The Panic Pod

Catastrophic Thinking is when we consider the spectrum of possibilities that can result from an event and believe in the most drastic, negative outcome. This pattern of thinking can affect our behaviour over time. That’s when anxiety starts to really affect us negatively. Hearing “your behaviour is the problem” when you’ve suffered an anxious episode is probably the last thing an anxious person can cope with hearing, but as Josh illustrates, these small acts of bravery - changing our behaviour in spite of our anxiety - can help to remind us what we’re capable of, and slowly re-pattern the anxious thought patterns we have grown accustomed to. Note on the audio: Thank you listeners for putting up with the steady beeping that was coming from Ella’s side of the recording. New recording space caused some issues! We apologise if it annoyed you throughout the episode, but we have resolved the issue for episode 25 and onwards! We are so grateful for your kind words, follows, and feedback! Keep in touch with us to know when we upload new episodes! @thepanicpod on Instagram and Facebook Email talk@thepanicroom.co.uk with a question or feedback.

Self-discipline is something many people wish they had more of, but from Josh and Ella’s experience, people who have tenacious self-discipline can experience anxiety when their inner monologue gets drunk on power and outweighs self-compassion. When we condition our minds into using self-discipline to be productive and achieving results, we must also remember to balance that with moments of pause, reflection, and giving ourselves praise for accomplishments. Sometimes people don’t like being nice to themselves. Sometimes people don’t know how to accept praise. Anxiety doesn’t manifest in a void. It feeds off of insecurity and trauma that hasn't been assessed. By understanding and accepting ourselves, we create the space we need to reflect on where our anxiety came from. Put your recovery first. We are so grateful for your kind words, follows, and feedback! Keep in touch with us to know when we upload new episodes! @thepanicpod on Instagram and Facebook Email talk@thepanicroom.co.uk with a question or feedback.

Based on many questions we’ve received for the podcast, we wanted to put together an episode on recovery. Recovery from chronic anxiety, in essence, is when the frequent, unprovoked feelings anxiety are no longer part of a person’s day-to-day life. It does not, as some anxiety sufferers believe, mean that anxiety will forever disappear. The challenge those in recovery face is to be with anxiety while working on how to recover. This means, fundamentally, recognising symptoms of anxiety are not physically harmful or dangerous. While there are treatments that may reduce the effects of aspect of anxiety (e.g. physical sensations), there are three pillars that anxiety sufferers face, defined by Josh as: 1. Physical sensations 2. Intrusive thoughts and thought patterns 3. Feelings and emotions Recovery is not eradicating anxiety completely. It is learning to accept anxiety with self compassion in order for the anxiety symptoms to gradually subside over time. If you want to learn more about Self Compassion, listen back to Episode 14 on it (or for even more check out Episode 13: Conditions of Worth) We are so grateful for your kind words, follows, and feedback! Keep in touch with us to know when we upload new episodes! @thepanicpod on Instagram and Facebook Email talk@thepanicroom.co.uk with a question or feedback. Hold onto hope, visualise your future, and use baby steps to walk towards the future you desire. The emotions we have aren’t metrics for our recovery.

In this bonus episode, Josh is joined by Hannah Strickland, a teacher trainer and lecturer from The University of Manchester. Hannah asks Josh about anxiety in both students and teachers, with particular reference to trainee teachers.

OCD is a widely recognised name but fairly misunderstood disorder. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) can present itself in a variety of different ways including but not limited to; an anxiety about germs and bacteria, an attempt to align symmetry or order, a tendency to hoard belongings, a repetitive checking for safety from harm, or intrusive thoughts that cause unique physical behaviours. These are just some of the ways OCD can present itself. Unfortunately, in media and the way it's used in offhand language, many people will use the term "OCD" when they mean they are being meticulous or organised. These folks don’t know what it’s like living with the disorder. People who suffer from OCD often fear, “If I don’t complete this task or ritual, then something bad will/may happen”. This could be superstition about an external event, or an anxiety about how they’ll feel afterwards. In this episode, Josh and Ella discuss how this is related to anxiety using the Martin Seif and Sally Winston model of our “wise mind vs. false comfort” which we introduced in Episode 8. If you want to learn more about Martin Seif and Sally Winston’s work, check out: "Needing to Know for Sure: A CBT-Based Guide to Overcoming Compulsive Checking and Reassurance Seeking" by Martin Seif (PhD) & Sally Winston (PsyD) https://www.amazon.com/Needing-Know-Sure-Overcoming-Reassurance-ebook/dp/B07MMQ7HRK We are so grateful for your kind words, follows, and feedback! Keep in touch with us to know when we upload new episodes! @thepanicpod on Instagram and Facebook Email talk@thepanicroom.co.uk with a question or feedback.

