That Anxiety Guy - Straight Talk And Help With Anxiety, Panic And Agoraphobia

Send in a question or comment via text.Holly and I discuss chapter 9 of Claire Weekes' "Hope And Help For Your Nerves". This chapter discusses the nature of recovery and the road to being yourself again. Some of the highlights: Your symptoms will not immediately go away, and may even worsen during recovery. You cannot simply decide to not be afraid. You must LEARN to not be afraid. We discuss the use of medication in conjunction with recovery. Keeping occupied - not being wholly consumed at all times with recovery - is essential. Quick recovery is possible and does happen for some people. A big part of recovery is understanding that what you think is keeping you stuck. Setbacks can and likely will happen, but they're not really setbacks if you frame them properly and learn from them.You can buy Hope and Help From Your Nerves by following the Amazon links from my website:https://theanxioustruth.com/shop/ Join The Discussion Group——————————————–https://facebook.com/groups/TAGForumMy Lin

Send in a question or comment via text.When confronted with uncomfortable and scary feelings of anxiety, panic or emotions based on past trauma, the immediate response is to "talk yourself down".  Trying convince yourself that you are OK using words, phrases and thoughts often does not work.  When this happens, you are at a fork in the road.  You can enlist the aid of your support system to argue with your anxiety or trauma for you, or you can resign yourself to just feel everything without resistance to let it pass through you and end naturally.Spoiler alert ... you want option two.  Facing and accepting anxiety, panic, and feelings based on your past is harder, but its the path that leads to long term change and lasting recovery.  Continuing to argue, or using your support team to argue by proxy for you, may be an attractive option because it's the "easier" option and may seem like the fast path to feeling better in the moment, but there's no learning or changing to found there

Send in a question or comment via text.If you are a regular listener of the podcast, odds are that you've had anxiety, worry and fear focused on your heart at least once or twice.  This is quite common.  Heart-centered anxiety generally involves being afraid of a rapid, strong, or irregular (flutters/palpitations) heartbeat.  This is either due to an underlying fear that something is wrong with your heart or will go wrong, or due to the link between a rapid/strong heartbeat and a panic attack.  In either case, the way out, as always, is through.  We can use interoceptive exposure techniques to intentionally create the rapid or strong heartbeat we fear in order to desensitize and learn that there is no reason to fear your heartbeat.  Yes, this involves intentionally experiencing that which you fear, but this is almost always the case when solving these problems.Comments and questions always welcomed.Find this episode on my website:https://theanxioustruth.com/85My Links:https://theanxioustruth.com/linksMus

Send in a question or comment via text.Today I chatted with Christa Holmans about some of the overlapping issues found in both anxiety disorders and autism and other neurodivesity conditions such as ADHD.  Christa had so much excellent insight on how autism influences how one may deal with anxiety issues!  I really enjoyed this discussion and I hope you will too!My Links (Website, podcast, social media, etc.)---------------------https://theanxioustruth.com/linksFind Christa Online-----------------------https://neurodivergentrebel.comSupport The Anxious Truth: If you find the podcast helpful and want to support my work, you can buy me a coffee. This is never required, but always appreciated!Disclaimer: The Anxious Truth is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. Listening to The Anxious Truth does not create a therapeutic relationship between you and the host or guests of the podcast. Information here is provided for psychoeducational purposes. As always, when you have questions about your own well-being, pl

Send in a question or comment via text.Today I was fortunate to spend about 30 minutes with Dr. Martin Seif, a psychologist and author specializing in anxiety disorders.  Dr. Seif and I talked about intrusive, obsessive and unwanted thoughts.  What are they?  How do they become so troublesome?  How should we approach this problem? For the full notes on this episode and all links, go to https://theanxioustruth.com/83Find all my links at https://theanxioustruth.com/linksFind Dr. Martin Seif at http://drmartinseif.comFind the Anxiety And Depression Association of America at https://aada.orgSupport The Anxious Truth: If you find the podcast helpful and want to support my work, you can buy me a coffee. This is never required, but always appreciated!Disclaimer: The Anxious Truth is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. Listening to The Anxious Truth does not create a therapeutic relationship between you and the host or guests of the podcast. Information here is provided for psychoeducational purposes. As always

