941: Healing from Health Anxiety: Trusting Your Body's Resilience Listener Q and A

In today's episode, Gina responds to a listener question regarding health anxiety. There is often much knowledge in our minds regarding our own personal history and how it can relate to health. Anxiety can often take advantage of our own self-knowledge and health related knowledge we have picked up in our lives, including through internet research. Listen in for the good news about the human body's awesome capacity for resilience and learn how to better tame your health and symptom related thinking and feel better today!

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What is anxiety?

Quote:

Your calm mind is the ultimate weapon against your challenges. So relax.

–Bryant McGill

Chapters

0:00:24 Introduction and Listener Question on Healing from Anxiety

0:02:39 Understanding the Resilience of the Human Body

0:09:06 The Brain's Capacity for Healing and Restoration

0:13:54 The Importance of Patience in Seeking Medical Care

0:14:44 Avoiding the Pitfalls of Health Anxiety

0:16:28 Overcoming Anxiety and Not Mistaking Symptoms for Illness

Summary

In this episode of the Anxiety Coaches Podcast, Gina Ryan discusses healing from anxiety and trusting the body's resilience. The topic stems from a listener question about health anxiety and the fear of developing dementia or Alzheimer's. Gina acknowledges that anxiety often lands on what we care about most and can lead to worrying about potential damage caused by stress and past substance abuse.

Gina delves into specific ways the body can heal and recover, such as neuroplasticity, neurogenesis, reduced inflammation, restoration of neurotransmitter balance, and enhanced blood flow and oxygenation. Stress and alcohol abuse may disrupt the brain's neural connections and neurotransmitter balance, but the brain has the incredible capacity to reorganize and form new connections. Furthermore, reducing stress and alcohol consumption can decrease inflammation in the brain, promoting healing and restoration. Regular exercise and a healthy lifestyle also aid in improving blood flow and oxygenation, supporting the brain healing process.

Gina proceeds to discuss the manifestations of health anxiety, including excessive worrying about sickness or injury, frequent body checking, seeking reassurance from others, obsessive online searches, and avoiding anything related to serious illness. She advises against relying on internet searches and instead encourages seeking guidance from healthcare professionals or waiting to see if symptoms persist. Additionally, she highlights the common tendency to avoid activities out of fear and mistake anxiety symptoms for signs of illness. Keeping a journal to track behaviors such as body checking, reassurance seeking, and online searching can help reduce these habits over time.

The main takeaway is to be mindful of thoughts about one's health and not give in to every fleeting worry. With practice, old habits can be broken, and a better mental state can be achieved. Gina concludes the episode by quoting Bryant McGill, reminding listeners that a calm mind is their ultimate weapon against challenges. She signs off with a farewell and best wishes until the next podcast.

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