I am an anxious doctor. Or at least I WAS an anxious doctor. After literally decades of suffering from intractable anxiety, and seeing over 50 different types ...
Hello everyone! In this episode of the Anxiety Rx podcast, I sit down with Nicole Sachs, LCSW, to explore the deep connection between chronic pain, emotional trauma, and the mind-body relationship. We share our personal journeys through pain and healing, emphasizing how understanding the emotional roots of physical symptoms is key to true recovery. Throughout our conversation, we highlight the power of curiosity, self-compassion, and community in the healing process, while also addressing the challenges of resistance and the importance of living awake—making conscious, empowered choices in our journey toward healing. Thank you for listening, and you can find me on IG: @theanxietymd if you have any questions. PS. If you would like to join the MBRX family of 4000+ anxiety WARRIORS who are shifting from coping with their anxiety to actually HEALING it, click the link: https://www.theanxietymd.com/MBRX To dive deeper into Nicole’s work and explore her approach to healing chronic pain, check out these resources:Her new bookFreedom From Chronic Pain Course______________________________TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction to Personal Journeys of Healing 04:36 The Impact of Chronic Pain on Life 09:36 Understanding the Mind-Body Connection 14:24 The Role of Emotional Trauma in Physical Pain 19:04 Resistance and Curiosity in Healing 24:01 The Choice Between Pain and Healing 29:13 Empowerment Through Acknowledgment 29:52 The Neuroscience of Worry and Pain 30:52 Navigating Anxiety and Emotions 32:26 The Cycle of Worry and Familiarity 33:51 Living in Solutions, Not Problems 36:07 The Power of Personal Stories 37:55 Agency in Healing and Transformation 39:43 Facing Pain: Choices and Agency 41:54 Chronic Pain as a Path to Growth 43:43 Sensation Without Explanation 45:28 The Human Stories Behind Healing 48:52 Finding Connection and Community
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106. The Mind-Heart Connection: How Anxiety Shapes Our Physical Well-Being
In this episode of the Anxiety Rx podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Jonathan Fisher about the profound connection between anxiety, emotional health, and physical well-being, particularly in the field of cardiology. Dr. Fisher, a cardiologist and author, delves into the often-overlooked emotional aspects of heart health that are not typically emphasized in medical training. As someone who has battled severe anxiety myself, I share my journey toward alternative medicine and critique conventional approaches for merely treating symptoms. Together, Dr. Fisher and I advocate for a holistic healthcare approach that addresses emotional roots and promotes compassion, empathy, and systemic changes to support both providers and patients. Thank you for listening, and you can find me on IG: @theanxietymd if you have any questions. PS. If you would like to join the MBRX family of 4000+ anxiety WARRIORS who are shifting from coping with their anxiety to actually HEALING it, click the link below: https://www.theanxietymd.com/MBRX ___________________________TIMESTAMPS
00:00 - Introduction to the Episode01:00 - Welcome Dr. Fisher01:31 - Breaking from Mainstream Medicine02:49 - Personal Story of Anxiety03:45 - The Left Hemisphere Hall of Mirrors05:04 - Science-Based Therapy Critique05:33 - Observer of Thoughts09:55 - Conflict with Self10:14 - Addiction to Worry12:36 - Rethinking Health13:07 - The Role of Spirit in Healing14:14 - Curiosity and Mindfulness17:13 - Understanding Emotions vs. Feelings18:01 - Paving Negativity19:14 - Understanding Age Regression20:07 - Healing Through Compassion22:10 - The "Should" Acronym23:54 - Attachment Theory and Self-Love26:33 - The Role of the Default Mode Network28:38 - Psychedelics and Self-Discovery33:12 - Healing Requires Support34:45 - Attention and Life Experience35:21 - Becoming the Observer36:45 - Metabolizing Emotional Pain38:26 - Understanding Anxiety and Healing39:06 - Childhood Issues and Chronic Illness39:26 - Changing Medical Ethos40:01 - Mind-Heart Connection in Medicine40:18 - Empathy and Compassion in Medical Education41:44 - Erosion of Empathy in Medicine42:45 - Factors Affecting Compassion43:58 - Self-Compassion Practices44:07 - Connection Over Division44:54 - Internal Constructs and Compassion45:57 - Social Engagement System46:46 - Scientific Basis for Compassion48:05 - Addressing Burnout in Healthcare49:04 - External vs. Internal Factors50:04 - Compassion as a Financial Concern51:01 - Cultural Differences in Healthcare51:53 - Managing Suffering in Life52:03 - The Challenge of Modern Medicine54:43 - Historical Wisdom in Medicine55:02 - Motivation Beyond Anger
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105. How Can We Cultivate a Sense of Safety to Overcome Anxiety?
