Anxiety Road Podcast

Welcome to the Anxiety Road Podcast, the involuntary journey finding treatment options for people that have anxiety or panic attacks and related disorders. This podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in the podcast is intended to be a substitute for medical or mental health treatment.

ARP 414 Quick Look at Beyond Anxiety Book 05/15/2026

ARP 413 Caffeine The Friend Enemy 05/10/2026

ARP 413 Caffeine The Friend Enemy Caffeine is one of those substances that can be a friend-enemy. We all know of or experienced the friend-enemy, the one that seems to be supportive while doing dirt in the background. In limited use like period relief medications, I have no problem supporting that use. Taking caffeine daily when you have anxiety or depression, might not be such a good idea. It can amp up your existing symptoms or give you new ones. In this episode, the foods and drinks you might find caffeine and a few resources on how to slowly and safely detox from the stuff. Resources Mentioned: Both and the Harvard TC Chan School of Public Health have pages about caffeine. The following resources have information about withdrawing or reducing your intake: Sutter Health on Cornell University download flyer tips on The Cleveland Clinic on Emergency Resources Provides crisis support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth through phone (1-866-488-7386), text (START to 678-678), and online chat. Available 24/7. They also provide peer support and community. : Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online. There are phone lines for those serving overseas. Visit the website to find the current status of the Veteran line and international calling options. Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 service. Users can use text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact. Disclaimer: Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. /episode/index/show/anxietyroad/id/41238495

ARP 411 To CBT or Not to CBT 05/05/2026

ARP 411 To CBT or Not to CBT The way it is presented you'd think that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the only therapy treatment for anxiety, depression and other mental health conditions. No, it isn't. It does work, but not for every person or every mental health condition. In this episode, a quick review of what CBT is and some of the pros and cons. This isn't an attempt to praise or condemn the therapy. I just want to point out that it might not be right for you at this time or you might needs to get your symptoms in control before you can consider this type of treatment. Resources Mentioned: American Psychological Association on Book publisher Wiley has the book. On the website you can read sample chapters and there is a cheat sheet you can review to see if the book is a good match for you. is an app that is a CBT type education that you can access via your phone. You can read or listen to a variety of topics, monitoring and self-management your mental health and check in on you daily. There is a free and paid version of the app that is available to Android and iOS users. What's Up app for iPhone/iPad users provides a . it has a journaling and notes section, breathing exercises and grounding tools. It is free but there are in-app purchases. Emergency Resources Provides crisis support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth through phone (1-866-488-7386), text (START to 678-678), and online chat. Available 24/7. They also provide peer support and community. : Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online. There are phone lines for those serving overseas. Visit the website to find the current status of the Veteran line and international calling options. Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 service. Users can use text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact. Disclaimer: Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. /episode/index/show/anxietyroad/id/41163880

ARP 410 What is Anhedonia? 05/02/2026

ARP 408 Psychedelic Executive Order 14401 04/25/2026

ARP 408 Psychedelic Executive Order 14401 Psychedelics are knocking on the door again. It is the generational visit of psychedelics with some people seeing the potential and others seeing the danger and consequences. In this episode, a look at Executive Order 14401 and what is proposed for the treatment of serious mental health conditions. Let me be clear about this. I take no position pro or con in the upcoming debates or discussions about psychedelics. I am learning as I move through this unexpected (for me) treatment option. I have concerns. Big whomping concerns. I also have distrust and I'm noticing that certain stock markets and pharmaceutical companies are taking interest in this topic. What I'm trying to say I have biases, both conscious and unconscious. This episode is what I've discovered learning about the topic. My first steps. Psychedelically, you might be further down the road. One more thing. Dear public relations people. I have never had a guest on the show. I do not plan to in the future. Please peddle your guests to a more appropriate forum. Resources Mentioned: Psychedelic Information Resources From Psychology Today , A federal policy shift puts psychedelics in the spotlight for mental health. PBS.org story about the and some of the pros and cons. Like insurance? Nope. One of the things the Petrie-Flom Center looks at is Health Law Policy. This is a Q&A on the . FDA and Congress.gov page on The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency with a list of the drug schedules. Information about executive orders, their history and how to obtain them. National Constitution Center information page on ? The American Bar Association's website has an from a legal perspective on what an executive or is, the format of the document and how to retrieve the official version. National Archives and Records Administration of all things related to the U.S. government. Maintains a digital index of executive orders that is searchable by date, number, or topic. The orders may be viewed as PDFs or text, in the Federal Register, or within Title 3 of the U.S. Code. is an archive maintained by the University of California Santa Barbara includes text of almost all executive orders, searchable by year of issue back to the early nineteenth century. Emergency Resources Provides crisis support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth through phone (1-866-488-7386), text (START to 678-678), and online chat. Available 24/7. They also provide peer support and community. : Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online. There are phone lines for those serving overseas. Visit the website to find the current status of the Veteran line and international calling options. Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 service. Users can use text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact. Disclaimer: Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. /episode/index/show/anxietyroad/id/41014680

