The Moth Afraid to Look: The Moth Radio Hour
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Nov 18, 2025 Join Amanda Stern, a writer known for her memoirs, as she shares her struggles with anxiety and panic disorder. Tim Manley reveals how repressed emotions physically manifest, leading to a surprising breakthrough. Cheryl Murfin lightens the mood with a humorous story about new-parent panic in a parking lot, highlighting kindness in unexpected places. Devin Sandiford confronts family trauma and racial profiling, finding courage in naming his uncle. These stories weave a touching tapestry of fear, vulnerability, and resilience.
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Breaking Free From Paralysing Dread
- Amanda Stern describes crippling lifelong dread that trapped her in her apartment and led to suicidal thinking.
- A cab ride and a decision to face fear started her on medication and therapy that slowly restored her life.
Relief, Not Numbness, As The Goal
- Amanda realizes she doesn't want absence of feeling but the presence of relief, which reframes her choice to live.
- Facing fear gave her power while avoidance had empowered the dread.
Words Out, Symptoms Fade
- Tim Manley developed painful skin and leg symptoms when he suppressed his feelings about being in love with his friend Ben.
- Writing messages on his hand each night and sharing them externally helped his body symptoms clear and freed him to speak to Ben.