Send in a question or comment via text.Reading, listening to podcasts, watching videos, and otherwise educating yourself about your anxiety disorder is a good idea ...until its becomes a safety and avoidance behavior  Ultimately, overcoming an anxiety disorder only happens by DOING, not by reading.  So after you've read the book for the fifth time, or you've read 10 anxiety books and want to read an 11th, you must realize that its time to actually put what you've learned into action.  There is no lasting progress without action.  There's hard, scary stuff to do here, but its so worth doing, so put down the book and lets actually do the things you've been reading about!My Links---------------https://theanxioustruth.com/linksSupport The Anxious Truth: If you find the podcast helpful and want to support my work, you can buy me a coffee. This is never required, but always appreciated!Disclaimer: The Anxious Truth is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. Listening to The Anxious Truth

Send in a question or comment via text.How my friend Raven went from homebound agoraphobic, crippled with panic and intrusive thoughts and fears, to living her life, not being afraid of anxiety, and making plans for her future.  If there was every an uplifting story from a lovely human being, it would be this one.   If you think you can't, here's 30 minutes that will show you that you CAN! Thank you Raven, for taking the time to share with us! My Linkshttps://theanxioustruth.com/linksIntro/Outro Music:  "Afterglow" by The Ben Drake Collective.  Used with permission.  Find Ben Drake on Facebook or at bendrakemusic.com.Support The Anxious Truth: If you find the podcast helpful and want to support my work, you can buy me a coffee. This is never required, but always appreciated!Disclaimer: The Anxious Truth is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. Listening to The Anxious Truth does not create a therapeutic relationship between you and the host or guests of the podcast. Information here is

Send in a question or comment via text.One of the most common issues that seems to pop up for people doing the work to overcome an anxiety disorder is emotions and how to deal with them while in the recovery.  What do I do when I feel sad, or angry, or generally upset? Is that wrong?  Is this a setback in my recovery?  Its it OK to cry or otherwise express my emotions when they come up?  My friend Joe Ryan and I talk about how its perfectly OK and normal to experience emotions, and how its healthy and productive to express them whenever and however you need to.  We answer common questions, address common concerns, and point out potential pitfalls when dealing with those emotional times.My Linkshttps://theanxioustruth.com/linksJoe's Linkshttps://joeryan.comhttps://instagram.com/joeryanIntro/Outro Music:  "Afterglow" by The Ben Drake Collective.  Used with permission.  Find Ben Drake on Facebook or at bendrakemusic.com.Support The Anxious Truth: If you find the podcast helpful and want to support

Send in a question or comment via text.Recorded from YouTube Live August 19, 2019 What do you do when you “fail” at an exposure, or when you have a particularly difficult anxiety day and wind up escaping back to your “safe zone”? I can tell you what you should NOT do. You should NOT just sit home and recount the story of how horrible it was and how you failed and how upset you are. That is sending the wrong story and signals to you brain. Think objectively. Realize what you did wrong. Think about what would have been a better course of action. GET UP DO. IT. AGAIN. IMMEDIATELY.Turning a “fail” into a “win” is easier than you think. Do not miss the opportunity to turn things around because you CAN and it will matter in the overall scheme of your recovery progress.My Linkshttps://theanxioustruth.com/linksIntro/Outro Music:  "Afterglow" by The Ben Drake Collective.  Used with permission.  Find Ben Drake on Facebook or at bendrakemusic.com.Support The Anxious Truth: If you find the podcast helpful an

Send in a question or comment via text.Today I'm joined by my friend Holly to talk about common misconceptions and mistakes surrounding exposure.  Many people are unaware of the true nature of exposure and how it actually works as part of the anxiety recovery process.  Lets clear up a few things.My Linkshttps://theanxioustruth.com/linksIntro/Outro Music:  "Afterglow" by The Ben Drake Collective.  Used with permission.  Find Ben Drake on Facebook or at bendrakemusic.com.Support The Anxious Truth: If you find the podcast helpful and want to support my work, you can buy me a coffee. This is never required, but always appreciated!Disclaimer: The Anxious Truth is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. Listening to The Anxious Truth does not create a therapeutic relationship between you and the host or guests of the podcast. Information here is provided for psychoeducational purposes. As always, when you have questions about your own well-being, please consult your mental health and/or medical car

