Thank you so much for all these mornings. I've listened while driving to work and it has helped me a lot, specially to understand my anxiety. The more I understand it, the less it controls my life. No words can express enough gratitude for that. I've been on medication for anxiety on and off for the last 10 years. It's been a month since my last Xanax. I still feel anxious most of the days but it doesn't stop me from doing what I have to do during the day (I've been diagnosed with health anxiety and GAD). A friend who is a psychiatric told me that anxiety and panic attacks have consequences in brain's cells. I know that medication has also consequences in our brains, and that sometimes medication is necessary and others no (or that we are addicted and jump on them to not feel all the crazy symtomps of anxiety). Would that be too controversial to talk about this in one of your posts? I've felt kind of guilty almost everytime I took a pill. It is so important to find the right doctor or therapist, (and it's very hard too), the one who helps you with the choices on medication until you are able to live with less medication or without them. For instance, I finally found a doctor who explained to me that some panic attacks or strong anxiety crisis could be related to menopause (and the hormone's roller coaster). The topic on hope and uncertanty that has been mentioned in other comments is a very good one in these strange times. Here in Europe (specially in France) people are more pessimistic (or maybe realistic?) than in USA, and anxious people are been fed with worrisome news and forecasts (the Ucranian war, the energy shortcuts this winter, the high inflation... are just some of them), anxiety levels go out of control in a lot of people.
Thank you again for your work, it's useful, helpful and appreciated.
I wish you the best on your next project and life in general.
Thanks for your outstanding work, including this podcast. So much priceless advice, all for free. Thanks for your generosity. As for how to wrap it up, personally Iād like to hear you play one of those guitars you always have behind you. š
You won't and you will get around it. Give yourself credit for handing it all in a constructive manner. I did not like taking it but I had to do it. But soon I will finished with it.
Super sorry to hear the sun is setting on this brilliantly bite-size morning gift! Being listeneable, as well as readable, means manageable, for those of us who get overwhelmed with sizeable content overload, itās been hugely helpful this year and weāve been very lucky to have your time & experience in this way. Your personal accounts of recovery, and measures tried & learned along the way, are especially valuable. Thankfully we can listen and re-listen to all The Anxious Morning episodes, Iāve a good number saved in favourites (& re-listen to regularly) but now we know itās ending, I may start re-listening all over again in the new year - so much useful combined content, and reinforcement helps to cement the essential learning in our brains.
I like Jessā suggestion below re. more advice on hope & uncertainty, and how to overcome the bombardment of negative thoughts which often come in the mornings, when perhaps weāre not feeling our strongest. Or just negative thoughts in general, which can turn up so powerfully you feel you cannot even move them an inch, despite determined, repeat efforts using all the usual tools & tricks (or the ādo nothing and surrenderā response). Yesterday I had an āincidentā (social disorder linked, a hugely embarrassing āfreezeā response mid meeting at work, with all client corporate colleagues around the table). It was humiliating as theyāre all used to seeing me strong & confident. It came out of nowhere & took me completely by surprise, with no obvious triggers. I was gutted. I felt as small as a mouse for the rest of the day. It took me straight back to my very same reactions a few years ago, which led to me questioning whether or not Iāve actually made ANY progress at all (as I was convinced I have) over the past year. The mental distress, embarrassment and recurring flashbacks of the incident yest, esp. through the afternoon whilst I was still in work around all my colleagues, kept flying into my head, every few minutes, reminding me of the humiliation and just wouldnāt let up for the rest of the day. By the time I got home last night I was in a messy, fraught state of despair. Try as I might to do all those recommended response (post-exposure-incident) measures like āacceptingā the situation, re-focussing on other things, carrying on as normal to send my amygdala the signal that all is well/normal, they just wouldnāt leave & I couldnāt even ādrownā them out (despite knowing thatās not the right resolution). So more content on how you deal with the invasive, uncontrollable incessant, self-defeatist thoughts which can sit just āunder the surfaceā and bombard our minds after a challenging incident or personal let-down, despite valiant efforts to ākeep calm & carry onā, to shut up/dissipate/lessen would be brilliant! Thanks again for everything you do for this community, esp. as you progress your own professional studies & experiences - really looking forward to seeing what your next creative adventures areš
Wow, good for you to set limits, Drew! I am so grateful that you did your experiment this year, as this is when my hard times started. One thing that might be helpful is if you provide a list of resources that you have found helpful or know have helped others in their journey.
I wish you equanimity in whatever path you choose for the future, and I'm sure it will be supportive of your life and of all life. Thank you for all you do!!
