Anxiety Matters

By Bonnie Zucker & Bonnie ZuckerSociety & Culture Science Health & Fitness Mental Health

Anxiety Matters episodes

October 01 Anxiety Medication, Side-Effects & Finding the Right Fit with Psychiatrist Dr. Kirsten Thompson
The Bonnies speak with Dr. Kirsten Thompson about treating anxiety and the importance of finding a therapist or psychiatrist who feels like a good fit, including meeting with more than one provider if needed. They discuss when medication may be worth considering, how to start slowly for people with health anxiety, and common options such as SSRIs, buspirone, supplements, benzodiazepines, and propranolol.
They also cover the role of therapy and lifestyle changes, the benefits and risks of different medications, and how propranolol can help with performance anxiety. They wrap up by discussing social media, stigma, and Dr. Thompson’s telehealth practice, which provides medication management and collaborative care for patients in California.
HIGHLIGHTS:
3:39 Meet Dr. Kirsten Thompson
5:43 When Medication Makes Sense
10:26 Ashwagandha and Supplements
14:28 Medication Feels Like Failure
16:38 SSRIs for Anxiety
21:45 Managing Side Effects
26:19 Benzos and Safety Risks
35:47 Propranolol for Performance
38:50 Social Media and Misinformation
43:58 Remedy Psychiatry Overview
connect with Dr. Kirsten Thompson
website: https://remedypsychiatry.com
IG: https://www.instagram.com/remedypsychiatry
FB: https://www.facebook.com/remedypsych
CONNECT WITH THE BONNIE ZUCKERS:
Bonnie Zucker Ph.D.(west)
website: https://www.bonniezuckerphd.com
Newsletter sign-up: https://bonnie-zucker-ph-d.kit.com/d44b57fcdf
Books by Bonnie West: https://a.co/d/04aNJFDZ
Bonnie Zucker Psy.D. (east)
website: https://www.bonniezuckerandassociates.com
Books by Bonnie East: https://shorturl.at/MxvRZ
The content of Anxiety Matters Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute mental health or medical advice, nor is it a substitute for professional mental health or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, call emergency services or a local crisis line.
47 min
September 24 When the News Becomes Your Fear: Why Anxiety Makes Rare Events Feel Personal
The Bonnies talk about how rare and frightening news stories can trigger anxiety and OCD, especially around postpartum mental health. They discuss postpartum psychosis, intrusive thoughts, and how anxiety can make people misread normal thoughts or fears as signs of danger.
They also look at similar patterns with topics like suicide or serious illness, and how repeated news and social media exposure can make rare events feel more likely. They close by stressing the value of psycho-education and realistic probabilities, especially for pregnant and postpartum people.
HIGHLIGHTS:
0:49 Postpartum Intrusive Thoughts
4:45 OCD and Suicide Fears
8:04 Threat Bias in Anxiety
10:48 Teaching Realistic Probabilities
14:48 COVID and Catastrophic Thinking
16:23 Managing Uncertainty
CONNECT WITH THE BONNIE ZUCKERS:
Bonnie Zucker Ph.D.(west)
website: https://www.bonniezuckerphd.com
Newsletter sign-up: https://bonnie-zucker-ph-d.kit.com/d44b57fcdf
Books by Bonnie West: https://a.co/d/04aNJFDZ
Bonnie Zucker Psy.D. (east)
website: https://www.bonniezuckerandassociates.com
Books by Bonnie East: https://shorturl.at/MxvRZ
The content of Anxiety Matters Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute mental health or medical advice, nor is it a substitute for professional mental health or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, call emergency services or a local crisis line.
20 min
September 17 More Than Clutter: Understanding & Treating Hoarding Disorder with Guest Dr. David Tolin
The Bonnies talk about hoarding with Dr. David Tolin, a clinician and researcher who has worked extensively in this area. They begin by distinguishing hoarding disorder from ordinary messiness or collecting, and note that hoarding is characterized by difficulty discarding items, strong attachment to possessions, and often excessive acquisition.
