Disordered: Anxiety Help
Disordered is a podcast that provides real, evidence-based, actionable talk about anxiety disorders and anxiety recovery in a kind, compassionate, community-oriented environment. Hosted by Josh Fletcher, a qualified psychotherapist in the UK, and Drew Linsalata, a therapist practicing under supervision in the US, they combine lived experience, formal training, and professional experience to deliver an encouraging and inspiring mental health message.
Episodes
Anxiety Always Has A Strategy, and Its Nonsense (Episode 165)
Anxiety always seems to have a strategy for you, doesn't it?Check it, prepare for it, watch it closely so nothing bad happensStay on top of things so you can be the fixer, the predictor, the protector, the engineer of experiencesDo not take your eyes off the worry because worry is proof of how good you are and how loving you are.This week we're picking that strategy apart and showing why i
Anxiety And Releasing Tension (Episode 164)
Everyone tells you to release tension. But if you live with panic disorder, OCD, or health anxiety, that advice can backfire fast. This week we're digging into why chasing relaxation as a goal often makes tension worse, and what actually helps instead.We're talking about why physical tension is a normal response to stress and fear, not a problem to fix. Why techniques like jaw stretches, m
When Anxiety Says You're The Exception (Episode 163)
Anxiety has a favorite move. It doesn't argue that acceptance and exposure don't work. It just convinces you they don't apply to you specifically. This thought, this sensation, this situation, is the one exception to every rule you already understand.This week we break down what fuels that exception: possibility, intensity, and importance, plus the urgency that makes an unlikely outcom
Anxiety Recovery PROCESS vs CONTENT (Episode 162)
It's your heart. Or the dizziness. Or the one thought you can't get to leave you alone. If you could just solve that specific thing, you'd finally be okay. This week we push back on that.--Want to talk about what you're hearing today with Drew, Josh, and others that share your experience? We're hanging out in the Disordered Community Space:https://disordered.fm/community--The s
Anxiety Recovery: Bring ALL Versions Of You (Episode 161)
You want to do the acceptance thing. You've read the books, you've listened to the podcasts, you intellectually get it. And then you get triggered, and suddenly the version of you that's anxious, scared, or doubting gets the door slammed in its face. That version of you is broken. That version shouldn't be here. That version needs to go.But that's the version of you that actual
Anxiety: It's All About Attention, Baby! (Episode 160)
This week we're talking about attention. Specifically, how where you place your focus directly impacts your anxiety and your recovery.We discuss how an anxiety disorder naturally hijacks your attention, pulling it inward to scan for threats inside your own body and mind. While checking in on how you feel might seem like the safest thing to do, it actually feeds the sensitization process. We lo
Improving .... Or Optimizing Your Health and Wellness (Episode 159)
Improving vs. Optimizing in Anxiety RecoveryIn this episode of Disordered, Drew and Josh tackle a topic suggested by the community: the hidden trap of the "optimization culture" and how it intersects with anxiety and OCD.There is a distinct difference between wanting to improve your health and falling into compulsive, perfectionist territory where every metric must be flawlessly managed.
Anxiety Recovery ... When You're Calm (Episode 158)
What do you do when your anxiety finally quietens down for a few days? For many of us, a calm day triggers a completely new set of anxious habits. We treat the absence of panic as a fragile victory, freezing in place so we do not ruin it, or constantly checking around the corner to see if the fear is returning.--Want to ask questions about this episode? We're hanging out in the Disordered Comm
Is Distraction a Compulsion In Anxiety Recovery? (Episode 157)
Can distraction be a compulsion in anxiety recovery? It is a question that comes up constantly in the anxiety community. Many people are told to simply "distract your mind" when they feel anxious, but if you are doing it specifically to escape a feeling, it can quickly turn into a safety behavior or a compulsion.---Want to talk about this episode with Drew, Josh, and others that are shar
Asking For Anxiety Help (Episode 156)
Asking for help can be difficult, especially when you are struggling with anxiety, panic disorder, OCD, or agoraphobia. In this episode, Drew and Josh break down the nuances of asking for anxiety help. There is a fine line between asking for genuine support and looking for compulsive reassurance or soothing to make the discomfort disappear.Drew and Josh discuss why so many people feel like a burde
Taboo OCD Themes (Episode 155)
OCD is a difficult condition to navigate, but it becomes significantly more challenging when obsessions center on taboo topics. Themes involving harm, pedophilia (pOCD), sexual orientation (HOCD), or moral and religious failure often carry a heavy burden of shame. This shame frequently drives people into silence, preventing them from seeking the help they need.---Want to talk about this episode wi