I would love to hear more of your experiences, exposures in detail since these were on your path to recovery and that is what we all all seeking. There might just be something you lived that will click with some of us, like ahhhh that's how you do it! I think personal experiences are just easier to relate to. I love the podcasts, you tube videos, the book and these daily sessions...the layers and variety are so helpful. I especially love the success interviews!
Maybe a topic on hope and uncertainty. All your content is a catalyst to keep going even if ... happens. But when the mornings come when the what ifs are so strong and the fear is taking over how can hope and surrender to uncertainty become the default?
Hi Drew, I am so sad to hear that you will be leaving us! But, I understand the demands of graduate school and moving forward in your therapist career! Your morning podcast has been the happy and inspiring start to my day for this whole year. Your words have helped me so much in my recovery process. I think I said your name to my own counselors at least a hundred times during 2022, and shared your podcast emails with them, as well. Thank you for your generosity and your belief in all of us out here who are struggling. I have felt less alone and less isolated with this impairment because of you and your succinct way of delivering hope every day. You've helped me to begin getting my life back. I too, will be looking back and listening to your old podcasts in your absence! I look forward to seeing what your next endeavor will be. Wishing you infinite happiness and gratification as you continue your path to being a therapist! A BIG THANK YOU to you from me in Pennsylvania!
There is nothing more compelling then someone who has been there. Your stories and experience have been very important us all. Whatever you decided to do we can always go back in to previous episodes, interview etc. Its a great resource. Every once in awhile I re-listen to Dr. Sally Winston. Thank you Drew! Beth
Thank you so much for all the morning inspiration this year. If you can fit it in Iām interested in hearing more stories about your recovery, most especially about how you dealt with days when everything seems to be sliding backwards. I feel like Iām getting so close. I have even been āgraduatedā by my therapist. Cognitively Iāve made changes by leaps and boundsā¦. I do SO much more than a year agoā¦..But then those pesky symptoms start to bother me again (especially the lightheadedness as I have mentioned so many times it ridiculous, I know)ā¦..it pulls me back down. I just want to keep moving forward and feel sort of stuck.
Thank you so much for all these mornings. I've listened while driving to work and it has helped me a lot, specially to understand my anxiety. The more I understand it, the less it controls my life. No words can express enough gratitude for that. I've been on medication for anxiety on and off for the last 10 years. It's been a month since my last Xanax. I still feel anxious most of the days but it doesn't stop me from doing what I have to do during the day (I've been diagnosed with health anxiety and GAD). A friend who is a psychiatric told me that anxiety and panic attacks have consequences in brain's cells. I know that medication has also consequences in our brains, and that sometimes medication is necessary and others no (or that we are addicted and jump on them to not feel all the crazy symtomps of anxiety). Would that be too controversial to talk about this in one of your posts? I've felt kind of guilty almost everytime I took a pill. It is so important to find the right doctor or therapist, (and it's very hard too), the one who helps you with the choices on medication until you are able to live with less medication or without them. For instance, I finally found a doctor who explained to me that some panic attacks or strong anxiety crisis could be related to menopause (and the hormone's roller coaster). The topic on hope and uncertanty that has been mentioned in other comments is a very good one in these strange times. Here in Europe (specially in France) people are more pessimistic (or maybe realistic?) than in USA, and anxious people are been fed with worrisome news and forecasts (the Ucranian war, the energy shortcuts this winter, the high inflation... are just some of them), anxiety levels go out of control in a lot of people.
Thank you again for your work, it's useful, helpful and appreciated.
I wish you the best on your next project and life in general.
More on intrusive repetitive thoughts which lead to fear in connection with health anxiety if possible
Thank You for spending time and sharing your knowledge.
Thanks for your outstanding work, including this podcast. So much priceless advice, all for free. Thanks for your generosity. As for how to wrap it up, personally Iād like to hear you play one of those guitars you always have behind you. š
If I can do it anybody can because my PTSD was a whopper! And I have had two major episodes in my my life.
You won't and you will get around it. Give yourself credit for handing it all in a constructive manner. I did not like taking it but I had to do it. But soon I will finished with it.
Super sorry to hear the sun is setting on this brilliantly bite-size morning gift! Being listeneable, as well as readable, means manageable, for those of us who get overwhelmed with sizeable content overload, itās been hugely helpful this year and weāve been very lucky to have your time & experience in this way. Your personal accounts of recovery, and measures tried & learned along the way, are especially valuable. Thankfully we can listen and re-listen to all The Anxious Morning episodes, Iāve a good number saved in favourites (& re-listen to regularly) but now we know itās ending, I may start re-listening all over again in the new year - so much useful combined content, and reinforcement helps to cement the essential learning in our brains.