They talk about how hoarding develops over time, including early onset in childhood or adolescence, and how stress or major life changes can make symptoms worse. Also, genetic factors and the idea that hoarding can run in families, while still requiring attention to behavior and environment.
They then focus on treatment. Dr. Tolin explains that hoarding is not the same as OCD, even though it has often been grouped with obsessive compulsive disorders. He describes current treatment approaches that emphasize decision-making training, problem-solving, distress tolerance, cognitive questioning, and motivational interviewing rather than simply forcing the person to throw things away.
They also discuss the importance of insight and motivation, since many people with hoarding disorder do not initially see themselves as having a problem and how clinicians can use Socratic questions to help people examine what their possessions mean to them and whether keeping them fits their values.
Finally, they address family concerns, childhood hoarding behaviors, and the limits of medication research noting that there are no randomized controlled trials of medication for hoarding disorder, though some open trials have suggested possible benefit from certain medications.
HIGHLIGHTS:
1:05 Clutter Versus Hoarding
4:21 The Fire Changed Everything
7:44 Meet Dr. David Tolin
8:38 Hoarding Is Not OCD
11:24 Defining Hoarding Disorder
15:32 Trauma, Stress, and Risk
18:56 Rethinking Treatment Goals
21:26 Therapy for Hoarding
27:47 Time, Values, and Insight
35:06 Health Hazards and Questions
36:21 A Severe Hoarding Case
39:26 Medication Evidence
41:38 Pediatric Hoarding Concerns
45:23 Insight and Self-Referral
connect with Dr. David Tolin
website: https://drtolin.com
CONNECT WITH THE BONNIE ZUCKERS:
Bonnie Zucker Ph.D.(west)
website: https://www.bonniezuckerphd.com
Newsletter sign-up: https://bonnie-zucker-ph-d.kit.com/d44b57fcdf
Books by Bonnie West: https://a.co/d/04aNJFDZ
Bonnie Zucker Psy.D. (east)
website: https://www.bonniezuckerandassociates.com
Books by Bonnie East: https://shorturl.at/MxvRZ
The content of Anxiety Matters Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute mental health or medical advice, nor is it a substitute for professional mental health or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, call emergency services or a local crisis line.
48 min
September 10 Feeling Understood: The Key to Lowering Stress & Improving Relationships
In this episode, the BZW and BZE talk about how feeling understood in relationships can affect stress, well-being, and even physical symptoms. They discuss how anxiety is often misunderstood by partners and family members, and how advice or pressure can sometimes leave people feeling invalidated.
They also focus on validation as a practical response, including finding the kernel of truth in what someone is feeling and saying things like “that makes sense” or “I can see this is hard for you.” They explain the difference between offering solutions and offering support, and suggest asking whether someone wants advice, validation, or something else.
HIGHLIGHTS:
1:36 Feeling Seen, Feeling Stressed
3:54 When Loved Ones Miss It
5:45 Fixing Versus Validating
8:44 Why Validation Works
12:13 Find the Kernel of Truth
14:22 The Need to Feel Known
16:30 Practical Takeaways for Partners
mentioned in episode
How to Know a Person (book): https://a.co/d/04qD6vzj
CONNECT WITH THE BONNIE ZUCKERS:
Bonnie Zucker Ph.D.(west)
website: https://www.bonniezuckerphd.com
Newsletter sign-up: https://bonnie-zucker-ph-d.kit.com/d44b57fcdf
Books by Bonnie West: https://a.co/d/04aNJFDZ
Bonnie Zucker Psy.D. (east)
website: https://www.bonniezuckerandassociates.com
Books by Bonnie East: https://shorturl.at/MxvRZ
The content of Anxiety Matters Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute mental health or medical advice, nor is it a substitute for professional mental health or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, call emergency services or a local crisis line.