Anxiety Recovery: When You're Trying To "Win" (Episode 154)
In this episode, Josh and Drew discuss a common hurdle in anxiety recovery: the desire to "win" against your anxiety. For many, especially those with perfectionist tendencies, anxiety is viewed as an adversary that has taken something away. This leads to a constant, habitual checking to see if the anxiety is gone, which inadvertently keeps you stuck in a cycle of monitoring and frustrati
Let Me Tell You How I Feel (Episode 153)
Let's start with a success story from the UK. While being medically monitored for four hours, our listener realized how much attention she was giving to her physical symptoms. Her story highlights the difference between noticing a sensation and compulsively monitoring it.--Want to talk about this episode and interact with others that share your experience in a supportive and encouraging enviro
Anxiety in the Supermarket or Grocery Store (Episode 152)
Have you ever felt like a supermarket was a high-stakes obstacle course you just couldn’t wait to escape? In this episode of Disordered, Josh and Drew dive deep into a struggle that almost everyone with an anxiety disorder knows well: anxiety in the supermarket or grocery store.Whether it is the harsh fluorescent lighting, the narrow aisles, or the trapped feeling of standing in a long checkout qu
Anxiety Disorders and Sneaky Compulsions (Episode 151)
Want to talk about what you heard here? We're hanging out in the Disordered community space:https://disordered.fm/community---This episode of Disordered dives into the concept of sneaky compulsions. Many people struggling with anxiety or OCD often find themselves performing behaviors that they do not immediately recognize as compulsions. These can look like productive research, seeking reassur
Same Time Next Week - Anxiety Recovery in the "Gaps" (Episode 150)
Want to talk about what you heard today? Check out the Disordered Community space:https://disordered.fm/community----In this milestone episode of Disordered, we discuss the concepts in Josh's upcoming book. The conversation focuses on the gaps in anxiety recovery and the modern hurdles that prevent people from effectively practicing desensitization.They break down how the obsession with "
Failing and Bailing on Anxiety Exposures? (Episode 149)
Want to talk about what you hear on this episode? Join us in the Disordered community space:https://disordered.fm/community---In this episode, Josh and Drew tackle a common hurdle in anxiety recovery: what happens when an exposure feels like a "failure" or when you choose to "bail."An exposure is the deliberate act of evoking an anxious response. It is a way to rewire the brain
Rolling Anxiety and Panic (Episode 148)
Want to talk about what you're hearing today with Josh, Drew, and others that are sharing your experience? Check out the Disordered Community Space:https://disordered.fm/community---This episode of Disordered addresses the experience of constant, simmering anxiety that fluctuates in intensity throughout the day without fully disappearing. We refer to this as undulating panic or a loop of peaki
Did It Anyway - Volume 5 - Global Edition! (Episode 147)
Want to discuss what you hear on this episode with Josh and Drew and others that are sharing your experience? Check out the Disordered Podcast Community Space.https://disordered.fm/communty----In this episode of Disordered, we celebrate the "Global Edition" of Did It Anyway. We're sharing inspiring stories from our community members around the world who chose to face their fears and
The Stress Jug Explained (Episode 146)
Want to talk about what you're hearing in this episode with Josh and Drew and others that share your experience?https://disordered.fm/community----In this episode, Josh and Drew break down the "Stress Jug"—a metaphor designed to explain why anxiety and panic often seem to appear out of nowhere. The guys discuss how accumulated stress, both positive and negative, can cause your "
Self Compassion in Anxiety Recovery (Episode 145)
Questions about this episode? Want to interact with Drew, Josh, and other members of the Disordered audience? Check out the Disordered Community Space!https://disordered.fm/community-------This week we're discussing the relationship between anxiety and self-compassion. Self-compassion is often dismissed as a way to avoid difficult tasks or "whine" about struggles, but it is actuall
Overcoming Anxiety: The Role of Attention (Episode 144)
Questions about this episode? Want to interact with Drew, Josh, and other members of the Disordered audience? Check out the Disordered Community Space!https://disordered.fm/community-------This episode of Disordered explores the vital role of attention in anxiety recovery. Josh and Drew discuss the core skill of moving your attention while feeling high levels of fear.Many people struggling with an
The Disordered Community Space (Special Announcement)