In this episode of the Anxiety RX Podcast, we dive into the fundamental concept of safety.
I share personal stories about my father's struggles with mental health during the holidays and how these experiences left me feeling unsafe and on edge as a child.
Feeling safe is such an important part of healing from anxiety, so I talk about ways to create that sense of safety for yourself. I include simple but effective strategies like mindful breathing and self-soothing techniques. More than anything, I want to remind listeners that healing takes time and effort, but it’s possible to find those small moments of safety and start easing the constant state of hypervigilance.
Thank you for listening, and you can find me on IG: @theanxietymd if you have any questions. PS. If you would like to join the MBRX family of 4000+ anxiety WARRIORS who are shifting from coping with their anxiety to actually HEALING it, click the link below: https://www.theanxietymd.com/MBRX ______________________________
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 - Introduction to Safety01:02 - Childhood Experiences of Unsafety02:02 - The Importance of Feeling Safe04:13 - Hypervigilance and Its Impact06:25 - Creating Safety in the Body10:08 - The Role of the Autonomic Nervous System11:10 - Connection and Safety12:33 - Developing a Sense of Safety15:44 - Addressing Childhood Trauma16:55 - Using the Mind to Acknowledge Safety17:57 - Overcoming Hypervigilance19:10 - Practical Ways to Create Safety20:20 - Creating a Sense of Safety21:21 - Daily Practices for Safety21:21 - Reversing Childhood Coping Strategies22:33 - Small Steps to Safety
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104. Hormones, Anxiety, and the Art of Mindful Eating: A Functional Approach to Well-Being
Hey everyone, welcome back to The AnxietyRX Podcast! In today’s episode, I’m joined by Dr. Megan Lyons, a functional medicine expert who specializes in endocrine health and nutrition.
Dr. Lyons opens up about her own journey with anxiety and hormonal imbalances, which were heavily tied to her high-achieving lifestyle. We dive into how our childhood experiences can shape the way we show up as adults, and explore the complex link between hormones and mental health.
We also talk about why taking a personalized approach to nutrition and lifestyle changes is so important for long-term healing.
Dr. Lyons makes a powerful case for looking at the whole person—body, mind, and spirit—when it comes to achieving real wellness.
It’s a great conversation, and I think you’ll find it really insightful. Tune in!
Thank you for listening and you can find me on IG: @theanxietymd if you have any questions.
PS. If you would like to join the MBRX family of 4000+ anxiety WARRIORS who are shifting from coping with their anxiety to actually HEALING it, click the link below: https://www.theanxietymd.com/MBRX
If you liked this conversation with Dr. Lyons, you can take a short quiz and receive a file with a useful guide, by clicking the link below:
https://form.typeform.com/to/DrqW4qlv?typeform-source=www.thelyonsshare.org
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TIMESTAMPS
00:00 - Introduction
00:33 - Dr. Lyons' Work
01:24 - Personal Journey into Functional Medicine
06:22 - Understanding Anxiety and Its Roots
07:50 - Patient Assessment Process
10:40 - Adrenal Burnout Discussion
12:34 - Hormonal Changes and Anxiety
14:22 - Impact of Antidepressants
16:31 - Supporting Patients on Medications
17:05 - Recommended Supplements for Anxiety
18:28 - Ideal Patient Profile
20:05 - Importance of Connection in Healing
21:26 - Initial Steps with New Clients
22:51 - Insulin Resistance and Surprising Health Markers
23:32 - Intermittent Fasting Insights
24:56 - Importance of Real Nutrition
26:36 - B Vitamins and MTHFR
27:50 - Top Supplements for Perimenopausal Women
29:48 - Cod Liver Oil and Omega Supplements
31:33 - Adaptogens for Anxiety
33:08 - Nutrition and Anxiety Connection
37:03 - Hydration and Food Colorings
39:11 - Blood Sugar Balancing
41:00 - Empowering Nutrition Awareness
42:14 - Celebrating Small Wins in Nutrition
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103. Dads, Are You Listening? Lessons on Parenting and Connection
In this episode, I chat with Ian Abbott about the challenges of parenting, especially from a dad's point of view. We talk about how being aware of emotions is key and how parental anxiety can affect kids.
