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

Send in a question or comment via text.Anticipatory anxiety - the anxiety you feel when you have an event or challenge coming up that you know will make you anxious and therefore fear - is a common type of anxiety that many struggle with. This week on the podcast two giants in the anxiety community, Martin Seif and Sally Winston joined me to explain in the ins-and-outs of anticipatory anxiety, worry, and what they call fear of fear of fear.   This is a GREAT episode full of amazing information so check it out!Show notes for this episode: https://theanxioustruth.com/247---My books, social, and other links: https://theanxioustruth.com/links Support The Anxious Truth: https://theanxioustruth.com/support Music Credit: AfterGlow by Ben Drake (with permission) https://bendrakemusic.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.

Send in a question or comment via text.The state of mental health care - at least in the west - is such that many in our community have a difficult time either locating a therapist that specializes in treating anxiety disorders, or accessing professional mental health help for economic and other reasons.  This leads many to ask, "Do I need a therapist to recover?" While the help of a trained, experienced professional is certainly helpful, we have to look at what happens when that isn't possible.  Lauren Rosen and Kelley Franke from the Purely OCD podcast join me this week to talk about this problem and to explore options, alternatives and possibly helpful strategies for when accessing professional therapy proves difficult.Disclaimer: In this podcast episode we attempted to address a problem we all know exists and to be realistic in our assessment of what options there may be for someone that has to "do recovery" on their own.  We simply cannot provide you with a definitive answer as t

Send in a question or comment via text.How do you see your anxiety?  Is anxiety a monster?  Is anxiety like a storm or an invading army that comes to get you?  Are you powerless over it?  Do you feel that you can't resist, stop or control it no matter how hard you try? What if it wasn't a monster attacking from the outside?  What if instead you could recognize that you are playing a role, that you have choice, and that you have power in the process?  Abandoning the "monster" narrative can be a powerful thing that informs a shift in the way we react to anxiety and fear.For full show notes on this week's episode:https://theanxioustruth.com/245---My books, social, and other links: https://theanxioustruth.com/links Support The Anxious Truth: https://theanxioustruth.com/support Music Credit: AfterGlow by Ben Drake (with permission) https://bendrakemusic.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

Send in a question or comment via text.Do you see yourself as being OK "as long as" specific conditions are met?  Or are you learning that you can be OK "even if" those conditions are not met?  This can be a critical concept in recovery that can get us stuck in the dreaded, fragile acceptable bubble, or launched into a more complete and lasting recovery.For full show notes on this episode:https://theanxioustruth.com/244---My books, social, and other links: https://theanxioustruth.com/links Support The Anxious Truth: https://theanxioustruth.com/support Music Credit: AfterGlow by Ben Drake (with permission) https://bendrakemusic.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. Inform

Send in a question or comment via text.Do you have to be a positive person to get better?  Do you have to choose positivity?  Eliminate the negative energy?  Vibrate correctly?  Manifest positive things?  Accept only positive vibes? Develop a positive mindset? Are these things required in anxiety recovery?I think that developing a sense of competence and self-efficacy through action is WAY more impactful that trying to think or emote positivity.  Let's talk about that in this week's episode of the podcast.For full show notes on this episode:https://theanxioustruth.com/243---My books, social, and other links: https://theanxioustruth.com/links Support The Anxious Truth: https://theanxioustruth.com/support Music Credit: AfterGlow by Ben Drake (with permission) https://bendrakemusic.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

Send in a question or comment via text.In recovery we are sometimes dealing with more than one issue beyond just your panic, agoraphobia, health anxiety, or OCD. Maybe there is another phobia or phobias involved.  Maybe you are dealing with tendencies toward perfectionism, people pleasing, or trying to control everything.  Humans are complex.  We have lots of facets!  What happens when these other issues conflict with our recovery work.  What happens when we try to serve multiple masters in recovery?Josh Fletcher (School of Anxiety) and Kimberley Quinlan (Your Anxiety Toolkit) joined me today to talk about this. It's worth a listen.For full show notes on this episode:https://theanxioustruth.com/242---My books, social, and other links: https://theanxioustruth.com/links Support The Anxious Truth: https://theanxioustruth.com/support Music Credit: AfterGlow by Ben Drake (with permission) https://bendrakemusic.comSupport The Anxious Truth: If you find the podcast helpful and want to support my work, you can b

Send in a question or comment via text.When dealing with an anxiety disorder we often talk about why excessive reassurance seeking is counterproductive and can make things worse.  But why is this?  And is there any time where seeking assurance is OK?  Let's answer these two questions, and look at ways to start breaking the cycle of reassurance seeking, in this week's podcast episode.  For full show notes on this episode: https://theanxioustruth.com/241---My books, social, and other links: https://theanxioustruth.com/links Support The Anxious Truth: https://theanxioustruth.com/support Music Credit: AfterGlow by Ben Drake (with permission) https://bendrakemusic.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