ARP 407 What is Dopamine? 04/19/2026

ARP 407 What is Dopamine? Mental health isn't just fixing one thing. It is more than stopping the symptoms. It is getting the parts back in alignment. Your brain, your spirit, your body and yes even neurotransmitters. This episode is about the neurotransmitter Dopamine. What it is and the relationship between stress, anxiety and the fight or flight response. I hope understand that this is one of the many processes of recovery. Do what you can, when you can. Resources Mentioned: The Cleveland Clinic has an . There are three TED Ed videos that visually explain what is happening in your brain when you have excessive stress and the relationship between anxiety, depression and other mental health conditions. on what goes on inside our body when we are chronically stressed that includes the flight or fight response and the relationship to anxiety and depression. lesson by Mia Nacamulli explains how food affects your brain, how Amino Acids change into neurotransmitters and how the food we eat can change how we feel and behave. Emergency Resources Provides crisis support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth through phone (1-866-488-7386), text (START to 678-678), and online chat. Available 24/7. They also provide peer support and community. : Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online. There are phone lines for those serving overseas. Visit the website to find the current status of the Veteran line and international calling options. Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 service. Users can use text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact. Disclaimer: Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. /episode/index/show/anxietyroad/id/40923460

ARP 406 SSRIs and Factual Information 04/17/2026

ARP 406 SSRIs and Factual Information A few months back, there were statements about SSRIs and increase violence in youth. Not true and I found a well written article explaining what a government official said and what is the factual, data based findings. I'll have that linked below. What I want to do is share with you the process of evaluating a medication so that you know the benefits and possible side effects so that you can make an informed choice. The basic questions are: What is this drug and why do I need it? Specifics on how much to take, when and with or without foods or liquids. What are the known side effects and when should I be concerned? Are there foods, drinks, vitamins, herbals or other things I should not take with the medication? How do I quit or stop taking the medication? There are some meds that you have to be weaned off of or you might experience harsh withdrawal symptoms. Resources Mentioned: by KFF News. Simply Psychology page on and how it affects the brain and body. The Mayo Clinic has a good information page about Antidepressants for kids and teens: . For parents who need background information on anti-depressants for their kids or teenagers. Medline Plus , you can type the generic name or the brand name of the drug to get information on it. Emergency Resources: : Provides crisis support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth through phone (1-866-488-7386), text (START to 678-678), and online chat. Available 24/7. They also provide peer support and community. : Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online. There are phone lines for those serving overseas. Visit the website to find the current status of the Veteran line and international calling options. Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 service. Users can use text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact. Disclaimer: Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. /episode/index/show/anxietyroad/id/40906525

