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The Mel Robbins Podcast

The Truth About Anxiety and How To Heal It: Tools for Anxiety From a Neuroscientist MD

Oct 13, 2022
Dr. Russell Kennedy, a neuroscientist and medical doctor specializing in anxiety, shares transformative insights about overcoming anxiety. He highlights that the real reason for anxiety often lies in unresolved emotional issues, not just thoughts. Emphasizing a 'neck down' approach, Dr. Kennedy advocates for body awareness and emotional regulation techniques. He discusses the importance of self-love, inner child work, and creating safe environments for healing, offering listeners practical tools to foster a healthier relationship with their emotions and truly heal their anxiety.
01:32:33

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Anxiety is triggered by a sense of separation from parents or caregivers, creating an alarm system in the body.
  • The key to healing anxiety is through addressing the sensations in the body and providing self-compassion and attention.

Deep dives

Anxiety as an Alarm System in the Body

Anxiety is described as an alarm system in the body that triggers a physiological response. It starts with the amygdala, which recognizes potential threats and sends signals to the body, leading to increased heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration. The alarm system is rooted in childhood experiences of feeling separate from parents or caregivers. This feeling of separation generates an alarm in the body, which can manifest as anxiety later in life. Understanding anxiety as an alarm system helps shift the focus from the thoughts to the physiological sensations. By paying attention to the alarm and providing reassurance or attention to the body, one can begin the process of healing anxiety.

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