After many months of building and planning, the Disordered Community space is now live. We could not be more pleased about this!Check out the community space here:https://disordered.fm/communityWhy did we do this?Endless scroll, algorithm-driven, attention focused platforms that only want to monetize your struggle are awful places to support anxious people.A smaller, more focused, intentional comm
The Golden Rules of Anxiety Recovery and Desensitization (Episode 143)
This episode of Disordered examines the fundamental "Golden Rules" of anxiety desensitization. Josh and Drew break down two core principles designed to guide long term desensitization for those struggling with panic disorder, agoraphobia, OCD, and health anxiety. They move away from promising cures or quick fixes, focusing instead on changing the listener's relationship with discomfo
How Do We Overcome Worry and Rumination? (Episode 142)
In this episode of Disordered, guest co-host Kimberley Quinlan joins Drew to pull back the curtain on one of the most persistent hurdles in anxiety recovery: rumination. Whether you call it overthinking, worry, or mental "problem solving," the process is a universal constant across panic disorder, OCD, health anxiety, depression, and other related issues.We examine why rumination feels l
The Truth About Crazy Anxiety Cures (Episode 141)
In this episode, Drew and Josh discuss the world of anxiety cures and the "miracle" solutions often marketed to those struggling with panic, OCD, and health anxiety. They share personal stories of the various methods they tried during their own recoveries and explain why many popular trends fail to provide long-term relief.The Magnetism of the Miracle Cure: Why we are drawn to supplement
"Temping Fate" In Anxiety Recovery? (Episode 140)
Have you ever felt anxious about admitting you're doing better? Like saying "I'm okay" out loud might somehow jinx your progress or tempt fate?In this episode, Drew and Josh explore that uncomfortable feeling when someone asks "How are you doing?" and you're caught between wanting to acknowledge improvement and being afraid that talking about it will make everything
Anxiety Questions From The Audience (Episode 139)
In this listener participation episode, Drew and Josh tackle your questions about recovery while celebrating inspiring stories from the community.Questions explored in this episode:Why does my anxiety disorder feel like it's protecting me? When you're struggling with OCD, panic disorder, or health anxiety, your threat response can feel like a cult leader in your head—insisting it has your
Anxiety and Not Feeling The "Right" Emotions (Episode 138)
When you're at your child's birthday party, your wedding day, or on a much-anticipated vacation, do you find yourself feeling anxious instead of joyful—and then getting frustrated with yourself for "not feeling the right way"? In this episode, Drew and Josh explore one of the most common traps in anxiety recovery: judging yourself for having the "wrong" emotions.You'
Anxiety Disorders and the Fear of Insanity (Episode 137)
One of the most terrifying fears in anxiety disorders is the fear of losing your mind. In this episode, Drew and Josh explore dementophobia - the fear of insanity - and why it's so common among people experiencing panic disorder, OCD, agoraphobia, and health anxiety.The guys discuss how the brain's threat response can turn inward when it can't find an external danger, creating the beli
Health Anxiety: The Disordered Guide to Health Anxiety (Episode 136)
Drew and Josh announce the release of their first co-written book, The Disordered Guide to Health Anxiety, and dive deep into the many faces of health anxiety. From the resource gatherer constantly Googling symptoms to the optimizer obsessing over perfect health metrics, they explore how health anxiety shows up differently for different people - and why it's fundamentally about the anxiety, no
Anxiety Symptoms: Dizziness & Lightheadedness (Episode 135)
In this episode of Disordered, the guys delve into the common anxiety symptoms of dizziness and lightheadedness. They share personal experiences, discuss the impact of these symptoms on daily life, and explore coping mechanisms such as interoceptive exposure and mindfulness. The conversation also highlights community wins, listener questions, and the importance of awareness in managing anxiety. Th
Agoraphobia & Fear of Open Spaces (Episode 134)
Agoraphobia. Is it fear of open spaces? Do people with agoraphobia always fear open spaces? What even is agoraphobia and how to I overcome it?This week we're looking at the complexities of agoraphobia, exploring its definitions, connections to panic disorder, and the fear of open spaces. We're sharing some personal experiences and insights on how navigate through these challenges, emphasiz
Doing It Anyway - While Hurting And Challenged (Episode 133)
Sometimes life throws real challenges at you. Medical issues. Loss. Uncertainty. The kind of stuff that makes anxiety feel completely justified. So how do you move forward when you're genuinely scared AND dealing with actual difficult circumstances?In this episode, we share some of the most powerful "did it anyway" stories we've ever received. From someone facing serious health c
Anxious About Feeling ... Calm? (Episode 132)
