Common Questions About Anxiety From ... You! | EP 313

The Anxious Truth - A Panic, Anxiety, and Mental Health Podcast

Send in a question or comment via text.

In this no-frills episode of The Anxious Truth, I'm tackling common questions about anxiety sent in by you, the listeners. No fancy production today - just real talk about real anxiety concerns.

We're diving into:

00:00 - Introduction

00:58 - Emetophobia (fear of vomiting) - what it is and how it's typically addressed

06:12 - Nocturnal panic attacks - why they're jarring and how to handle them

11:24 - Is focusing on breathing a distraction or helpful technique?

14:45 - The meta-problem of ruminating about rumination

18:20 - External sources of anxiety in our tumultuous world

22:06 - The fear of becoming suicidal against your will - a surprisingly common anxiety concern

27:40 - Why focusing on specific anxious thoughts misses the bigger picture

As someone who lived through panic disorder, agoraphobia, OCD, and depression, I'm sharing both professional and personal perspectives on these challenging issues. Remember - recovery isn't about eliminating specific fears but changing your relationship with your internal experiences altogether.

There are no magic solutions or quick fixes here, just practical guidance for the long-term journey of anxiety recovery. All sensations, thoughts, and emotions are permissible - even when they're uncomfortable.

For full show notes on this episode:

https://theanxioustruth.com/313

Support The Anxious Truth: If you find the podcast helpful and want to support my work, you can buy me a coffee. Other ways to support my work like buying a book or signing up for a low cost workshop can be found on my website. None of this is never required, but always appreciated!
Interested in doing therapy with me? For more information on working with me directly to overcome your anxiety, follow this link.
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 out immediately for in-person help.

Chapters

1. Episode Introduction and Overview (00:00:00)

2. About Drew: The Man Behind The Anxious Truth (00:08:17)

3. Emetophobia: Understanding Fear of Vomiting (00:17:12)

4. Navigating Nocturnal Panic Attacks (00:40:56)

5. Breathing Techniques: Distraction or Tool? (01:00:50)

6. Breaking the Loop of Meta-Rumination (01:13:29)

7. External Anxiety and World Events (01:32:37)

8. Fear of Becoming Suicidal vs. Being Suicidal (01:58:49)

9. Process Over Content: Final Thoughts (02:27:05)