ARP 405 GLP-1 and Mental Health Symptoms 04/11/2026

ARP 405 GLP-1 and Mental Health Symptoms I'm seeing more PR stuff and news stories about weight lost drugs for anxiety and depression. The short version for me is that there is not enough science or science research to determine if GLP-1 can be used to treat anxiety and depression. But that doesn't stop news stories and PR pieces from being written. As a starting point, I want to explain what GLP-1 are, the intended use and some of the side effects. both positive and negative a person could experience. Resources Mentioned: Think Global has an article on the . From the From the American Psychological Association is a post about NPR did a news story about the growth of these types of drugs and . PubMed has an editorial on The Potential Role of : A Paradigm Shift in Mental Health Treatment Novo Nordis is the manufacture of Ozempic. This is a link to there website about the product and you would have access to for consumers, doctors and pharmacists. Emergency Resources Provides crisis support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth through phone (1-866-488-7386), text (START to 678-678), and online chat. Available 24/7. They also provide peer support and community. : Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online. There are phone lines for those serving overseas. Visit the website to find the current status of the Veteran line and international calling options. Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 service. Users can use text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact. Disclaimer: Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. /episode/index/show/anxietyroad/id/40809625

ARP 404 - The Anxiety of Loneliness 04/10/2026

ARP 404 - The Anxiety of Loneliness In this episode, a look at loneliness, the connection to anxiety and how the book, The Heart is a Lonely Hunter can help us understand the relationship between the two. Loneliness is disconnection from the other. Could be the loss of the other person. Could be an an idea or way of being that use to sustain you and now it doesn't. Could be a country that that use to pretend to live up to 1/4 of their stated ideas and now you find out it closer to 1/32nd and dropping. Anxiety can mean that your brain and body feels that there is instability, danger or a threat. Your symptoms are the visual or sensory representation of something being wrong. Symptoms can be embarrassing. Many anxious people make the choice of separating themselves from others. There are other options. Resources Mentioned: The Heart is a Lonely Hunter Book: The book was written by author Carson McCullers and published in 1940. You should be able to find it at any retail or online book vendor. Audio: There is an abbreviated BBC full performance and there is a of the entire book by Cherry Jones on Audible. Movie: There is a on YouTube. Amazon Prime has the 1968 version that you can either rent or buy. I'm sure that other streaming services that have the film in rotation. Loneliness Research 2023 The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the and Community. This is a downloadable document on the research. Emotional and social loneliness and their unique links with social isolation, depression and anxiety. If the above link is troublesome, can try to download the article via the . Emergency Resources: Provides crisis support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth through phone (1-866-488-7386), text (START to 678-678), and online chat. Available 24/7. They also provide peer support and community. : Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online. There are phone lines for those serving overseas. Visit the website to find the current status of the Veteran line and international calling options. Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 service. Users can use text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact. Disclaimer: Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. /episode/index/show/anxietyroad/id/40801480

ARP 403 Probiotic Sodas for Brain Health? 04/03/2026

ARP 402 - A Quick Look At Roodt App 04/02/2026

401 Panic Disorder Basics 03/27/2026

401 Panic Disorder Basics A panic attack is a single experience. Your symptoms act the fool and you deal with it. A panic disorder is multiple unpredictable attacks that can occur during the day, week or month AND you worry when the next one will come. And they will. They are stinky like that. In this episode, a description of what is a panic disorder, the symptoms and the treatment options. Resources Mentioned: Medication Information The Cleveland Clinic has information about . Anxiety and Depression Association of America has a section on the site explaining the . CBT Information ADAA.org has an that you can watch on their website or YouTube channel. There is also a blog post on . app helps those who have a panic disorder deal with it using CBT as the foundation. Panic Disorder Information From the has a page about Panic Disorders. It appears that the information is unchanged but the related brochures that appeared have been removed. I don't believe the info has been change due to the current administration (it could happen). Emergency Resources Provides crisis support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth through phone (1-866-488-7386), text (START to 678-678), and online chat. Available 24/7. They also provide peer support and community. : Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online. There are phone lines for those serving overseas. Visit the website to find the current status of the Veteran line and international calling options. Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 service. Users can use text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact. Disclaimer: Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. /episode/index/show/anxietyroad/id/40642285