I like Jessā suggestion below re. more advice on hope & uncertainty, and how to overcome the bombardment of negative thoughts which often come in the mornings, when perhaps weāre not feeling our strongest. Or just negative thoughts in general, which can turn up so powerfully you feel you cannot even move them an inch, despite determined, repeat efforts using all the usual tools & tricks (or the ādo nothing and surrenderā response). Yesterday I had an āincidentā (social disorder linked, a hugely embarrassing āfreezeā response mid meeting at work, with all client corporate colleagues around the table). It was humiliating as theyāre all used to seeing me strong & confident. It came out of nowhere & took me completely by surprise, with no obvious triggers. I was gutted. I felt as small as a mouse for the rest of the day. It took me straight back to my very same reactions a few years ago, which led to me questioning whether or not Iāve actually made ANY progress at all (as I was convinced I have) over the past year. The mental distress, embarrassment and recurring flashbacks of the incident yest, esp. through the afternoon whilst I was still in work around all my colleagues, kept flying into my head, every few minutes, reminding me of the humiliation and just wouldnāt let up for the rest of the day. By the time I got home last night I was in a messy, fraught state of despair. Try as I might to do all those recommended response (post-exposure-incident) measures like āacceptingā the situation, re-focussing on other things, carrying on as normal to send my amygdala the signal that all is well/normal, they just wouldnāt leave & I couldnāt even ādrownā them out (despite knowing thatās not the right resolution). So more content on how you deal with the invasive, uncontrollable incessant, self-defeatist thoughts which can sit just āunder the surfaceā and bombard our minds after a challenging incident or personal let-down, despite valiant efforts to ākeep calm & carry onā, to shut up/dissipate/lessen would be brilliant! Thanks again for everything you do for this community, esp. as you progress your own professional studies & experiences - really looking forward to seeing what your next creative adventures areš
Wow, good for you to set limits, Drew! I am so grateful that you did your experiment this year, as this is when my hard times started. One thing that might be helpful is if you provide a list of resources that you have found helpful or know have helped others in their journey.
I wish you equanimity in whatever path you choose for the future, and I'm sure it will be supportive of your life and of all life. Thank you for all you do!!
I would love to hear more of your experiences, exposures in detail since these were on your path to recovery and that is what we all all seeking. There might just be something you lived that will click with some of us, like ahhhh that's how you do it! I think personal experiences are just easier to relate to. I love the podcasts, you tube videos, the book and these daily sessions...the layers and variety are so helpful. I especially love the success interviews!
P.s. thank you for all your time that you spend on this ā¤ļø
Maybe a topic on hope and uncertainty. All your content is a catalyst to keep going even if ... happens. But when the mornings come when the what ifs are so strong and the fear is taking over how can hope and surrender to uncertainty become the default?
Hi Drew, I am so sad to hear that you will be leaving us! But, I understand the demands of graduate school and moving forward in your therapist career! Your morning podcast has been the happy and inspiring start to my day for this whole year. Your words have helped me so much in my recovery process. I think I said your name to my own counselors at least a hundred times during 2022, and shared your podcast emails with them, as well. Thank you for your generosity and your belief in all of us out here who are struggling. I have felt less alone and less isolated with this impairment because of you and your succinct way of delivering hope every day. You've helped me to begin getting my life back. I too, will be looking back and listening to your old podcasts in your absence! I look forward to seeing what your next endeavor will be. Wishing you infinite happiness and gratification as you continue your path to being a therapist! A BIG THANK YOU to you from me in Pennsylvania!
Thank you so much! Your insight and information are very helpful, supportive and unique!
Drew,
There is nothing more compelling then someone who has been there. Your stories and experience have been very important us all. Whatever you decided to do we can always go back in to previous episodes, interview etc. Its a great resource. Every once in awhile I re-listen to Dr. Sally Winston. Thank you Drew! Beth
I hate to hear that this is ending. I donāt participate in social media and I rather like this format. Please keep on keepinā on.
You have much to share. I look forward to whatās next. Thanks for what you do
Thank you so much for all the morning inspiration this year. If you can fit it in Iām interested in hearing more stories about your recovery, most especially about how you dealt with days when everything seems to be sliding backwards. I feel like Iām getting so close. I have even been āgraduatedā by my therapist. Cognitively Iāve made changes by leaps and boundsā¦. I do SO much more than a year agoā¦..But then those pesky symptoms start to bother me again (especially the lightheadedness as I have mentioned so many times it ridiculous, I know)ā¦..it pulls me back down. I just want to keep moving forward and feel sort of stuck.