Panicogenic Relaxation: Why You Feel Anxious When Feeling CalmYou're finally feeling better. The anxiety has lifted. You're relaxed and calm for the first time in months or even years. So why does that feel so weird? And why are you suddenly anxious about feeling calm?In this episode, Drew and Josh explore "panicogenic relaxation". This is a common experience in anxiety disorder
Anxiety Recovery - Learning To Believe In Yourself Again (Episode 131)
When anxiety and its relentless inner critic take hold, one of the most profound losses is the belief and trust in your own capability. In this episode, Drew and Josh explore how to rebuild self-trust after anxiety disorders erode your confidence in handling life's challenges.The conversation centers on stories from listeners who confronted their worst-case scenarios—from emergency medical sit
Craig The Critic (Episode 130)
In this episode, Drew and Josh explore the powerful role of the internal critic—affectionately named "Craig"—in maintaining anxiety disorders and interfering with recovery. They discuss how this nagging inner voice criticizes, questions, and doubts us, often telling us we're doing things wrong or that we'll never be who we hope to be.Let's examine where Craig the Critic comes
Anxiety Symptoms - AIR HUNGER (Episode 129)
In this episode of Disordered, Drew and Josh tackle one of the most frightening anxiety symptoms: air hunger - that terrifying feeling that you can't get a deep enough breath or fully fill your lungs.Drew and Josh draw from both their clinical expertise and personal recovery experiences to explain why this sensation happens, why trying to "fix" your breathing often makes things worse
How Long Does De-Sensitization Take? (Episode 128)
One of the most common questions we hear from people working through anxiety disorders and OCD is: "How long is this going to take?" In this episode, Drew and Josh tackle the timeline question head-on—but probably not in the way you're expecting.We explore why asking "how long until I recover?" might be the wrong question, and why shifting to "how long until I'm de
"Anxiety Recovery OCD?" (Episode 127)
Can your focus on getting better actually make things worse? In this episode, we explore what happens when the recovery process itself becomes an obsession - coining the term "Recovery OCD" to describe the fixation many people develop around their anxiety recovery journey.We dig into the counterintuitive reality that constantly checking "Am I recovered yet?" or "Am I doing
When The News Triggers Anxiety (Episode 126)
How do you handle anxiety when the news feels overwhelming? With constant exposure to current events, political tensions, and global crises through social media and traditional news sources, it's no wonder many people with anxiety disorders find themselves struggling.This week on Disordered we're talking about the complex relationship between news consumption and anxiety, discussing when a
Did It Anyway - Volume 4 (Episode 125)
Welcome to another inspiring round of "Did It Anyway" stories, where we celebrate real wins from our community members who chose to move forward despite their anxiety.In this episode, Drew and Josh share powerful listener stories that illustrate a fundamental truth about anxiety recovery: you can take meaningful action even when you feel scared, uncertain, or overwhelmed. From someone dr
Anxiety and Mental Health Misinformation w/Dr. Birthe Macdonald (Episode 124)
In this essential episode, Drew and Josh are joined by Dr. Birthe Macdonald, a psychologist and neuroscience researcher who's become a vital voice in combating mental health misinformation on social media. The conversation tackles the overwhelming sea of questionable advice that anxious people encounter online, from vagus nerve stimulation devices to "nervous system regulation" quick
Anxiety Recovery: Semantics and Choosing Words Wisely (Episode 123)
In this episode, we explore how the language we use to describe our anxiety experiences can either fuel our struggles or support our recovery. We examine the difference between helpful and unhelpful ways of talking about panic attacks, intrusive thoughts, and anxiety symptoms.We discuss why saying "it feels like I'm dying" versus "I'm experiencing intense physical sensations
Have You Learned How To Panic Yet? (Episode 122)
In this episode, Josh and Drew tackle one of the most counterintuitive concepts in overcoming panic attacks: learning how to panic better, rather than trying to avoid panic altogether.When facing a new job triggers familiar panic patterns, many people focus on preventing anxiety rather than developing a healthier relationship with it. Drew and Josh explore why "learning how to panic" is
Forgiving Yourself In Anxiety Recovery (Episode 121)
When you're struggling with anxiety disorders, you often do things that don't reflect who you really are - avoiding social gatherings, canceling plans, or making demands on loved ones that you normally wouldn't. As you start to recover, it's common to feel overwhelming guilt about how your anxiety affected the people around you.In this episode, Drew and Josh explore the complex jou
Anxiety and the Death of Curiosity (Episode 120)