ARP 400 Panic Attack Basics 03/24/2026

ARP 400 Panic Attack Basics There are people that have one singular panic attack. They never have another one. Then there are those of us that have it infrequently or as a weekly pest. In this episode, I mention the bear in the driveway. For my overseas listeners, there are states that have bear populations. And humans have built housing near the areas where the bears and wildlife populate. So their could be a possibility of a bear rumbling through trash can looking for food. But panic attacks have invisible bears. There is a threat you can't see but your brain is telling you that you are in danger. You body reacts. In this episode, I explain in plain terms what a panic attack is, the symptoms and treatment options. I should probably tell you that I lean toward science + a whole body approach to treatment. Resources Mentioned: Anxiety and Depression Association of America is a non-profit website that has . They also have a YouTube channel with a video that explains the panic attack cycle process. The Mayo Clinic page on Helpguide.org has an 2026 updated page on Emergency Resources Provides crisis support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth through phone (1-866-488-7386), text (START to 678-678), and online chat. Available 24/7. They also provide peer support and community. : Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online. There are phone lines for those serving overseas. Visit the website to find the current status of the Veteran line and international calling options. Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 service. Users can use text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact. Disclaimer: Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. /episode/index/show/anxietyroad/id/40607180

ARP 399 Foods that Support Gut Health 03/20/2026

ARP 399 Foods that Support Gut Health I do like Desire in Netflix, The Sandman. What a rascal. What does this have to do with foods that support gut health? A lot more than I thought. Balancing your need for a cherry cheesecake versus you know you are going to have a hard time sleeping because of the sugar in your system. Not to mention what it does to your gut microbiome. It is hard to make that choice. Because I really want that cheesecake. Or burger. Or that Peach soda I found at an international market. 2 liter bottle. Yeah, I was a little jumpy for a few days. So in this episode, I do have a few words to say about desire, the feeling. Not the one in Netflix's The Sandman. But honestly, there is a relationship. Desire gets you amped up willing to do the things you shouldn't. You know you shouldn't. Next thing you know, a half bucket of chicken and all of the Cole slaw is gone. Then living with shame, regret, and rumblings in your tummy. The food items that I mention will help the good microbiomes to feel better, have support and send communication to your brain. That is a good thing. In the long term, a life affirming choice. But like the song says, I'm only . Resources Mentioned: In case you missed the prior episode, the has an explainer article about the brain - gut connections and recommendations on the food you could be eating. The food info is toward the bottom of the site. The Arthritis Foundation has a of foods you can use when you are in the store and want to make better choices. Some of those bad bugs contribute to inflammation in the body. From UCSD also known as the University of San Diego is a PDF on that also includes recipes on how to use them. Emergency Resources Provides crisis support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth through phone (1-866-488-7386), text (START to 678-678), and online chat. Available 24/7. They also provide peer support and community. : Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online. There are phone lines for those serving overseas. Visit the website to find the current status of the Veteran line and international calling options. Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 service. Users can use text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact. Disclaimer: Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. /episode/index/show/anxietyroad/id/40563385

ARP 398 Brain Gut Axis and Mental Health 03/20/2026

ARP 398 Brain Gut Axis and Mental Health In this episode, I want to briefly define the brain gut health connection. The main question that only you can answer is are you willing to pursue nutrition as part of your anxiety, depression toolkit? Most people say they want to be heathy but won't give up that extra large burger with chips. I am not trying to make you give that up. But from experience I do know that I can't sustain physical or mental health eating junk food each and every day. Lord knows I tried. And if you do have anxiety, depression or the long list of things that can happen to people, then you have to take nutrition seriously. Your good gut microbiota need help and reinforcements. Resources Mentioned: There is an excellent 2 minute video that explains visually the brain and gut health connection. The video is from Professor Mark Dingman YT Channel . From 2025 is an post from New York Presbyterian Health Matters section of their website, who spoke with Dr. Benjamin Lebwohl, a gastroenterologist about the gut brain axis. The Cleveland Clinic has a 2023 blog post on the . It gives an overview, the functions, bit of an anatomy lesson and some of the conditions associated with an unhappy gut environment And for those that like the science straight (or is that neat?) there is a journal entry by Niazi, Madiha Khan, Hassan, Farooq, Tufail, Tabussam, ismail, Muhammad Amjed, Riaz, Khadija, Advanced Gut & Microbiome Research, 2023, 1566684, 9 pages, 2023. Emergency Resources Provides crisis support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth through phone (1-866-488-7386), text (START to 678-678), and online chat. Available 24/7. They also provide peer support and community. : Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online. There are phone lines for those serving overseas. Visit the website to find the current status of the Veteran line and international calling options. Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 service. Users can use text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact. Disclaimer: Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. /episode/index/show/anxietyroad/id/40555765

