Show 240 - Cracking the Egg

You can find ways to deal with your symptoms. For some of us, there is medication. 

It isn't for everybody. 

Or you may choose to use a coping skill or relaxation technique. 

It isn't for everybody. 

What is important to know is that you have choices on how you want to handle your symptoms. 

In this episode, a look at some of my process and a few resources to check and hopefully use to make yourself more comfortable.

You don't have to suffer. 

If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741.

Resources Mentioned: 

BetterUp Coaching website provide a matching service for people that are looking for support in their personal or professional goals. It is not a therapy site but some folks do not read beneath the headlines. 

Harvard Health Publishing has a post on Progressive Muscle Relaxation and other exercise based relaxation tips. 

For those that prefer audio, there is a progressive muscle relaxation at Helpguide.org

Mindful.org post on 10 minute gratitude practice to shift, notice and re-wire the brain.

Dental Fear Central - excellent site for those of us that get the shakes when a dentist says open wide.

Disclaimer: 

Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements. 

Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder.

This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Show 239 There is grief in anxiety too.

One of the great things about WandaVision is that there was a shared communal place for joy, life and grief. Now the comic book nerd in me is huffing and puffing about conflating three different story arcs in the series.

I normally don't like it but WandaVision gets a special dispensation for just how well it can be done.

This episode is about grief. Anxiety can be a dance partner with it or make it presence know. But grief is a powerful thing. Do not disrespect when it walks into the room. 

Have all the feelings. Yes.

Don't ignore it. Don't pretend like it isn't there and life goes on. 

It will find you and make you listen.

If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741.

Resources Mentioned: 

Social Anxiety Kyle is a website that has some free resources, a link to the Social Ninjas podcast and a course for those of you that have social anxiety.

My father was famous as John Le Carre, my mother was his crucial covert collaborator. Essay on The Guardian website.

U.S. Centers for Disease Control page on Grief and Loss, learn about the symptoms and what you can do to help your healing. 

Grief is love with no place to go by Fred Guttenberg. Mr. Guttenberg has written a book called Find the Helpers: what 9/11 taught me about recovery, purpose and hope.  

Mental Health America has coping tips and suggestions on dealing with grief. 

Modern Loss is a website that talks about grief. All of the forms of grief and the ways other people have found to make their way through. Excellent resource. Start with 10 Ways to Overcome Grief-Related Anxiety, how to find the way back to yourself.

One more for the road, the American Psychological Association Grief: Coping with the loss of your loved one.

Disclaimer: 

Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements. 

Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder.

This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Episode 238 Walking Out the Door

So, I’m going to lay out a more realistic approach or tips to help folks deciding to walk out the door. I got my sources. I got some real-life experience and not much more than that. 

There are folks on Twitter who are struggling on how to make the right decision for them. As it often happens, there are jerk faces who will pop in and state that you gotta man-up and stop being what they perceive to be weak. 

Or they will share that they never put on a mask. They never stopped living their lives. To that I say, Ok. Good for you.

But your experience is not mine. I and others made an informed choice based on the information we had at the time and the rising number of people dying. Some of those people we knew and loved.

In this episode, a look at a few tips on how to prepare for re-entry. Those of us that have pre-existing conditions are going to find it a bit hard. Not impossible. Just hard.

If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741.

Resources Mentioned: 

CNet Health and Wellness has a post on Jump rope workout: How to get a full body workout and have fun. Those of you that have issues with your knees or hips might want to consult your doctor before engaging in exercise.

There is a Beginner Jump Rope tutorial that explains how to use the jump rope to exercise. 

Tiny Buddha post on 50 Things You Can Control Right Now.

From Psychology Today and post on How to Cope With “Re-Entry Anxiety

ADAA.org 10 Tips to Manage Re-Entry Anxiety Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Disclaimer: 

Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements. 

Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder.

This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Them Changes Anxiety Version

There is a lot going on. People are going to need to start thinking about re-entry into their world. 

Those those of us that have anxiety conditions and disorders that can be ruff. What you want to do might conflict with what you are able to do.

If you've been on long term lockdown, your brain might put up a fuss about being outside.

I speak from experience. I'm zero for three on it. I did it, but there was a commotion from deep inside about it.

I have a link to a musician's "audiogram" video by the name of Buddy Miles.  Classic thumping track of Them Changes.

In this episode, a suggestion to try to look beyond what you currently know or do about your anxiety. 