When anxiety takes hold, one of the first casualties is our natural sense of wonder and openness to new experiences. In this episode of Disordered, lets explore how anxiety disorders systematically erode our curiosity about the world around us and our own capabilities.Drew and Josh discuss how anxiety creates a rigid, self-focused mindset that asks only "How will this make me feel?" rath
Processing ... Or Anxious Thinking? (Episode 119)
When something shocking or difficult happens, we're often told we need to "process" our emotions. But what if that endless loop of replaying events in your mind isn't actually processing at all? In this episode, Drew and Josh explore the crucial difference between healthy emotional processing and anxious rumination that keeps us stuck.How to distinguish between genuine emotional
Healing in Anxiety Disorders (Episode 118)
In this episode of Disordered, the guys tackle one of the most misunderstood concepts in anxiety recovery: healing. Sparked by a listener question about balancing relationships with anxiety recovery work, the hosts dive deep into what healing anxiety really means - and what it doesn't.The Problem with "Healing" Language Drew and Josh explore how the word "healing" can be pr
Getting Out Of An Anxious Head (Episode 117)
Ever feel trapped in cycles of rumination, overthinking, and constant mental chatter about your anxiety? In this episode, Drew and Josh tackle the challenging question of how to "get out of your own head" without turning it into another exhausting battle.Starting with a thoughtful question from a listener who has built an impressive life despite ongoing anxiety and DPDR but still struggl
Anxiety and The Illusion of Control (Episode 116)
What If I Want To Control My Anxiety Holistically?In this episode, Drew and Josh examine tension between wanting to control anxiety through holistic approaches and recognizing when that desire for control becomes part of the problem itself.Key Topics Discussed:The difference between actual control and the illusion of controlHow the wellness and self-optimization industry can exploit anxiety suffer
Anxiety Recovery - Am I Doing Too Much (Episode 115)
Am I Doing Too Much Recovery/Exposure?This week Drew and Josh tackle a common question in anxiety recovery: "Am I pushing myself too hard with exposures?" The guys explore the nuanced balance between challenging yourself and recognizing when you might genuinely need rest.In this episode:How to distinguish between being genuinely depleted versus being scaredWhy feeling anxious after succe
Listener Questions About Anxiety & Recovery (Episode 114)
This week Drew and Josh are answering questions from listeners. Questions addressed in this episode include:Is it "normal" to feel a letdown after completing and big successful exposure/challenge?What work can we do to address the fawn response?Isn't a panic attack a medical emergency? How can it possibly be safe to experience panic?!Staying off social media is good for mental health, right? But i
Death Anxiety w/Professor David Veale (Episode 113)
Death anxiety - an obsessive fixation on death, dying and existence driven by intense fear of the inevitability of death - is a very common experience for listeners of Disordered.This week Josh and Drew were lucky enough to have a chat with Professor David Veale, one of the leading authorities in in the UK on the topic of death anxiety and mental health issues related to death and existence. David
Rumination ... Or Reflection? (Episode 112)
What's the difference between rumination and reflection? Ruminators, worriers, and over thinkers often struggle to recognize the useful limits of thinking. They can become unsure when they are engaging in helpful reflection or problem solving .... and when they are ruminating and worrying with no good outcomes and often actual negative outcomes.This week on Disordered Drew and Josh are digging
If Its Anxiety .... It MUST Be Trauma! (Episode 111)
This week on Disordered we're discussing the all too common narrative in wellness circles that demands that we ascribe all anxiety or suffering of any kind to unhealed or unprocessed trauma. And while its certainly a good thing that we are more concerned with life experiences than structural defects now, this narrative can be unhelpful or even harmful in the context of anxiety disorders.All hu
Anxiety Recovery: Worse Before Better - Part II (Episode 110)
"Help! I started doing exposures and trying to accept my anxiety and its getting worse!"This is a very common experience in anxiety disorder recovery. Its been spoken about at great length in the community surrounding the Disordered podcast. This week we're tackling the "worse before better" issue.When you stop running, hiding, avoiding, escaping, distracting, and otherwise drowning out your anxio
My Anxiety Makes Me Frustrated / Angry / Sad / Guilty! (Episode 109)
When we struggle with chronic or disordered anxiety, we regularly experience powerful emotions that tend to look like fear or tension. We may experience intense feelings of being vulnerable, or doomed. We talk about these things all the time. But what about when you have emotions about having those emotions? Struggling to overcome an anxiety problem that is creating disruption in your life is goin