ARP 397 A Look at Helpguide.org 03/16/2026

ARP 396 - Deeply Unimportant Sleep Aid Podcast 02/24/2026

ARP 396 - Deeply Unimportant Sleep Aid Podcast Does your anxiety or depression symptoms keep you from sleeping? Or maybe you are looking for the drowsy professor type voice that knocks you out. The Deeply Unimportant podcast might be what you are looking for. Sometimes you need a specific type of voice to put you into the sleep zone. Once upon a time there was a guy named Terrance McKenna. Very deep into psychoactive plants, mushrooms and alternative waves of being. I didn't really understand what he was talking about. Not a clue. This was a good thing because within 15 minutes of listening to him I was asleep. Again, I didn't not understand anything. I just knew that if he was on the radio, I was going to be able to go to sleep. These days, I need something more "boring" than Mr. McKenna. No disrespect to Terrance. For those on his wave length he was the man. Now days, we have a lot of options from ASMR to stories but for me, Deeply Uniportant cuts through the mind yapping and slides me into sleepy town. Resources Mentioned: The main website is . You can listen to the ad supported version for free or if you need the full eight-hour version you can subscribe and become a member. You also have the option to listen on your favorite podcasting app. There is an on YouTube about the podcast. There is a tribute site by Lorenzo called that contains some of the recordings of Terrance McKenna. There is also an official where you can purchase his work. The can help you with finding the right sound for your needs, that could be a frequency noise or a sound of nature. Windows users can go to the of the website and select the items that will give them an audio balm. Emergency Resources: Provides crisis support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth through phone (1-866-488-7386), text (START to 678-678), and online chat. Available 24/7. They also provide peer support and community. : Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online. There are phone lines for those serving overseas. Visit the website to find the current status of the Veteran line and international calling options. Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 service. Users can use text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact. Disclaimer: Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. /episode/index/show/anxietyroad/id/40219010

ARP 395 Falling and Staying Asleep 02/10/2026

ARP 395 Falling and Staying Asleep There is a bunch of tossing and turning in beds across the land. All in an effort to try to get to sleep. And sleep is the one thing that affects all of us, whether you have an anxiety condition or not. It is a two-fer. Your body needs it for repair and your brain needs it for cleaning and maintenance. So it is really important to make sure you have what you needs to set yourself up for a good night's sleep. Especially if you have anxiety and depression type symptoms. This is an overview of what you need to get to sleep and keep it there for as long as you need it. Resources Mentioned: Australian Center of Clinical Inventions, there is a PDF handout on with 15 tips on how to get a good night's sleep. The U.S. non-profit health organization Kaiser Permanente has a page on and suggest that the only things you should do in bed is sleep and sex. The National Sleep Foundation is an advocacy group for sleep health. They do have a section of their website that talks about I do need to let you know that there is another website call Sleep Foundation.org. This is a commercial site that reviews mattresses and sleep products. However they have a lot of info about sleep but they also are probably doing affiliate deals to support the website. The site does have factual information about sleep and . The Cleveland Clinic has a brief information page on . And Harvard Health Publishing also has a page about weighted blankets with the statement that there isn't enough science research to indicate that they are helpful but Emergency Resources Provides crisis support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth through phone (1-866-488-7386), text (START to 678-678), and online chat. Available 24/7. They also provide peer support and community. : Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online. There are phone lines for those serving overseas. Visit the website to find the current status of the Veteran line and international calling options. Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 service. Users can use text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact. Disclaimer: Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. /episode/index/show/anxietyroad/id/40055005