In this episode, Josh and Ella discuss the difference between feelings of anxiety and when anxiety becomes a disorder. Comparing it to a sleep disorder or an eating disorder, an anxiety disorder is something uncomfortable that keeps happening, but can be overcome. An anxiety disorder occurs when one finds themselves in a downward spiral of anxious behaviour, so much so that a tactic they are using to comfort themselves may be causing more harm to their recovery. Using examples drawn from his professional practice, Josh quizzes Ella on how to identify one or the other. Ella shares her experience of feeling anxious before a gig compared to unexpected anxiety while making dinner. Please reach out to us! We are on instagram as @thepanicpod Email us a question or comment at talk@thepanicroom.co.uk

In this episode of the Panic Pod, Ella has a conversation with Dr. Meg Van Deusen, a Seattle-based psychologist and author of the new book Stressed in the U.S.: 12 Tools to Tackle Anxiety, Loneliness, Tech Addiction and More. Through the stress of the Coronavirus pandemic, climate crisis related events, and state of racial inequality and the presidential election in the U.S., Dr. Van Deusen provides hope using tools that have come from practical experience as a therapist. Just a few of the many tools in her book are discussed in this interview against the backdrop of our present-day stresses. Follow Meg Van Deusen on social media or learn more about her at: https://www.megvandeusen.com/ Read Stressed in the U.S. - 12 Tools to Tackle Anxiety, Loneliness, Tech Addiction and More: https://www.amazon.com/Stressed-U-S-Anxiety-Loneliness-Tech-Addiction/dp/1734032413/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=stressed+in+the+us&qid=1574677780&sr=8-1 Follow us on instagram at @thepanicpod Ask us a question for the podcast at talk@thepanicroom.co.uk

Josh and Ella discuss what life is like to have chronic symptoms of anxiety. One of the most common symptoms is called derealisation. If you have derealisation, all it really means is you have a heightened blood oxygen level from hyperventilation and are experiencing a “fight or flight” response. As a result you get a feeling like you are slightly detached from reality. You may have experienced this yourself whether or not you have chronic anxiety, but perhaps felt aloof when you received some shocking news. Josh and Ella also weigh in on the topic with examples from their lives. Ella likes Midnight Gospel as an ex-stoner Canadian and Josh doesn’t, which is okay. Reach out to us at talk@thepanicroom.co.uk or find us on instagram as @thepanicpod Thanks for listening and leaving reviews!

In this episode of The Panic Pod, we’re joined by Dr. Radha. She is a doctor, broadcaster, and author. In an inspiring conversation between Joshua and Dr. Radha, they break down one of the most common used buzzwords in self-help podcasting: “wellbeing”. Wellbeing encompasses all things that make a person comfortable, happy, and healthy, so therefore regards both physical and mental health. As Dr. Radha is a practicing GP, she provides insights as to where the health system plays a role in signposting anxiety sufferers to the right resources, as well as how important those same resources are for front line workers. Using examples of how language has shaped our culture, Joshua and Dr. Radha dive into where the intersection between mental and and physical health are, how emotional health can be improved, and the reality of how emotions can affect our physical health. Find Dr. Radha on instagram as @dr_radha and on twitter as @drradhamodgil or visit her website http://drradha.co.uk/ Find us on instagram as @thepanicpod Would you like to send in a question to be read on the podcast? Email talk@thepanicroom.co.uk

Have you ever found yourself thinking, “I am using excuses to make myself feel temporarily more comfortable,”? What about, “I fear deviating away from locations which are familiar to me,”? What happens when you reach the point of realising, “I am avoiding leaving the house”? In this episode, we discuss agoraphobia. Agoraphobia is defined in the dictionary as 'a fear of open or crowded spaces’. However, as Josh explains, it can be defined in a more nuanced way to identify what the trigger of panic is. As with other manifestations of anxiety, it’s important to remember that panic is harmless. It’s scary, but feeling it won't hurt you. Furthermore, Josh explains the idea of exposure: if you go towards what panics you, it disappears. Books we talked about: Anxiety: Panicking about Panic by Joshua Fletcher Anxiety: Practical about Panic by Joshua Fletcher Needing to Know for Sure by Martin Seif and Sally Winston If you have questions for us, anonymously or otherwise, we can be reached at talk@thepanicroom.co.uk You can also reach us on instagram at @thepanicpod