Anxiety, ChatGPT, AI, Reddit ... and Dr. Google (Episode 108)
"Hey ChatGPT. Please tell me how I'll know if I'm accepting my anxiety or avoiding it.""Hey ChatGPT. When I get anxious my vision gets weird. Can anxiety do that? ""Hello Reddit. Does anyone else feel like ...."The guys are back after a short break to talk about the use of ChatGPT, AI, Reddit, Google, and the Internet in general in the context of anxiety and mental health issues.There's no doubt t
Two Week Break - April 18, 2025
We're taking a short two week break, so no new episode of Disordered for April 18 or April 25. We'll be back again on May 2!In the meanwhile, head over to disordered.fm and check out our back catalog of episodes. We've done some cool (and fun) stuff over the last two years so check it out. Thank you for all your support. We really appreciate all of you guys! ---Disordered Roundtables are here! Thi
Doing ... And NOT Doing ... In Anxiety Recovery (Episode 107)
When working on anxiety recovery, sometimes we're DOING. Other times we have to focus on NOT doing. How confusing is that!?This week Drew and Josh are chatting about how DOING things specific to anxiety recovery and NOT DOING things specific to anxiety recovery are related and how these two concepts work together. In a nutshell, doing is about activating and engaging in behavior that anxiety s
Emetophobia - Fear of Vomiting w/Dara Lovitz & Dr. David Yusko (Episode 106)
Emetophobia - an intense fear of vomiting and any thoughts or sensations associated with vomiting - is a more common struggle among anxious people than anyone might initial think. But Emetophobia can make its way into virtually every aspect of life, often resulting in a highly restricted lifestyle and a dramatic decrease in the ability to function.This week Dara Lovitz and Dr. David Yusko join Dre
Existential Anxiety With Depersonalization/De-Realization (Episode 105)
One of the perfect storms in the anxiety disorder world is the combination of existential related anxiety with the sensations/experiences of depersonalization and derealization. Unfortunately for many, this is a common combination and it can be so difficult to understand and address that it seemed an episode dedicated to this issue was in order.As you might expect, the overall message in this epis
Anxiety and "Incomplete" Recovery (Episode 104)
Do you feel like you've "mostly" overcome your chronic or disordered anxiety issues but there are still challenges that linger? Maybe you've felt fully recovered once before, or even several times before, but you keep finding yourself back in the thick of it or unable to overcome a few specific challenges.If this is you, then tune in as Josh and Drew talk about the concept of &qu
Anxiety and Flying w/Dr. David Carbonell (Episode 103)
When working to overcome an anxiety disorder, the biggest challenge many in our community can identify is flying. For chronically anxious people, the idea of getting on a plane, being trapped for hours, and being terrified or out of control for that long seems like something they will never be able to.Even for people that are well on the way to recovery, flying can still feel like the "ultima
Self-Soothing When Anxiety Appears? (Episode 102)
How can I learn to self-soothe when I get anxious and I'm terrified of my body or my thoughts?Well ... while it might seem like launching into a soothing technique designed to control the fight or flight response is a good idea, this week Josh and Drew are talking about why the concept of self-soothing doesn't automatically make sense in the context of anxiety disorders.Self-soothing, supp
Breathing/Breath Anxiety (Episode 101)
Breathing anxiety! This is such a common issue in the Disordered community. Breathing or breath focused anxiety often involves a few key concepts:"I feel like I can't get a deep enough breath!""When I get really anxious it feels like I can't breathe.""I'm super focused on my breath all day long and I hate it!"Today we're joined by clinical psychologist
Did It Anyway - Volume 3 (Episode 100)
To celebrate the 100th episode (and over a million downloads) of Disordered, we thought celebrating listener and community wins would be a great way to mark the occasion!Disordered would not exist without you, and when you guys do brave things, face your fear, learn lessons from that, and rise to meet challenges you previously thought impossible to meet, that needs to be acknowledged.If you find i
Existential Anxiety! (Episode 99)
What is existence? What is the point of all this? Do I even really exist? The universe is so insanely huge! What even is time? What happens when we die?These are questions all humans ask - and have been asking since we developed language. They are normal. They can even be fun questions to ask. An entire section of the human race dedicates itself to studying and pondering these questions.But for p
Willful Tolerance and the Sensitized State (Episode 98)
When Drew and Josh form a band, they will call it "Willful Tolerance and the Sensitized State". Kinda like Stevie Ray Vaughn and Double Trouble .... but way cooler.
