109. Navigating the Storm: Kendra Fisher's Journey from Anxiety to Empowerment

Hey Everyone! Welcome back. Today on Anxiety Rx Podcast I talk with former ice hockey goaltender and mental health advocate Kendra Fisher.

We share our personal battles with anxiety and the paths we've taken toward healing. Kendra opens up about how a car accident intensified her anxiety, leading her to seek various treatments and eventually find solace in somatic therapies.

As a clinical neuroscientist, I discuss the limitations of traditional cognitive therapies and emphasize the importance of addressing the physiological roots of anxiety. Together, we highlight the significance of community, resilience, and embracing vulnerability in managing mental health.

Our conversation offers hope and practical insights for those struggling with anxiety, I hope you enjoy it.

Thank you for listening and you can find me on IG: @theanxietymd if you have any questions.

If you would like to join the MBRX family of 4000+ anxiety WARRIORS who are shifting from coping with their anxiety to actually HEALING it, click the link below:
https://www.theanxietymd.com/MBRX

You can find Kendra on most social platforms as @kfisher30

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TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Introduction to the Podcast
0:42 Kendra's Background
2:19 Car Accident Impact
3:09 Struggles with Anxiety
4:00 Team Canada Tryouts
5:33 The Illusion of Success
6:49 Journey to Diagnosis
8:13 Learning to Cope
10:14 Accountability in Support
10:56 The Tactical Advantage of Anxiety
12:23 Navigating Grief and Loss
19:09 Surrendering Control
21:12 The Role of Hockey
23:12 Kendra's Struggle with Anxiety
23:27 Vulnerability and Acceptance
24:03 The Illusion of Quick Fixes
25:04 Familiarity and Security
26:13 Coping Strategies and Their Consequences
27:17 Embracing Anxiety
28:16 Childhood Trauma and Healing
29:42 Physiological Responses to Anxiety
32:41 The Role of the Amygdala
33:59 Healing Through Understanding
34:01 Neurobiological Wiring of Anxiety
34:25 Exposure Therapy Insights
35:15 Virtual Reality in Therapy
36:41 Tangible Healing Methods
38:18 Somatic Experience and Release
38:25 Feeling Structure vs. Cognitive Strategies
42:27 Rewriting Childhood Narratives
44:21 The Role of Responsibility in Healing
45:14 Critique of Cognitive Therapy
46:05 Personal Experience with Grief
48:13 Processing Grief and Anxiety
49:12 Adversity and Resilience
50:33 Fear vs. Anxiety
51:39 Value of Suffering
52:39 Avoidance in Coping
56:32 Creating Safe Spaces
57:02 The Importance of Community
58:42 Support vs. Fixing
59:32 Finding Kendra Fisher