If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741.

Resources Mentioned: 

Them Changes from Buddy Miles. How two or more truths occupy the same space.

Helpguide.org has an article on the role of medication in anxiety treatment. The website leans away from suggesting medication as a primary treatment; but they do recognize that for a certain segment of the population it is necessary for a limited. time.

Mental Health America response to My loved one doesn’t want to take meds.

ADAA.org page on the types of therapy for anxiety. 

Prior episodes on finding a therapists, Don't know where to start and Before You Commit to the Couch.

The Basics of Mindfulness Meditation from Ten Percent Happier. Has video instructions, guided meditations and other services. There is an app for Android and iOS devices.

Disclaimer: 

Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements. 

Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder.

This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Show 236 Screwed Up Again - Like I'm Supposed To

Not having a great time but I'm ok. Not like I don't have stuff to do but currently in that vortex of when is the other thing that I think is gonna happen?

And in the middle of the vortex are the old symptoms making a bum rush for the gate. 

So this episode is a bit more narrative. It is about an experience that I had when I though I was doing the right thing for me.

And it was. But I still ginned up an attack. 

It happened for a lot of reasons. Many of which I wrote down and then cut out of the show.

Want some of the truth?

Don't like wearing facemask. I do it. I'm even doubling up on it.

But my face and skin don't like it. I do it because it is the right thing for me and other people.

The fear of am I gonna catch it this time?

Did I need to do this? Could I have waited one more week?

What if I have another panic attack in the store?

There are dozens more but you get the idea.

One the one side you do the right things.

One the other side, all of the combustibles are gaining fuel.

What do you do?

The best you can.

If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741.

Resources Mentioned: 

Don’t Panic! 5 Things To Do When You’ve Messed Up from Lifehack.org

Courageous Heart Meditation — Loving Kindness Tonglen Practice video with Shannon Algeo

From Mindful.org What to Eat for Optimal Mental Health

Disclaimer: 

Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements. 

Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder.

This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Show 235 - Dealing with Loneliness

Loneliness is a 365 day thing but it stings a bit more on February the 14th. Chronic loneliness is when you have long term feelings of isolation. 

You ain't go nobody and you feel it in your soul.

You don't have to be a natural sad sack to feel this way. Some of the loudest party animals are also chronically lonely.

For some people it is longing for more than superficial conversations.  Or it can be persistent feelings of not being worthy, not being enough or dare I say it, not liking yourself very much.

In this episode, a look at some of the things you can do to help you cope or exchange loneliness for something better.

If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741.

Resources Mentioned: 

Queen Official Channel video Somebody to Love. 

Post on Verywell Mind that lists the risk factors of loneliness can experience.

Emily from Therapy in a Nutshell has an except from her course about Emotional Coping Skills. 

There is an 8 Minute Healing Loneliness and Isolation Guided Meditation by Prajna Meditation. It is a way to practice soothing your heart. The video is on YouTube.

TED Radio Hour on Mediations on Loneliness - How we can find ways to understand and change how we experience it. 

Helpguide.org specific and actionable steps on helping you deal with loneliness.  The site also has a Coronavirus Mental Health section to give you more tools on how to deal with stuff.

Disclaimer: 

Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements. 

Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder.

This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Show 234 - What is Mindfulness?

A few years ago, I read an article about the tradition of the prisoners' last meal. And then how it ended in many states.  

One of the stories involved a man requesting a single olive as his last meal. 

That is all that he wanted. He looked at it, held it and then consumed it.

To me, that is an example of a mindfulness practice. In this episode, I'll define what it is and a few resources for you to check out. 

I may not be the best person to talk about mindfulness. I'm getting better at it. And I know it does work because better people than myself do it every single day.

If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741.

Resources Mentioned: 

The Mindfulness Workbook for Anxiety: The 8-Week Solution to Help You Manage Anxiety, Worry & Stress by Tanya J. Peterson. Published by Althea Press. Multiple versions available on Amazon.com

One Minute Mindfulness by Simon Parke is a a group of stories about the mindfulness process. You can find it on Apple iBooks or Amazon.

Mindful Magazine has a full post about mindfulness and the relationship with meditation.

Chris Bergstrom from Blissfulkids.com has an explainer page about mindfulness. The explanations come in three flavors, for kids, teens and adults.

Disclaimer: 

Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements. 

Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder.

This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.