Ian shares some great tips from his parenting classes for dads, focusing on how important it is for fathers to connect with their children's feelings.
We discuss how to find the right balance between pushing kids to grow and giving them support, how curiosity helps us understand emotions, and how parenting roles are changing.
The conversation centers on creating a safe space for open talks and emotional growth.
Thank you for listening and you can find me on IG: @theanxietymd if you have any questions.
PS. If you would like to join the MBRX family of 4000+ anxiety WARRIORS who are shifting from coping with their anxiety to actually HEALING it, click the link below: https://www.theanxietymd.com/MBRX
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TIMESTAMPS
00:00 - Introduction
00:52 - Challenges in Parenting
01:38 - Emotional Awareness in Parenting
02:59 - Men Seeking Help
04:07 - Energetic Influence on Children
05:49 - Stereotypes of Fatherhood
06:52 -Guiding Children Through Challenges
07:27 - Emotional Development in Boys
09:17 - Goals of Parenting Classes
10:07 - Cultural Stigma Around Men's Emotions
10:26 - Benefits of Men's Groups
11:20 - Single Dads vs. Single Moms
12:14 - Nurturing and Challenging Dynamics
13:01 - Importance of Emotional Resilience
14:01 - Experiences of Discomfort
15:52 - Personal Growth Through Challenges
17:42 - Validating Emotions in Parenting
18:52 - Understanding Immersion in Parenting
19:10 - Information vs. Conversation in Courses
20:19 - The Importance of Slowing Down
23:03 - Curiosity Over Fixing
23:59 - Building Resilience in Parenting
26:44 - Emotional Immaturity in Parenting
27:16 - Role Reversal in Parenting
29:02 - Modeling Healthy Behavior
30:20 - Humor as a Coping Mechanism
31:54 - Parenting Daughters Softly
32:08 - Common Challenges in Parenting
33:17 - Self-Awareness and Reflection
34:43 - Visualizing Conflict and Repair
35:03 - The Importance of Repair
36:01 - Handling Discomfort in Parenting
36:59 - Listening vs. Fixing
38:00 - Asking for Understanding
39:16 - Girls and Emotional Expression
40:18 - Creating Open Conversations
41:01 - Body Awareness and Emotional Regulation
42:35 - Using Self as a Reference Point
43:49 - The Power of Connection
44:34 - Normalizing Male Emotions
45:14 - Emotional Sovereignty
46:30 - Shame and Emotional Disconnect
47:07 - Finding Ian's Course
48:37 - Shared Experiences in Parenting Classes
49:27 - Learning and Empowerment
50:00 - Managing Children's Emotional Outbursts
I am an anxious doctor. Or at least I WAS an anxious doctor. After literally decades of suffering from intractable anxiety, and seeing over 50 different types of healers I found my way to heal my anxiety through very unconventional (for a medical doctor at least) means.
In 2013 I was so anxious I considered suicide and a friend suggested I try LSD, and although that scared the crap out of me it showed me the path to healing. You don't have to do LSD to heal, I took it for you! I'm a medical doctor, neuroscientist and intuitive. (I know, common combination!)
I found my way out and it is counterintuitive and very non conventional (but not scary!).
I will show you the way out too, you just have to listen to me, dammit!