Send in a question or comment via text.You've been doing the work.  You've been working the process.  You're facing your fears and learning not to be afraid of how you feel. You're no longer crippled by panic, fear and anxiety. One day you find that that familiar fear and anxiety is missing.  Is this what it feels like to feel OK?  What am I supposed to do with this?  Where's the anxiety? Should I be happy now?  What if it comes back and puts me back to square one?These are questions I hear all the time from people that have reached the point where they're having anxiety free moments.  Today my friend Joe and I discuss this issue and how he's dealing with it.  We talk about not continually scanning and assessing your state, why you can't go back to square one if you've gone THROUGH the fear, and what feeling "OK" looks like in the real world. Thanks again to Joe for taking the time.My Linkshttps://theanxioustruth.com/linksIntro/Outro Music:  "Aftergl

Send in a question or comment via text.Often, issues of self-esteem, confidence and competence can get in the way when recovering from anxiety and panic issues.  If you've ever been made to feel like you're not good enough, not capable, or not competent, my old friend Joe Ryan shares how he has dealt with this on his own journey.  Thanks to Joe for spending more time with us today!My Linkshttps://theanxioustruth.com/linksIntro/Outro Music:  "Afterglow" by The Ben Drake Collective.  Used with permission.  Find Ben Drake on Facebook or at bendrakemusic.com.Find Joe Onlinehttps://instagram.com/joeryanhttps://joeryan.comSupport The Anxious Truth: If you find the podcast helpful and want to support my work, you can buy me a coffee. This is never required, but always appreciated!Disclaimer: The Anxious Truth is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. Listening to The Anxious Truth does not create a therapeutic relationship between you and the host or guests of the podcast. Information here is

Send in a question or comment via text.Its possible to work through anxiety, panic, trauma and pain without having it ruin every day.  Today I'm joined by my old friend Joe Ryan.  Joe has spent years working this process and offers some great insight on how to deal with anxiety, panic and even past trauma without being crushed by every memory, thought or sensation.  Thanks to Joe for spending time with us today!My Linkshttps://theanxioustruth.com/linksIntro/Outro Music:  "Afterglow" by The Ben Drake Collective.  Used with permission.  Find Ben Drake on Facebook or at bendrakemusic.com.Find Joe Onlinehttps://instagram.com/joeryanhttps://joeryan.comSupport The Anxious Truth: If you find the podcast helpful and want to support my work, you can buy me a coffee. This is never required, but always appreciated!Disclaimer: The Anxious Truth is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. Listening to The Anxious Truth does not create a therapeutic relationship between you and the host or guests of the pod

Send in a question or comment via text.Q&A from my Facebook group including questions about dizziness, driving, doctor visits, airports, neck spasms, anticipatory anxiety and exposure mechanics. Thanks to Jay, Connie, Charli, Julie, Clay and Marie-Anne for calling in! My Linkshttps://theanxioustruth.com/linksIntro/Outro Music:  "Afterglow" by The Ben Drake Collective.  Used with permission.  Find Ben Drake on Facebook or at bendrakemusic.com.Support The Anxious Truth: If you find the podcast helpful and want to support my work, you can buy me a coffee. This is never required, but always appreciated!Disclaimer: The Anxious Truth is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. Listening to The Anxious Truth does not create a therapeutic relationship between you and the host or guests of the podcast. Information here is provided for psychoeducational purposes. As always, when you have questions about your own well-being, please consult your mental health and/or medical care providers. If you are havin

Send in a question or comment via text.Anticipatory anxiety isn't a special or different kind of anxiety. It's not a mysterious external force over which you have no control. Let's define it, break it down, and look at ways of moving through anticipatory anxiety so you can get to the work that really needs to be done. My Linkshttps://theanxioustruth.com/linksIntro/Outro Music:  "Afterglow" by The Ben Drake Collective.  Used with permission.  Find Ben Drake on Facebook or at bendrakemusic.com.Support The Anxious Truth: If you find the podcast helpful and want to support my work, you can buy me a coffee. This is never required, but always appreciated!Disclaimer: The Anxious Truth is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. Listening to The Anxious Truth does not create a therapeutic relationship between you and the host or guests of the podcast. Information here is provided for psychoeducational purposes. As always, when you have questions about your own well-being, please consult your