But before then, they're releasing this episode of Disordered, which takes a look at the relationship between a sensitized state - where everything seems scary and triggering and you feel stuck - and the principle of wil
The Compassionate Mind - The Role of Compassion in Anxiety Recovery (Episode 97)
If being anxious means you are less than, defective, doing it wrong, or that you are at fault for not being able to control or stop your anxiety, you may be struggling to move forward in recovery. If you feel that being an anxious person is proof that you are unworthy or defective, or if you feel that you are bringing it all on yourself because you do not deserve a better life, you may be struggli
Anxiety ... Without Judgment? (Episode 96)
I hate anxiety and panic. I hate my intrusive scary thoughts. I fear them. Why does everyone keep talking about "not judging". I MUST judge them!
When addressing anxiety disorders, most modern, empirically validated effective treatments involve elements of mindfulness and acceptance. This means learning to experience anxiety without judgment or evaluation. That's difficult, isn'
Real Event OCD (Episode 95)
BUT THIS REALLY HAPPENED!
You have an event in your past that you just can't stop thinking about and ruminating on, and the feelings you are getting about that event are incredibly intense and feel overpowering. Those feelings might include guilt, shame, embarrassment, anxiety, or worry about your status as a good person. But no matter how much you replay the event in your head or seek reassuranc
Anxiety Insights w/Dr Sally Winston and Dr. Martin Seif (Episode 94)
This week on Disordered we're having a good old anxiety Q&A session, except the people answering the questions are legends in the area of anxiety disorders!
Drs Sally Winston and Marty Seif are here this week to take questions from our listeners and to share some of the insights they gained over years of working with anxiety disorders.
There's a reason why Sally and Marty are looked up to by
Anxiety Recovery ... Chasing "Rest and Digest" (Episode 93)
"I MUST BE CALM OR ALL BETS ARE OFF!"
If this feels like a rule you're living by, you may find that you're chasing calm all the time, looking for ways to force your way into the coveted parasympathetic "rest and digest" state. Anxious people tend to work very hard to create calm and to maintain it at all costs.
This week on Disordered the guys are talking about "rest and digest" or the state of
Anxiety Disorders .. The "Default Thought" (Episode 92)
There is a default thought that stands as thread that weaves itself throughout the life of a person struggling with disordered or chronic anxiety.
"How do I feel?"
This week Josh and Drew are looking at this default thought and the impact it has on an anxious person. All living humans will ask this question probably every day in some form, but anxious humans ask it as their default appraisal an
I Get So Anxious When I'm Sick! (Episode 91)
"When I am ill, my anxiety goes through the roof!"
Does this sound familiar? Many people struggling with disordered anxiety will say that if they get sick or feel unwell (i.e. a cold, a sore throat, the flu, etc.) they find that they are extremely anxious. If you experience this struggle, its not just you.
This week Drew and Josh are examining the mechanics behind your over-productive threat mon
Help! I'm In An Anxiety Spiral! (Episode 90)
"Spiraling" is one of the terms heard quite often in the community of people struggling with anxiety disorders.
There's a trigger like a thought or a sensation, then in short order you feel completely out of control, being dragged down into the pit of fear where you thrash about trying to make it stop but failing and just feeling worse and worse.
This week on Disordered we're taking a closer lo
Anxiety Recovery: How Important Is Attention? (Episode 89)
How important is the concept of attention in driving an anxiety disorder and influencing the recovery process?
VERY important!
This week on Disordered we're up to our usual hijinks but also we're digging into the idea that attention - choosing to pay very close attention to how one feels and what one is thinking - is the primary driver of disordered anxiety. And if this is true - which we say it i
Anxiety, ACT, and The Happiness Trap w/ Dr Russ Harris (Episode 88)
The struggle in an anxiety disorder is seen in two almost automatic responses to anxiety - we either obey it and do what it tells us we must do, or we resist it by trying to fight it, argue with it, and wish it away over and over.
This week on Disordered Dr. Russ Harris - one of the world's leading advocates for Acceptance and Committment Therapy (ACT) - is here to chat about the principles of AC
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