Send in a question or comment via text.Anxious people focused on health issues often spend lots of time being checked, tested and examined by doctors.  In recovery, I'm often asked if calling a doctor if never allowed, or if calling a doctor is wrong or indicates a setback of some kind.  The short answer is, "No.  It's not wrong."  But there's more to it than that, so let's talk about it in this week's episode of the podcast.For full show notes on this episode:https://theanxioustruth.com/240---My books, social, and other links: https://theanxioustruth.com/links Support The Anxious Truth: https://theanxioustruth.com/support Music Credit: AfterGlow by Ben Drake (with permission) https://bendrakemusic.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 cre

Send in a question or comment via text.The Same Anxiety Symptons, But Different Reactions?  Two people can have the same anxiety symptoms but different reactions to those symptoms. There can be common thoughts, fear themes, and bodily reactions, yet wide variations on how those things are interpreted and in the reactions they trigger.  Let's talk about this, and what it can teach us about anxiety and recovery.  For full show notes on this episode: https://theanxioustruth.com/239---My books, social, and other links: https://theanxioustruth.com/links Support The Anxious Truth: https://theanxioustruth.com/support Music Credit: AfterGlow by Ben Drake (with permission) https://bendrakemusic.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

Send in a question or comment via text.For most people, the things they fear the most in relation to anxiety and panic fall into one of three common categories or themes.  Let's look at these three themes:   Death/ Physical Incapacitation  Loss of control / Insanity  Embarrassment / Shame  Understanding these common themes can save you from digging deeply into each individual fear you have.  It can help you see that you are NOT specially broken and without hope, and it can inform productive recovery actions and choices.  This episode of The Anxious Truth is sponsored by My Life In A Book.  My Life In A Book is a great way to preserve the stories and memories of our loved ones.  The service helps a cherished member of your family tell their story, ultimately compiling their memories and experiences in a beautiful hardbound book that can be passed down through the generations.  For more on My Life In A Book, visit mylifeinabook.com . Use discount code TAT22 for $10 off your order.For full show notes on th

Send in a question or comment via text.Everyone wants to talk about the most common anxiety symptoms.  I get it.  Your symptoms feel important.  They're scary and you see them as dangerous.  In many many cases with it comes to anxiety disorders, the symptoms of anxiety become the source of the anxiety. Fear of fear is often based on fear of the most common anxiety symptoms - fear of your own body.  Let's talk about that this week.This episode of The Anxious Truth is sponsored by My Life In A Book.  My Life In A Book is a great way to preserve the stories and memories of our loved ones.  The service helps a cherished member of your family tell their story, ultimately compiling their memories and experiences in a beautiful hardbound book that can be passed down through the generations.  For more on My Life In A Book, visit mylifeinabook.com . Use discount code TAT22 for $10 off your order.For full show notes on this episode:https://theanxioustruth.com/237---My books, social, and other links: https://t

Send in a question or comment via text.This week sleep physician Daniel Erichsen stopped by to talk about insomnia and a cognitive behavioral approach to the problem. If you're struggling with your sleep ... and struggling because you're struggling ... this episode is for you.  Spoiler alert: The most helpful approach to sleep issues is going to sound very familiar to you.  ;-)  This episode of The Anxious Truth is sponsored by My Life In A Book.  My Life In A Book is a great way to preserve the stories and memories of our loved ones.  The service helps a cherished member of your family tell their story, ultimately compiling their memories and experiences in a beautiful hardbound book that can be passed down through the generations.  For more on My Life In A Book, visit mylifeinabook.com . Use discount code TAT22 for $10 off your order.For full show notes on this episode:https://theanxioustruth.com/236---My books, social, and other links: https://theanxioustruth.com/links Support The Anxious Truth:

Send in a question or comment via text.When in the thick of the struggle, it can be easy to fall into the trap that makes anxiety a major part of your personal identity.  UK psychotherapist and anxiety specialist Josh Fletcher is back this week to talk about this common problem and ways to separate yourself from anxiety so that it doesn't dominate your identity.This episode of The Anxious Truth is sponsored by My Life In A Book.  My Life In A Book is a great way to preserve the stories and memories of our loved ones.  The service helps a cherished member of your family tell their story, ultimately compiling their memories and experiences in a beautiful hardbound book that can be passed down through the generations.  For more on My Life In A Book, visit mylifeinabook.com . Use discount code TAT22 for $10 off your order.For full show notes on this episode:https://theanxioustruth.com/235---My books, social, and other links: https://theanxioustruth.com/links Support The Anxious Truth: https://theanxioustruth

