Hard truth: the very act of trying to treat anxiety can be one of the most anxiety-inducing of all. In this episode, Julia tells us about her experience with a particularly insensitive pharmacist and how assumptions about mental illness makes living with them even harder. Then we switch to the other side of the counter … Continue reading Episode 7: Medication Stigma →

FOMO IRL? WTF? Yes, it’s everyone’s favorite cheeky acronym for existential despair, unpacked and examined. Turns out there’s more to FOMO than just jealousy: it’s a new version for a classic psychological behavior. Good thing we’ve got some highly qualified guests for this episode. Philosopher Jake takes us through the many anguishes of choice and … Continue reading Episode 6: FOMO →

Today we take a voyage into the waxy, mysterious depths of the human ear. Not literally. That would be gross. But we do hear from Sam, a musician (and family member of the host) who has long worried about damaging his hearing, as well as an audiologist who answers some of the world’s (or at … Continue reading Episode 5: Hearing Loss →

Ever made the wrong joke in a wedding toast, or blown your lines in the middle of a play? Whatever the situation, talking in front of a crowd is just begging the Anxiety Goblin to come torment you, but it’s one a lot of us have to deal with. My first guest takes us through … Continue reading Episode 4: Public Speaking →

Demons. Hell. Possession. There are few things scarier than something you can’t ever disprove. How do you deal with your anxiety when the threat of eternal damnation seems very real indeed? For this episode, we hear two different perspectives on religious and spiritual fears, first from my friend Alex on her Catholic upbringing, and second … Continue reading Episode 3: The Devil →

It’s not easy getting by when you can’t control what you’re thinking. Negativity, dread, depression: bad thoughts come in all shapes, sizes and flavors. After talking to my friend Melissa about her personal experiences with these kinds of problems, I get a professional opinion on how unwelcome ideas can interrupt our lives and what we … Continue reading Episode 2: Bad Thoughts →

Our first episode looks at a very specific yet potent possible cause of anxiety: bears. Yes, really. If you’re an insecure city-dwellin’ schlub camping in Wyoming for the first time, bears can seem pretty threatening.  First we hear some stories from friends of mine, including close encounters and rampant speculation (turns out I don’t know … Continue reading Episode 1: Bears →

A brief-ish overview of this podcast and what I hope to achieve through it. We also hear from Dana DePietro, a clinical social worker who explains some of the basics about anxiety disorders and their treatment. We talk about the differences between fear and anxiety, an unusual way Joseph Stalin can help you with compulsive … Continue reading Episode 0: Introduction →