20 min
September 03 Avoiding the Doctor or Going Too Much: How to Manage Health Anxiety
In this episode, the Bonnies talk about doctor anxiety and how it can lead people to avoid appointments or feel intense worry before routine tests and screenings. They discuss the value of recommended preventive care, the importance of trusting relationships with doctors, and the role of therapy when health fears become difficult to manage.
They also look at the balance between appropriate screening and excessive testing, including how more scans or wearable devices can sometimes increase stress.
HIGHLIGHTS:
1:33 Vet Fears, Doctor Fears
2:40 Screening Protects Health
5:45 Facing Mammogram Anxiety
7:12 Trusting Doctors, Timing Tests
10:22 Full-Body Scan Dilemma
14:12 Too Many Tests
14:57 Wearables and Anxiety
mentioned in episode
Less Medicine More Health by Dr. H. Gilbert Welch: https://a.co/d/01SYYhru
CONNECT WITH THE BONNIE ZUCKERS:
Bonnie Zucker Ph.D.(west)
website: https://www.bonniezuckerphd.com
Newsletter sign-up: https://bonnie-zucker-ph-d.kit.com/d44b57fcdf
Books by Bonnie West: https://a.co/d/04aNJFDZ
Bonnie Zucker Psy.D. (east)
website: https://www.bonniezuckerandassociates.com
Books by Bonnie East: https://shorturl.at/MxvRZ
The content of Anxiety Matters Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute mental health or medical advice, nor is it a substitute for professional mental health or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, call emergency services or a local crisis line.
18 min
August 27 Medication Matters: What Every Parent Should Know About Psychiatric Medication for Kids & Teens with Guest Dr. Ethan Hockheiser
The Bonnies talk with Dr. Ethan Hochheiser, a board-certified psychiatrist in general and child & adolescent psychiatry, about when medication may be appropriate for children and teens with anxiety, ADHD, OCD, depression, and related concerns.
They discuss how therapy is often tried first, but medication may be considered sooner when symptoms are severe, functioning is impaired, or treatment is not helping enough.
They review common SSRI side effects in children, including nausea, diarrhea, headaches, temporary activation, and possible weight gain, as well as less common risks such as suicidal thoughts and mania in those with a predisposition.
They also discuss how SSRIs may work, the role of monitoring and family history, and the goal of improving symptoms and tapering medication after sustained remission.
The episode closes with discussion of OCD, premenstrual dysphoric symptoms, and ADHD, including how SSRIs can help OCD and PMDD and how ADHD often responds well to medication.
HIGHLIGHTS:
4:17 Meet Dr. Ethan Hochheiser
9:04 When Medication Makes Sense
15:12 SSRI Risks and Side Effects
19:48 What Medications Mean for the Brain
23:17 OCD, Exposure, and SSRIs
27:06 Treating Premenstrual Symptoms
28:14 How SSRIs Work
31:12 Stopping Medication Safely
32:43 Are We Over-diagnosing ADHD?
36:48 ADHD Treatment Advantages
connect with Dr. Hochheiser
website: https://www.ethanhochheisermd.com
CONNECT WITH THE BONNIE ZUCKERS:
Bonnie Zucker Ph.D.(west)
website: https://www.bonniezuckerphd.com
Newsletter sign-up: https://bonnie-zucker-ph-d.kit.com/d44b57fcdf
Books by Bonnie West: https://a.co/d/04aNJFDZ
Bonnie Zucker Psy.D. (east)
website: https://www.bonniezuckerandassociates.com
Books by Bonnie East: https://shorturl.at/MxvRZ
The content of Anxiety Matters Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute mental health or medical advice, nor is it a substitute for professional mental health or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, call emergency services or a local crisis line.
42 min
August 20 Why Is Asking For Help So Hard? Tips on Managing All Shades of Social Anxiety
This episode focuses on social anxiety in everyday life, including difficulty asking for help, making small requests, and fearing judgment or inconvenience.
