!