The Purpose of Anxiety

Talking points: anxiety, suicide, mental illness, neurology, culture, psychology

This was SUCH a thorough and enjoyable interview. Always a pleasure to get the practical yet caring advice from Dr. Kennedy, someone I’ve known for a long time.

If you or someone you know has been diagnosed or deals with anxiety, this is THE episode for you. We cover all the ways anxiety, the body, and the mind are connected, where to begin helping yourself (or others) with those anxious feelings, what the therapy and personal development industries often miss out, and way way more.

(00:00:00) - Intro and Russell’s defining moment
(00:04:03) - How Russell dealt with the complexities of a schizophrenic father
(00:11:33) - How anxiety is a manifestation of something much deeper
(00:15:38) - What are some of the most common anxiety myths?
(00:18:35) - What is the actual purpose of anxiety?
(00:21:54) - How do you talk to people who dismiss anxiety and trauma?
(00:33:37) - Do you think kids are more anxious than ever before?
(00:40:10) - What do we do for kids knowing that distraction culture will likely worsen?
(00:47:30) - What do you mean by “anxiety isn’t a feeling”?
(00:51:11)  - Anxiety vs Alarm
(00:58:26) - Where do you begin helping someone with anxiety?
(01:08:17) - Is there a difference between anxiety and stress within the brain? 
(01:12:36) - Russell’s final thoughts on anxiety 

Dr. Russell Kennedy, aka “The Anxiety MD” specializes in the art and neuroscience of helping people recover from anxiety disorders. He knows anxiety from the inside out, as he developed his own anxiety disorder as a result of growing up with a dad with severe schizophrenia.  Dr. Kennedy has degrees and advanced training in medicine, neuroscience, and developmental psychology—but it’s not all science, as he is also a certified yoga and meditation teacher and was a professional stand-up comedian for over a decade (no joke!)

In his award-winning book and audiobook, ANXIETY RX, he shows a practical, actionable program for anxiety relief that incorporates a combination of the latest in neuroscience with the grounding wisdom of the body with the ultimate goal of relieving the anxious thoughts of the mind. Using neuroscience (think "The Body Keeps the Score") and blending that science with a more artistic approach he learned through living at a temple in India, taking psychedelics, and being a natural and gifted intuitive, Dr. Kennedy gives a unique and never before seen understanding of what anxiety truly is,  and further, exactly how it can be successfully treated. Dr Russ wants to make sure that nobody has to suffer with anxiety as he did.

Connect with Dr. Kennedy

-Website: https://www.theanxietymd.com/

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theanxietymd/

-Book, Anxiety RX: https://amzn.to/3QBpl46

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