The Bonnies talk about exposure exercises for facing these situations, such as asking for samples or interrupting someone to make a request, and explain how these exercises can show that the feared reaction often does not happen.
They also discuss planning for harder outcomes, common forms of avoidance like delaying calls or texts, and encouraging small behavior changes such as saying no, asking for help, and starting difficult tasks sooner.
HIGHLIGHTS:
1:49 Whole Foods Exposure Practice
7:36 Handling Rude Reactions
11:46 Asking for Testimonials
15:48 Everyday Social Anxiety Triggers
CONNECT WITH THE BONNIE ZUCKERS:
Bonnie Zucker Ph.D.(west)
website: https://www.bonniezuckerphd.com
Newsletter sign-up: https://bonnie-zucker-ph-d.kit.com/d44b57fcdf
Books by Bonnie West: https://a.co/d/04aNJFDZ
Bonnie Zucker Psy.D. (east)
website: https://www.bonniezuckerandassociates.com
Books by Bonnie East: https://shorturl.at/MxvRZ
The content of Anxiety Matters Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute mental health or medical advice, nor is it a substitute for professional mental health or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, call emergency services or a local crisis line.
20 min
August 13 ERP for OCD: Are Extreme Exposures Necessary?
The Bonnies episode on May 28 when BZW visited BZE in Maryland, where they recorded OCD exposure exercises at Whole Foods, was posted on their social media where they received many comments.
This episode covers some of the reactions to those exposures, including concerns about ethics and health risks. In response, the Bonnies explain that exposure and response prevention involves facing ordinary contamination fears and that the goal is not to cause illness but to help people tolerate uncertainty and reduce avoidance.
This episode starts with a hilarious meeting they had recently with their accountant so don't skip ahead!
HIGHLIGHTS:
1:01 The Accountant 'Disaster'
7:15 Eye Exam & Meeting All in One
9:23 Whole Foods Exposures
11:33 Addressing the Ethics
18:05 Expired Food Exposure
19:46 Listener Reactions and Wrap-Up
CONNECT WITH THE BONNIE ZUCKERS:
Bonnie Zucker Ph.D.(west)
website: https://www.bonniezuckerphd.com
Newsletter sign-up: https://bonnie-zucker-ph-d.kit.com/d44b57fcdf
Books by Bonnie West: https://a.co/d/04aNJFDZ
Bonnie Zucker Psy.D. (east)
website: https://www.bonniezuckerandassociates.com
Books by Bonnie East: https://shorturl.at/MxvRZ
The content of Anxiety Matters Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute mental health or medical advice, nor is it a substitute for professional mental health or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, call emergency services or a local crisis line.
23 min
August 06 Making Peace with ADHD: Hollywood Writer Jordan Roberts Shares About Self-Acceptance
The Bonnies welcome Jordan Roberts, a writer and director with a long career in television and film, who has also built a coaching practice focused on creative blocks, addiction, ADHD, and shadow work.
Jordan describes his background in a show-business family, his struggles as a young person with drugs, alcohol, anxiety, and not feeling good enough, and how early therapy opened a different way of thinking. He talks about pursuing validation through creative work, even after major professional success, and how that left the deeper issue of self-worth unresolved.
They discuss the shift that came for Jordan from shadow work and from recognizing inner parts that had been hidden or rejected. Jordan explains how he began to allow rather than judge vulnerable, ashamed, or fearful parts of himself, including a late diagnosis of ADHD, and how medication and practical tools now support him.
They also talk about anxiety, shame, and the “second arrow” of self-criticism. Jordan describes how meeting his own parts with attention rather than fixing them changed his experience, how this affects his writing now, and how he sees creativity, risk-taking, and emotional honesty as connected to this ongoing work.