Send in a question or comment via text.Can anxiety be cured? I know that if you look for an answer to this question you will find a very wide range of answers.  This week on the podcast we'll look at why there's such a wide range of opinions on this and where the truth - if there is even a universal truth - lies.For full show notes on this episode:https://theanxioustruth.com/234---My books, social, and other links: https://theanxioustruth.com/links Support The Anxious Truth: https://theanxioustruth.com/support Music Credit: AfterGlow by Ben Drake (with permission) https://bendrakemusic.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 purpose

Send in a question or comment via text.Real events that you witness or stories you see on social media or in the news show us the power of suggestion at work when it comes to triggering anxiety.  Today an old friend popped in to relay his experience with being "triggered" by the death of a celebrity and how he navigated through that as mostly recovered person.  It's a great chat.  I can't thank my friend Jay Floyd for stopping in to share with us.For full show notes on this episode:https://theanxioustruth.com/233---My books, social, and other links: https://theanxioustruth.com/links Support The Anxious Truth: https://theanxioustruth.com/support Music Credit: AfterGlow by Ben Drake (with permission) https://bendrakemusic.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

Send in a question or comment via text.I am often asked if hypnosis and anxiety go together.  Does hypnosis or hypnotherapy "work" for anxiety?  Will it make your panic attacks or scary thoughts stop?  Will it calm you down?  I am far from an expert on hypnotherapy so I asked my friend and qualified psychotherapist Emma Garrick to join us to talk about the role of hypnotherapy in anxiety recovery.  This episode is jam packed with really useful information so grab a coffee and take a listen!For full show notes on this episode: https://theanxioustruth.com/232---My books, social, and other links: https://theanxioustruth.com/links Support The Anxious Truth: https://theanxioustruth.com/support Music Credit: AfterGlow by Ben Drake (with permission) https://bendrakemusic.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. L

Send in a question or comment via text.Sleep Anxiety and Insomnia: A Success Story Sleep anxiety and insomnia are big topics in the community surrounding this podcast.  My friend Ande Lyons struggled with sleep and tons of anxiety around sleep for many many years.  She was gracious enough to stop by the podcast this week to talk about how learning to let go of the ritualization and distorted beliefs about her sleep changed everything. For full show notes on this episode: https://theanxioustruth.com/231 --- My books, social, and other links: https://theanxioustruth.com/links Support The Anxious Truth: https://theanxioustruth.com/support Music Credit: AfterGlow by Ben Drake (with permission) https://bendrakemusic.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 rela

Send in a question or comment via text.Anxiety Recovery Program - Is The Anxious Truth One Of Those???Is The Anxious Truth an anxiety recovery program?  Does this podcast, the books I write, and all the content I create describe a program or method for recovery? Can you follow things step by step to know exactly what to do when anxious or afraid and how to feel better?  This is something I am asked all the time, so is The Anxious Truth an anxiety recovery program?It is. And it isn't. How's that for a vague answer?For full show notes on this episode:https://theanxioustruth.com/230---My books, social, and other links:https://theanxioustruth.com/linksSupport The Anxious Truth:https://theanxioustruth.com/supportMusic Credit: AfterGlow by Ben Drake (with permission)https://bendrakemusic.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 replacem

Send in a question or comment via text.Demanding to create positive emotional states on demand is common misguided strategy that many fall into during recovery. While often we fear emotions because they turn into fear so quickly, we can also demand that we should be able to experience positive emotional states when we want to.  When we do this, we are generally trying to achieve a few basic goals: We are trying to escape the emotional state that we fear and hate by replacing it with a positive emotional state. We are attempting to eradicate negative states like sadness because we believe that we should always "choose happiness" or some such nonsense. We think that we are incapable of "handling" negative emotions or that they will automatically lead to some form of disaster or catastrophe. We are afraid that if we do not experience positive emotional states in given situations, that something is wrong with us.Let’s talk about this today on episode 228 of The Anxious Truth!For full show note

Send in a question or comment via text.Even when we work with a therapist, listen to podcasts, watch videos, and read books, some parts of the recovery process remain completely our responsibility. There are recovery things that other people cannot do for us. We’re responsible for: Showing up and being an active participant in recovery Being consistent in the work we do Finding and displaying courage when we need to Remaining willing and open to the process and the experiences we have to have as part of the processLet’s talk about this today on episode 227 of The Anxious Truth!For full show notes on this episode:https://theanxioustruth.com/227---My books, social, and other links:https://theanxioustruth.com/linksSupport The Anxious Truth:https://theanxioustruth.com/supportMusic Credit: AfterGlow by Ben Drake (with permission)https://bendrakemusic.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!Dis