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

Send in a question or comment via text.A discussion of how anxiety disorders can impact sex, intimacy and relationships in general with licensed therapist and certified sex therapist Leslie Gustafson.  Leslie and I talk about the general approach to this problem, some of the nuances, and  – surprise – we talk about how action oriented behavioral therapies are so effective in addressing not only the sex problem, but the anxiety disorders themselves. Thanks to Leslie for taking the time to help out!My Linkshttps://theanxioustruth.com/linksFind Leslie online here:http://authenticandtrue.comhttp://amazingintimacybox.comhttp://instagram.com/lesliegusafson1Intro/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 replaceme

Send in a question or comment via text.At some point in this process, you MUST take a leap of faith.  All the talking and questioning and reading and learning must give way to actually leaping off that cliff - fully surrendering to and accepting your anxiety symptoms.  Its terrifying, we know, but in this episode Holly and I talk about how we MUST leap to finally learn that we will be OK.  Without the leap of faith, real progress will be hard to come by.Comments and questions welcomed as always!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

Send in a question or comment via text.Billy and I discuss anxiety and panic related to dining out, restaurants, bars, pubs and social situations. We talk about how to approach it, steps that can be taken to overcome this problem, and how learning cognitive techniques for thought changing can be so helpful with this problem.Comments, questions and topic suggestions are always welcomed!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 que

Send in a question or comment via text.In this episode Billy and I discuss driving anxiety, the fear of having a panic attack while driving, and what to do about it. We talk about specific steps that can be taken to address this fear and overcome it through exposure and cognitive restructuring.Comments and questions welcomed as always!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 yo

Send in a question or comment via text.Lets to clarify the focus of my content on anxiety disorders as opposed to just being anxious about things. A quick chat about the difference and why my approach is what it is. I briefly discuss different classes of therapies and how they apply to each situation.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.One of the tools I hear people talk about often is “positive self talk”. Let me tell you why this is not a good thing when you’re dealing with high anxiety and panic. As usual, there’s no sugar coating in this one. :-)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 having a mental healt

Send in a question or comment via text.Jackie suffered from panic attacks and anxiety for years until she had a “lightbulb moment” and turned the corner. Join me as I chat with Jackie about how she went from the depths of anxiety to a normal life. Thanks for sharing, Jackie!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 hav

Send in a question or comment via text.This is what nobody wants to hear when it comes to overcoming anxiety and panic related problems, because its the hard part. There’s a large scale commitment/decision you MUST make before you can start making real lasting forward progress. If you can’t make this choice at the macro level, you’ll struggle with consistently making good choices day-by-day as you handle your anxiety problems.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 psychoeducatio

Send in a question or comment via text.When panic strikes, we have a critical moment of decision. What will you do? How will you handle it? What is your plan? The decision we make at that moment is impactful in so many ways both short and long term.  Accept how you feel and panic productively and its over quickly so you can get on with your day and your life in general.  React in fear and the outcome will be completely different.  Which way do you want to go with your panic?  This episode was inspired by experiencing some panic while out on a bike ride this morning.  Yes, I still experience panic now and then.  I just don't care when it happens.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 Anx

Send in a question or comment via text.This is a topic I get asked about all the time, so lets talk about what to do when your anxiety has a negative impact on your relationships. How can you approach family members and friends to get them on board with what you’re up against?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 h

Send in a question or comment via text.Holly and I discuss chapter 8 of the Claire Weekes book "Hope and Help For Your Nerves". Dr. Weekes explains agoraphobia and walks us through how to approach it for best result. Holly and I spend a while talking about how we overcame agoraphobia and what difference its made in our lives.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 yo

Send in a question or comment via text.Holly and I discuss chapter 7 of Hope and Help For Your Nerves by Dr. Claire Weekes. This chapter really focuses on understanding that you are afraid of how you feel, and that focusing on sensations and symptoms is counter productive. Rather, focus on how you react to those sensations and symptoms. Don't add what she calls "second fear" to that initial flash of "first fear".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 psy

Send in a question or comment via text.Social media and the Internet have had a major impact on those of us with anxiety disorders. In this episode Billy and I discuss different ways the Internet has influenced anxiety issues. We look at positive impacts, negative impacts, and pitfalls that should be avoided.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 med

Send in a question or comment via text.Holly and I return for the next chapter of our series discussing "Hope and Help For Your Nerves" by Dr. Claire Weekes. In this episode we discuss chapter 6, which is probably the lynchpin around which Dr. Weekes built her work. Learning to TRULY accept your anxiety symptoms and to TRULY believe that they are not dangerous will allow you to relax into your symptoms rather than fighting against them. Learning to relax, float, and soften in the face of the onslaught is the path to long term improvement. When you no longer fear your anxiety symptoms, they will begin to fade and you will begin to get your life back.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

Send in a question or comment via text.Lets take on our first 30 day exposure challenge. For the next 30 days, start by making a short list of activities you find challenging from an anxiety standpoint. Then, start working on those items. Feel free to talk about your progress or post pics/videos in the Facebook group. We're all there to encourage each other and cheer each other on! Billy and I talk about the nuts and bolts of breaking down your challenge tasks into very small bits and working on each bit one by one.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 be

Send in a question or comment via text."Get busy living, or get busy dying." At some point in the journey to overcome anxiety issues, concepts and techniques and tips and tricks fall by the wayside and it becomes a matter of desire and drive and courage and just wanting to improve your life. You can read and listen and learn and discuss, but at some point you have to find that spark deep in your gut and get moving. In this episode Billy and I talk about finding your spark and using it to launch you forward.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.I've been asked many times over the years how bad my anxiety used to be. Yes, it was probably as bad as yours. In this episode of our Anxiety 101 series, I'll tell you all about it. Everything I've been through. The symptoms I've dealt with. The issues I've had to resolve. The good news is that if I can do it, you can do it! Questions? Comments? Lets hear them.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

Send in a question or comment via text.What triggers your anxiety? Billy and I discuss anxiety triggers, how to identify your triggers, and what you can do about them. As usual, we answer listener questions near the end of the episode.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 having a mental health crisis, always reach

Send in a question or comment via text.Following up on our initial talk about the basics of exposure therapy, Billy and talk about how repetition and practice are so important. We discuss how practicing the small things and continually expanding your scope will make it easy to tackle larger tasks that are harder to practice (i.e. flying, or visiting the dentist). Finally, we take some comments and questions on previous episodes.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 psychoeducat

Send in a question or comment via text.Billy and I were both a bit under the weather for this episode, so we thought a discussion of health anxiety and how illness impacts your anxiety was in order. We discuss health anxiety in general, our reactions when feeling ill, and how dealing with health anxiety is more about cognitive work than physical exposure.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-bein