Anxiety Road Podcast

In this short episode, a look at some of the resources you can use to understand how creativity can help you get an understanding about anxiety, or help you cope during isolation or remind yourself to have something to look forward to. We all need that. We really do. If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text...

In this episode, a look at affirmations. Not as a linguistic vending machine. Or a means to be financially powerful. I'm viewing affirmations as a tool to support healing. Not the only tool to be used but as a means of support, nourishment, encouragement and self-care. We are humans. And are hard wired to seek certain things in order to be functional and stable. We don't have those things and we g...

It is a mess. It is a time and wowzer, every day a pip. Trauma is waving the freak flag and there are people that are hurting. This includes you and me. What should have been and what's going to be are not something that can be predicted. We have been changed. We are in a state of change and along with the bad stuff is the potential for some good stuff too. But first, we have to recognize that we...

I go between being rock solid to a quivering mess. Especially when people are making economic decisions about my worth on the planet. I don't know, something about it just doesn't sit right with me. We do things differently around here. Inconsistent as well as predictable. This time out it is a look at certain music videos that might serve as reminders of some self-care techniques. This time it is...

I feel like it has been five years in this one week. It has been a pip of a time with more to come. But we got work to do. This is the next episode on organizing your thoughts to come up with a decision grid to help you see what you want or need to do about treatment. If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or tex...

There was so much chatter about the fear reactions to current events I felt that I needed to put my two cents in. I'll continue the treatment plan episode next time, but in this moment I ask you to even more so take care of yourself. Be kind to yourself. Control the amount of garbage you ingest from certain media sources. Pick up a bottle of ginger ale.  I leave the brand to you personal choice, i...

This time a look at the research part of creating a treatment plan that works for you. This next phase involves researching and learning your options. Two of those options that might be presented to you are taking medication or seeing a behavioral health professional. Nothing wrong with those options. Well there could be if you don't have the money to access professional services. Or you don't wan...

Many people have an opinion about treating anxiety conditions and disorders. Most of them are not medically qualified to take out a splinter from a toe. Myself included. Each person is unique and different and there is always a little something that gets left out when people try to sell you a cookie cutter approach. So what does it mean to have a treatment plan? What goes into it? In this episode...

Very short - being alone on Valentine's Day and making the best of it.

I've been doing a lot of reading and the abbreviation EMDR is coming up in many documents and websites. I don't know what that is so I wanted to do a quick episode to learn more about it and find out how it can be helpful as a treatment option. This is a quick episode on the definition of the treatment and some resources you can check out and follow up on. If you need support contact the National...

This is the second episode about trauma and the connection to grief and anxiety and how some of the symptoms of trauma and grief are similar to anxiety. The goal of the podcast is to share what I have learned and continue to learn about having an anxiety condition or disorder. I am not a medical or mental health professional. I am a fellow traveler who has experienced some of the frustrations and...

For some but not all of us, our anxiety has a root in trauma. So in this episode a look at trauma, the definition(s) and some of the various forms. A few housekeeping items. I've recently applied to be on Spotify. If you happen to listen or hear the episode on the service there may be ads before, after or during the podcast. I have no say in it and I don't get a flipping dime for being on that ser...

A short episode but a necessary one in these times of palpitation. I want to talk about breathing apps and helpful breathing videos. It doesn't matter what the external world is doing, you need to focus on taking care of yourself. Breathing is one way to do that. If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text "ST...

In this weeks episode, a caution about using Facebook as a health journal or health locker and what are symptoms and the ways that they show up in the body. Your body. This time out I'm probably asking the equivalent of looking at your own personal boogie man. Identifying your symptoms. Not an easy thing to do when you are trying to deal with them. It is important to know what you are dealing with...

Little bit of everything in this episode, being broke, meditation tips from Sparrow and understanding some of the causes of an anxiety disorder. And to treat yourself with loving kindness. Now and into the future. If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text "START" to 741-741. Resources Mentioned:  Article on...

As I like to mention in the podcast, I have a long list of things that I am not. At the top of the list is not being perfect. I got lost inside of my head. Anger and depression can do that to you. KWOL is an adaptation of an educational outline used for K-12 students known as KWL, knowledge, want to learn and learned. The O in my version stands for option, what are my options going forward.  So ye...

Like the song says, sometimes we need somebody to lean on. Or talk to, human to human. In this episode a look at telephone support lines. Also in this episode, my brief look at the movie Honey Boy, I can't say if it is a good or bad  movie because it spiked into some vintage pain for me and I had to leave. I explain more in the podcast. I can say that if you are triggered by verbal or emotional ab...

You are the only one that can decide what will work for you as you map out your path to wellness. So as I get up off of knees and work my own process, there are two apps to check out to see if they will be of assistance to you. If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text "START" to 741-741. Resources Mentioned...

There is a lot of marketing hype about the blankets. There are dozens of stories, but is there anything to support the popularity of the blankets? And, should you get one? If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text "START" to 741-741.  Resources Mentioned:  The Cleveland Clinic article on can weighted blanket...

Whatever causes flight or fight response pay attention to the part that it takes a while for your body to rev down. You have that energy in the body. You have to do something with that energy, that is the focus of this episode. Very basic. Simplistic. No barbells are involved. If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-73...

I am not being metaphorical. What are your rights when a person, relative or police officer decides that you need to visit your local mental health hospital? For most of us with mild symptoms chances are this is a very small possibility. But it can happen. It did to one woman. For those of us with extreme symptoms or have family members that don't understand our symptoms then it could be a problem...

In this episode,  I want to share specific analog paper-based apps known as books or workbooks that might help you with your anxiety symptoms or help you manage your condition. Not all anxiety books and workbook are the same or are intended for everybody. Some are academic, some are low brow and some are task specific.  If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-...

I kinda like the up, up and away part of travel. I don't necessarily like doing it in an airplane. And to be specific, that turbulence thing is nerve wrecking. But I have what I need to deal with it and in this quick episode I'd like to share what might help you deal with actual fright of flight sensations. If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the...

Last time I talked about Solution Focused Brief Therapy; basically, it is a goal focused short term therapy that looks at the problem, the tools that the patient or client has to deal with them and then a planned progressive goal to make solutions happen. This time out it is a quick look at Humanistic Therapy. If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255,...

This is a quickie cuz life is a bit to vivid today. I'm working on the Humanistic therapy episode and I hope to have it ready soon. In the meantime, I'm struggling with compassionate acceptance and I bet that you are too. So I have three resources that might help you and me hold on as we rest up on the anxiety road. If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-...