HIGHLIGHTS:
4:01 Jordan’s Background
6:45 A Powerful Commencement Speech
7:55 Showbiz and Self-Doubt
13:52 Validation Never Filled It
17:03 Meeting the Shadow
20:35 Parts Work and Anxiety
23:18 Allowing the Feeling
25:44 Late ADHD Diagnosis
33:08 The Anxiety Gap
35:50 Feelings Are Not Bad
37:25 Reparenting Through Shadow Work
39:21 Men and Emotional Shame
42:17 Shadow Work Fuels Creativity
44:11 It’s Never Too Late
mentioned in episode
Jordan's Commencement Speech: https://www.youtube.com/live/sxC8gYAOKe4?si=142nL-SPqAvoGTGh&t=1913
Permission to Feel: https://a.co/d/0hksoWy5
Stick Up For Yourself: https://a.co/d/0j2lScIn
The Artist's Way: https://a.co/d/07ZzanXe
Driven to Distraction: https://a.co/d/08odLBuE
CONNECT WITH THE BONNIE ZUCKERS:
Bonnie Zucker Ph.D.(west)
website: https://www.bonniezuckerphd.com
Newsletter sign-up: https://bonnie-zucker-ph-d.kit.com/d44b57fcdf
Books by Bonnie West: https://a.co/d/04aNJFDZ
Bonnie Zucker Psy.D. (east)
website: https://www.bonniezuckerandassociates.com
Books by Bonnie East: https://shorturl.at/MxvRZ
The content of Anxiety Matters Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute mental health or medical advice, nor is it a substitute for professional mental health or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, call emergency services or a local crisis line.
49 min
July 30 You Are Not Your Thoughts: How to Let Anxiety Pass Without Engaging
The Bonnies discuss detached mindfulness as a strategy for anxiety, including how it fits within metacognitive therapy. They explain the idea of shifting from participating in thoughts to observing them, especially when a triggering thought leads to rumination or catastrophizing.
They describe how this approach is used with health anxiety and panic, where people may focus too closely on bodily sensations. They talk about moving attention outward, noticing when the mind is returning to familiar anxiety patterns, and treating those patterns as a brain habit rather than as facts.
BZE also explains a practical exercise for detached mindfulness. The exercise uses a short set of neutral, false, and anxiety-provoking statements, which are read aloud several times before ending with the reminder that thoughts are just thoughts and have no power unless we give them power. The practice is meant to help clients step back from anxious thinking in daily life.
They compare this with other mindfulness approaches, including breath focus, body scans, and sound-based exercises, and note that some methods can be difficult for people with anxiety. They close by emphasizing that the goal is not to eliminate thoughts, but to relate to them more as an observer than as a participant.
HIGHLIGHTS:
1:27 Anxiety as Thought Traps
3:54 Observing Body Fears
7:15 Detached Mindfulness Practice
10:05 Testing Thoughts Out Loud
15:25 Traditional Mindfulness Options
17:11 Body Scan Memories
mentioned in the episode:
Metacognitive Therapy for Anxiety and Depression: https://a.co/d/02NNphWN
CONNECT WITH THE BONNIE ZUCKERS:
Bonnie Zucker Ph.D.(west)
website: https://www.bonniezuckerphd.com
Newsletter sign-up: https://bonnie-zucker-ph-d.kit.com/d44b57fcdf
Books by Bonnie West: https://a.co/d/04aNJFDZ
Bonnie Zucker Psy.D. (east)
website: https://www.bonniezuckerandassociates.com
Books by Bonnie East: https://shorturl.at/MxvRZ
The content of Anxiety Matters Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute mental health or medical advice, nor is it a substitute for professional mental health or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, call emergency services or a local crisis line.
20 min

About Anxiety Matters

From the publisher's feed

What are the odds of two psychologists, both named Bonnie Zucker, and both specializing in anxiety and cognitive-behavioral therapy, finding each other across the country? When they met, their connection was instant and electric.