Owning It: The Anxiety Podcast

For this episode of Owning It, it's just me and I'm talking through a very real anxiety that a lot of us are facing: anxiety around returning to normal post covid. It might sound silly, to be anxious about getting back to the life we lived before - when Covid has been a major source of anxiety for many of us, but something has happened. We've found comfort in the discomfort and we've gotten very used to life in lockdown, so emerging out of it brings its own challenges, socially and physically for our bodies. I hope you find this episode helpful and reassuring.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/owningittheanxietypodcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Dermot Whelan, comedian and radio presenter Dermot Whelan talks shares his story of anxiety, how he burned himself out to the point of arriving at a comedy festival (where he was due to perform) in an ambulance. After reaching this crescendo, Dermot eventually found meditation, and though it was somewhat underwhelming, he noticed a much calmer version of himself begin to emerge. Now he is a meditation teacher and has learned many techniques to dissolve anxiety, which he shares here. With humour and simplicity, Dermot will convince you that focusing on your breath is perhaps your most under utilised anxiety reducing tool. His new book, Mind Full, is out now and is a super enjoyable and informative read that will open your world to meditation and its many benefits. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/owningittheanxietypodcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this episode I am joined by the wonderful Alyson Stoner. A super successful child star, Alyson appeared to have it all going on: she was the featured dancer (as a little girl) in the Missy Elliot Work It video. She was on several Disney projects, Cheaper by the Dozen franchise, the Step Up franchise and so much more. But with such a high pressure environment that was sent against the backdrop of a chaotic and turbulent home life, things were not as wonderful as they may have seemed. Alyson chats to me here about the trauma she experienced, how her anxiety manifested as an eating disorder, how and when she knew she needed some help, how she came through it, and how she now reconciles her childhood experiences so that they inform her life as a wellbeing and mental health advocate now. She's incredibly articulate and she's just launched a new positive mental health platform called Movement Genius which I urge you to check out.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/owningittheanxietypodcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this episode I am talking about the power of journalling - with an old school pen and paper - for anxiety management. How can it help? How can we ensure it's not something else to feel pressure with? How can we make sure it's proactively helping us to own our anxiety? I take you on a guided tour of my new journal - Own It: The Anxiety Journal based on my number 1 International bestseller Owning It (on which this podcast is also based!), which is available to purchase here.https://own-it-journal.myshopify.com/products/journalSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/owningittheanxietypodcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this episode I am flying solo to talk about toxic positivity. What is it? Why do we do it? How can we avoid it?Buy Naked: Ten Truths To Change Your Life now, widely available online. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/owningittheanxietypodcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Explore the power of neurocycling in managing anxiety and stress, reframing anxiety as a messaging system. Learn the 5 steps of neurocycling and how to navigate phases of stress. Understand the mind-brain connection and the transformative potential of managing one's mind. Embrace anxiety as a natural response and uncover the importance of addressing mental health for overall well-being.

For this episode I am joined by Gareth Mullins, head chef and self described perfectionist and high achiever at Dublin's 5 star hotel The Marker. Gareth reached out to me a few years ago to say he was struggling, he didn't understand why and he didn't want to admit that he was having a hard time with anxiety. He went to the doctor, who suggested medication, which he didn't want to take because to him that meant admitting defeat or weakness. Here we talk about the stigma that unfortunately still lingers around mental health, particularly when it comes to men. Is there room for anxiety in a high pressure, nothing-less-than-perfection work environment? There needs to be. Gareth runs regular cooking courses online - they are brilliant - check him out at @garmullins on Instagram for more details and announcements of upcoming courses and classes.My new book NAKED is out now, get it here! Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/owningittheanxietypodcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fiona Brennan is a hypnotherapist and two-time author of bestselling wellbeing books. Her latest book, The Self Love Habit, is what we discuss here, in relation to anxiety of course. How can self love really impact our anxiety? What is the divided self she speaks of? How do we engage with our inner critic: the driving force of our anxiety for the most part and what can we do each day to bring more self-compassion into our routine?Fiona's book is out now. You can buy it here. And you can buy my latest book, NAKED, here too.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/owningittheanxietypodcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this episode I am joined by Greg O'Shea, Rugby Sevens star here in Ireland who shot to fame across the UK and Ireland after appearing on Love Island. A reality TV series where everyone wants a piece of you, and as soon as you do something that doesn't please the masses, you're down over 700,000 instagram followers. Is it possible to keep self worth and such a measurable metric of success separate? How do you cope with the opinions of the world coming at you? Greg talks death threats, remembering what's important and knowing how to measure his self worth and keep anxiety at a level he can manage. For 25, he has an impressive perspective on what counts and what doesn't (25 was the age I was when everything fell apart for me) and almost without realising it, he has cultivated a set of skills for keeping his mental health in excellent condition these past few years. He's a genuinely nice, humble guy who knows how important it is to normalise mental health struggles and I was delighted to have him as a guest.My new book, NAKED: Ten Truths To Change Your Life, is out now. Buy it here. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/owningittheanxietypodcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ethan Kross, neuroscientist, psychologist and Professor at the University of Michigan joins me on Owning It to talk about his new book - CHATTER - and how we can better understand and then harness the voice in our head that leads us to all sorts of maladaptive issues, namely anxiety. We talk through some seriously effective tools such as 'temporal distancing' which give a useful structure to concepts we've already explored in Owning It, or things you may already practise yourself but aren't even aware of. Ethan's new book is out now and it's a compelling read. Buy it here. You know what else is a compelling read? My new book, NAKED: Ten Truths To Change Your Life, out now. Click the link to order! Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/owningittheanxietypodcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.