ARP 394 Creator Care for Digital Content Creators 01/23/2026

ARP 394 Creator Care for Digital Content Creators Creator Care is a therapy option set up for digital content creators. If you produce gamer videos, TicTok tips or are deep in the YouTube algorithm whiplash then this could be of interest to you. There have been a few notable YouTubers who have decided to take extended breaks, leave the platform or have made the ultimate deep six six dive. Many others are going through burnout or feel that there anxiety levels are a bit too high. Per the vendor's website: Many creators experience anxiety, burnout, depression, and isolation, yet often face barriers to accessing care. Currently the service is available only to California digital creators living in CA but they do have plans to expand the service across the U.S. Resources Mentioned: If you are a digital creator that lives in California, you can access the portal for Creator Care. There are virtual visits as well as an option for actual offices visits if you live near Oakland or Walnut Creek. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America website have a that focus on these topics. You can search by location, your condition or by your population type, for example, you are a veteran, a senior or a person with disabilities. website allows you to put in your zip code or the name of your state and then find a provider. Some of these providers do have a virtual therapy option. On the main page of the website, there is information on some of the non-profits that might have free or reduced payment options to access therapy treatment. Please note that Open Counseling has an affiliate relationship with the BetterHelp.com group of companies, such as Regain.us, TeenCounseling.com and TalkSpace.com. . This is a non-profit membership site that can help you reduce the cost of your therapy sessions. This is open to all, not just digital creators. You get the opportunity to read the profile of the therapist and hopefully have an appropriate and supportive match for your needs. Emergency Resources Provides crisis support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth through phone (1-866-488-7386), text (START to 678-678), and online chat. Available 24/7. They also provide peer support and community. : Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online. There are phone lines for those serving overseas. Visit the website to find the current status of the Veteran line and international calling options. Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 service. Users can use text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact. Disclaimer: Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. /episode/index/show/anxietyroad/id/39846225

ARP 393 - A Look at the FL-100 Headset for Depression 01/09/2026

ARP 393 - A Look at the FL-100 Headset for Depression The FL-100 headset is a possible a treatment option for people that have moderate to severe depression. Well in Europe, UK and Australia, that is true. Hopefully it is coming some time soon for folks in the U.S. I should mention that it is expensive and it will only be available via prescription from a doctor or medical provider. This is short episode that gives a brief overview of the product. Resources Mentioned: I found the news story about the FL-100 on . There is a video of a young woman . She only has one video on her YouTube page but it might give you a real world perspective about the device. If you would like to visit the website, please be aware it is directed to the UK and European marketplace. You can learn about the product but they do not have a U.S. specific website set Emergency Resources Provides crisis support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth through phone (1-866-488-7386), text (START to 678-678), and online chat. Available 24/7. They also provide peer support and community. : Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online. There are phone lines for those serving overseas. Visit the website to find the current status of the Veteran line and international calling options. Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 service. Users can use text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact. Disclaimer: Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. /episode/index/show/anxietyroad/id/39669500

ARP 392 - Quick Look at Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics 12/26/2025

ARP 392 - Quick Look at Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics In the before times, I would have been hostile to meditation and mindfulness. I didn't have time for it, I wanted the quick cure, the fix and no B.S. I had stuff to do and no time for body symptom nonsense. I had to be karmically convinced to change my mind. Hard lessons. Embarrassing lessons. But I came to understand the lesson is repeated until you learn. Meditation might work for you. It might not. But give it a fair chance. You might not be ready for it now. That is okay. But take a moment to learn about it, understand the potential benefits and then decide. Resources Mentioned: At the website you can listen to an audio sample or read the introduction chapter of the book to get a sense of if it is right for you. Bear with me, this is a little confusing. The Harris newsletter is on Substack. There you can access links to his , from notables in the field and other do-dads that you might be interested in. Mr. Harris also has a . It is a subscription service starting at $99 a year. For those that can afford the up front that come out to $10 a month or 27 cents per day. There may be an option for those that have money issues. You should check out the website for more info. Co-author has a page on Substack where you can find his views and teachings about meditation, access audio meditation on a wide variety of topics and meditations that focus on ADHD issues. Emergency Resources Provides crisis support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth through phone (1-866-488-7386), text (START to 678-678), and online chat. Available 24/7. They also provide peer support and community. : Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online. There are phone lines for those serving overseas. Visit the website to find the current status of the Veteran line and international calling options. Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 service. Users can use text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact. Disclaimer: Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. /episode/index/show/anxietyroad/id/39539530