Send in a question or comment via text.Today I had a chat with Kimberley Quinlan (LMFT) about OCD, obsessive/intrusive thoughts, and how to deal with them effectively. Lots of good information and resources in this one, along with a bunch of concepts you'll find very familiar if you've been following me for any length of time. Thanks to Kim for sharing her time with us! Find Kim on Instagram: @kimberleyquinlan or on her website http://cbtschool.com Find the International OCD Foundation at https://iocdf.org/My Linkshttps://theanxioustruth.com/linksIntro/Outro Music:  "Afterglow" by The Ben Drake Collective.  Used with permission.  Find Ben Drake on Facebook or at bendrakemusic.com.Support The Anxious Truth: If you find the podcast helpful and want to support my work, you can buy me a coffee. This is never required, but always appreciated!Disclaimer: The Anxious Truth is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. Listening to The Anxious Truth does not create a therapeutic relationship betwee

Send in a question or comment via text.The way you talk about your anxiety matters.  More than you think. Are you always speaking passively and just describing how you feel? Are you worried about what people will think about your anxiety? Do you fear that you are boring them, alienating them, or pushing them away when you discuss your anxiety?   Are you ready to adopt a more constructive active voice that reflects ongoing recovery?This is a great question that came up in the Facebook group a few days ago, so I thought it was worth 15 minutes or so to talk about it.My Linkshttps://theanxioustruth.com/linksIntro/Outro Music:  "Afterglow" by The Ben Drake Collective.  Used with permission.  Find Ben Drake on Facebook or at bendrakemusic.com.Support The Anxious Truth: If you find the podcast helpful and want to support my work, you can buy me a coffee. This is never required, but always appreciated!Disclaimer: The Anxious Truth is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. Listening to The Anxious Truth

Send in a question or comment via text.If you’re suffering with health anxiety – no matter how severe – Sarah’s story will inspire you and give you hope. Join me as we look at Sarah’s journey into completely out of control health anxiety, then back out to a place of calm and peace when it comes to her health and her state of being. Thank you so much to Sarah for taking the time to share her story!My Linkshttps://theanxioustruth.com/linksIntro/Outro Music:  "Afterglow" by The Ben Drake Collective.  Used with permission.  Find Ben Drake on Facebook or at bendrakemusic.com.Support The Anxious Truth: If you find the podcast helpful and want to support my work, you can buy me a coffee. This is never required, but always appreciated!Disclaimer: The Anxious Truth is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. Listening to The Anxious Truth does not create a therapeutic relationship between you and the host or guests of the podcast. Information here is provided for psychoeducational purposes. As always, when

Send in a question or comment via text.My friend Andrew has gone from "contented agoraphobic" to well down the path to full recovery and was nice enough to take some time to share his story. We talk about how he got to where he is today, what the future holds, and we we answer some questions asked in our Facebook discussion group. Thank you Andrew!My Linkshttps://theanxioustruth.com/linksIntro/Outro Music:  "Afterglow" by The Ben Drake Collective.  Used with permission.  Find Ben Drake on Facebook or at bendrakemusic.com.Support The Anxious Truth: If you find the podcast helpful and want to support my work, you can buy me a coffee. This is never required, but always appreciated!Disclaimer: The Anxious Truth is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. Listening to The Anxious Truth does not create a therapeutic relationship between you and the host or guests of the podcast. Information here is provided for psychoeducational purposes. As always, when you have questions about your own well-b

Send in a question or comment via text."Drew, are you cured?  Do you ever have panic attacks?"  I get this question all the time.  The answer is ... I can still experience a panic attack now and then.  So come listen to me experience near panic on-air in this episode.  Then Billy and I answer more  questions from the Facebook forum.My Linkshttps://theanxioustruth.com/linksIntro/Outro Music:  "Afterglow" by The Ben Drake Collective.  Used with permission.  Find Ben Drake on Facebook or at bendrakemusic.com.Anxiety Unitedhttps://youtube.com/anxietyunitedSupport The Anxious Truth: If you find the podcast helpful and want to support my work, you can buy me a coffee. This is never required, but always appreciated!Disclaimer: The Anxious Truth is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. Listening to The Anxious Truth does not create a therapeutic relationship between you and the host or guests of the podcast. Information here is provided for psychoeducational purposes. As always, when you have