I CAN'T STOP SCANNING FOR HOW I FEEL!!! This is a common issue for anxious people that leads to frustrating and a fear/scanning/fear cycle that seems like it never ends. This week we're talking about that cycle and answering the question, "How can I stop constantly scanning and checking how I feel?" For full show notes on this episode: ⁠https://theanxioustruth.com/259 --- My books, social, and other links: ⁠https://theanxioustruth.com/links ⁠ Support The Anxious Truth: ⁠https://theanxioustruth.com/support ⁠ Music Credit: AfterGlow by Ben Drake (with permission) ⁠https://bendrakemusic.com

VALUING YOURSELF MEANS MORE THAN JUST SOOTHING AND SMOOTHING... This week we're examining the idea that in recovery we must value ourselves in such a way that we go beyond the common sense of soothing and smoothing to allow ourselves to struggle for a reason. There are lessons - critical lessons - in the recovery struggle. Allowing oneself to struggle is important. We must be mindful of either devaluing ourselves or accidentally coddling ourselves because we think that's what high self-value means. We also touch on the idea of self-parenting and how that relates to this often overlooked recovery concept. For full show notes on this episode: ⁠https://theanxioustruth.com/259 --- My books, social, and other links: ⁠https://theanxioustruth.com/links ⁠ Support The Anxious Truth: ⁠https://theanxioustruth.com/support ⁠ Music Credit: AfterGlow by Ben Drake (with permission) ⁠https://bendrakemusic.com

This episode was recorded on a beach by myself in a spot where my cell/mobile phone gets no signal, where there were no people to save me if I needed to be saved, and where I was far from help. This is a place I would never have come by myself when I was struggling, but I don't even think about it now. This is part III in a series of podcasts where I'll take you to places that I was once terrified to go. I hope you find some hope or inspiration in this one. People often ask me what I do to "stay recovered" and to be sure that anxiety doesn't come back. To be honest with you, I don't really do anything to stay recovered and I don't have to worry about "it" coming back because there is no "it" in my life any more. Anxiety and fear stopped being "it" many years ago from my point of view as a fully recovered person. In this episode I talk about my changed relationship with anxiety and fear, why I don't have to do anything to stay recovered, and why doing healthy, helpful things is a good idea even when they have nothing to do with anxiety or anxiety recovery. For full show notes on this episode: ⁠https://theanxioustruth.com/258 --- My books, social, and other links: ⁠https://theanxioustruth.com/links ⁠ Support The Anxious Truth: ⁠https://theanxioustruth.com/support ⁠ Music Credit: AfterGlow by Ben Drake (with permission) ⁠https://bendrakemusic.com

Distraction For Anxiety: Does It Work? "When I panic, I have to scroll through Instagram to distract myself!" Distraction is one of the most popular "techniques" for getting away from high anxiety, panic, and any thoughts or sensations that people hate or fear. It's talked about all the time.  A quick look on social media would likely reveal many many posts about "tips for anxiety" that are based primarily on distraction techniques. Distraction - in the moment - can often bring some quick relief.  Not always, but in many cases people find that it they run to a distraction to escape from anxious feelings and thoughts, then can feel better.  But does distraction actually "work" in the context of real recovery, or is it just a band-aid you use to get you through one anxious moment so you can fear the next anxious moment and do it all again? For full show notes on this episode: ⁠https://theanxioustruth.com/257 --- My books, social, and other links: ⁠https://theanxioustruth.com/links ⁠ Support The Anxious Truth: ⁠https://theanxioustruth.com/support ⁠ Music Credit: AfterGlow by Ben Drake (with permission) ⁠https://bendrakemusic.com

I can't stop thinking, "What if it comes back?" This is one of the most common issues I hear almost daily from people traveling along the path toward anxiety recovery. This week on the podcast we look at why we often overlook a very important aspect of the recovery process that renders this question almost irrelevant. The important part is that YOU change in recovery. Anxiety doesn't change at all, and that makes your fear of it "coming back" far less important and worthy of attention. For full show notes on this episode: ⁠https://theanxioustruth.com/256 --- My books, social, and other links: ⁠https://theanxioustruth.com/links ⁠ Support The Anxious Truth: ⁠https://theanxioustruth.com/support ⁠ Music Credit: AfterGlow by Ben Drake (with permission) ⁠https://bendrakemusic.com