ARP 391 Mindful Walking Without Your Phone 12/08/2025

ARP 391 Mindful Walking Without Your Phone In this episode I talk about what is a mindful walking meditation, the difference between meditation and mindfulness and a few resources to help you get more information about it. I know that in some places in the world you cannot walk freely or without consciousness of your immediate area. Some places in the U.S. do not have sidewalks. Other cities are actively hostile to pedestrians. The good news is that you can walk at home, in the back yard or visually in your mind. It is okay, main thing is moving your body or your spirit. Resources Mentioned: Serene Madani article on the Woman's Health Magazine website about . Duke Health has an infographic called . It shows you visually and in text how to do it. Mindful.org has a page on . There is an audio recording as well as text to help you reconnect with the existing world. If you really, truly cannot leave home without your phone then you do have the option of adding a meditative podcast or download one of the many guided meditations. The Centre for Mindfulness Studies in Canada has a in a .m4a audio format. Android users might have problems opening this audio format. And from Michigan State University Extension Mindfulness for Better Living is an audio .mp3 recording by Dr. Roxane Chan with more of a . On the Jack Kornfield website, he has you could use as you walk and it might be challenging if you are new to meditation, but if you are further along the path and struggle with wondering attention, this is a good one. Emergency Resources Provides crisis support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth through phone (1-866-488-7386), text (START to 678-678), and online chat. Available 24/7. They also provide peer support and community. : Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online. There are phone lines for those serving overseas. Visit the website to find the current status of the Veteran line and international calling options. Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 service. Users can use text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact. Disclaimer: Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. /episode/index/show/anxietyroad/id/39324830

ARP 390 A Look at the Opera Air Browser 11/18/2025

ARP 390 A Look at the Opera Air Browser Well, I have a new to me and probably to you do-dad to help with anxiety symptoms. It is the Opera Air Mindfulness browser. In addition to the standard browsing features it has tools to help you breath and relax, guided meditations and a musical audio mode that can help you focus. Is this a good or bad thing? The TLDR: Some of the tech bros say it is a gimmick and who in their right mind would use it? In my bad times, I would have glommed on to it because I was looking for help. Lots of people are looking for mental health support and aren't too picky where they find it. (we should be, but when a person is in pain they are going to do what they think they need to do.) I like many of the features but there is a cost. Free ain't free especially online. Opera Air, like many other browsers is ad supported or allow third party extensions to be used in the browser. Many browser allow ads and cookie tracking to be passed onto those third party data collectors. A Virtual Private Network (VPN) can hide your location and computer. You generally need to tell it what you want. A free VPN can be problematic. Who is operating it, where is the data passing through and what if it is down and you don't know it? Or it is blocking you from seeing certain web sites? The security features require users to turn them on. If you don't, oopsie? Also, if you use those third party vendors extensions, you are subject to their terms of service which might include things you in no way agree to. Again, I am not bashing the browser. I like the reminders about getting up and moving or taking a breathing breaks. But I do want folks to know what the benefits to you is versus cost of your privacy and personal information. That will be up to you to decide. Resources Mentioned: If you would like to see how Opera Air works, of the features of the software. Before you download, I would suggest reading the and read the FAQs so that you understand what you gain and give up when you use the browser. If you are interested in giving it a try the address is Emergency Resources Provides crisis support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth through phone (1-866-488-7386), text (START to 678-678), and online chat. Available 24/7. They also provide peer support and community. : Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online. There are phone lines for those serving overseas. Visit the website to find the current status of the Veteran line and international calling options. Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 service. Users can use text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact. Disclaimer: Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. /episode/index/show/anxietyroad/id/39071910

