I Hate Anxiety Podcast

Who made anxiety the boss over you?  Good question!  Understanding the origins of anxiety in our life can help us see where we have been, how it started, maybe even why it start, but there is a much more important question that I share with you on today's podcast.

There are several anxiety disorders, like agoraphobia, where a person may use a companion to help them do certain activities that typically results in anxiety reactions or panic attacks.  Sometimes the companion is a family member or friend, and other times it may be a trained service dog or an emotional support animal.  However, is the companion actually helping you recover from anxiety or is the person/animal simply an anxiety companion?  Would you be better served in overcoming your anxiety if your companion actually served as a Recover Coach?  Listen to today's episode to hear my thoughts on the topic.

Do you have a need for a companion when going into situations that produce anxiety?  In today's episode I talk about Agoraphobia, the five fear situations associated with this disorder, and the need for a companion.  However, is the companion a help or a hindrance for recovery? 

Have you ever told yourself during a panic attack that you're going to die?  This is actually a listed symptom of a Panic Attack as defined in the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder - Fifth Edition).  If you ever tell yourself that you're dying while experiencing anxiety then you definitely need to listen to this podcast.

If you have not listened to podcasts 063 and 064, please go back and listen to them before listening to this podcast.  Today I go over the 13 symptoms of a panic attack and compare them with the effects of adrenaline on the body.

Today I want to share with your adrenaline's role in anxiety and specifically it's primary and secondary effects on the human body.  If you have not listened to podcast 063, please stop and listen to it first!

Today's bonus podcast is an interview from 9/24/2019 with Colette Smith LCSW on using Prolonged Exposure Therapy for the treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It's a great interview with a great explanation of the processes! Thanks Colette!

We often hear the term "panic attack" being use, but what exactly is a panic attack?  Today I explain the 13 symptoms of a panic attack along with what are panic sensations and high anxiety.

Social anxiety comes with negative beliefs, and today I want to talk with your about four of the negative beliefs that need to be identified and understood in order to eventually treat them.  The four negative beliefs I am covering today are negative beliefs about our self, others, expectations, and disapproval.

Many people avoid triggers as a way of avoiding the distress of anxiety and panic attacks, but this is just one side of a double edge sword.  On today's podcast I share with you the problems of using avoidance for dealing with anxiety triggers.

Today we look at deactivating trigger reactions and the cognitive and behavioral approaches to doing that.

In today's episode I talk about trigger reactions, what they are and how they develop in relationship to anxiety.

Today I go back in my memory to teaching Intro to Psych classes for Lake Land College and the concept of Classical Conditioning, but I tie this concept to the development of anxiety triggers.  Here are a couple of links to YouTube videos: Pavlov and his Dogs and Little Albert.

Today I answer this question, "Do I need a diagnosis to get help?"  Take a listen to find out my answer.

Today I give a very brief overview of the difference key anxiety and trauma disorders.

Last time I talked about when anxiety was good, so today I'll be talking about when anxiety is bad.  Four things I look for when assessing a personal for bad anxiety is if it is lasting too long, interfering with daily life, excessive in nature especially in comparison to others, and if it has turned into obsessions.

Can anxiety every be good, or is it always bad?  Good question.  The answer is that anxiety can be good, but if it meets the criteria of being short, focused, and effective.

In my therapy office I am often asked the question “Am I normal“. Today I want to briefly tackle the question of what is normal and what is not.

Are you ready to start overcoming anxiety? A lot of people think that they are better than frustrated that they can’t seem to accomplish their goals. Today I’m going to walk you through the four questions that will help you clearly answer the question “am I ready to start overcoming anxiety?”

Today we explore three approaches to reducing anxiety: cognitive, behavioral, and soothing. But why not become proficient in all of them for better results!