ARP 389 What is Situational Anxiety? 11/02/2025

ARP 389 What is Situational Anxiety? If your are an adult human being, you have experienced situational anxiety. It is when you know that this specific thing is making you upset or anxious. It could be about money, your job, the lack of prospects of getting a job. Housing insecurity. Your car breaks down and you do not have cash or credit for the repair bill. In this episode, a look at situational anxiety. Resources Mentioned: To learn more about you can take a look at the page on VeryWell Mind. They do tend to go long with their description on the condition, symptoms and treatment options. VeryWell Mind is a commercial site. It is advertiser supported. If possible, I would suggest that you use a browser like Duck Duck Go in fire mode or Vivaldi in anonymous mode. Dennis the Anxiety Guy has a video from six years ago about handling . Dr. Andrea Dinardo, Ph.D has an extract from a longer video on the . The University of Michigan on five red flags you are dealing with . Emergency Resources: Provides crisis support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth through phone (1-866-488-7386), text (START to 678-678), and online chat. Available 24/7. They also provide peer support and community. : Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online. There are phone lines for those serving overseas. Visit the website to find the current status of the Veteran line and international calling options. Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 service. Users can use text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact. Disclaimer: Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. /episode/index/show/anxietyroad/id/38885155

ARP 388 - No Joke About Dental Anxiety 10/07/2025

ARP 388 - No Joke About Dental Anxiety There is a video about a dentist joking about giving less medication to people not of her political persuasion. To her audience, I guess they found it funny. There is a larger story than the dentist and the joke. I waited. I hoped someone would bring a non-political reason what the joke was bad, very bad and unprofessional. For the record, there are million of us that have some form of dental anxiety or dental phobia. We need the skills of a professional, qualified and compassionate dentist. We are scared out of our skulls because we don't know what a few bad teeth yankers of the profession will do to us. Or we clearly remember what a few of them have done to us. In this episode, a brief definition of dental anxiety and phobia and resources for you to empower yourself. Resources Mentioned: There is a website associated with the American Dental Association website called . It offer three tips on dealing with dental anxiety. Cleveland Clinic page on what is , the symptoms, causes and treatment options. The University of Pennsylvania Dental Medicine has a page on how to get over For those of you in the United Kingdom, the page has some good information and suggestions on dealing with dental anxiety. Emergency Resources Provides crisis support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth through phone (1-866-488-7386), text (START to 678-678), and online chat. Available 24/7. They also provide peer support and community. : Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online. There are phone lines for those serving overseas. Visit the website to find the current status of the Veteran line and international calling options. Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 service. Users can use text, chat or use WhatsApp as a means of contact. Disclaimer: Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. /episode/index/show/anxietyroad/id/38501715

ARP 387 What is Fear? 09/22/2025

ARP 387 What is Fear? This is a quick definition of fear, why it is an important emotion and two informational resources to help you learn more about. Fear is an emotional response to real or imaginary danger. Your body enters into protection mode. It is not as some would describe it, a weakness or lack of backbone. You are in trouble and your body is helping you do deal with it. When you understand what fear this can help you find the tools and skills needed to make healthy adjustments to your natural defense system. Those tools can be food or nutrition, therapy, exercise, education or other things you might not be aware of. Resources Mentioned: For the TLDR folks, on the Psychology Today blog there is a page on the . it talks about what it is, some of the causes and its relationship to phobias and social anxiety. The website Simple Psychology has an explainer page on : Definition, Symptoms, Traits, Causes, Treatment Emergency Resources Provides crisis support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth through phone (1-866-488-7386), text (START to 678-678), and online chat. Available 24/7. They also provide peer support and community. : Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online. There are phone lines for those serving overseas. Visit the website to find the current status of the Veteran line and international calling options. Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 service. Users can use text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact. Disclaimer: Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. /episode/index/show/anxietyroad/id/38313675

ARP 386 Evaluating Anxiety Herbal Supplements 09/07/2025

ARP 386 Evaluating Anxiety Herbal Supplements I've done episodes about dietary supplements. I didn't take into account the ones sold at the gas station or corner store. People with an anxiety condition or disorder should be very careful about promises of herbal supplements treatment. I don't want to be elitist here. There is bad stuff in U.S. pharmacies that do not work, known not to be effective or dangerous and yet still on sale. I have examples from . PharmD and , PharmD. It is one thing to buy Slim-Jims from the gas station. I've bought water, two cans for three dollars then I get to the counter where the person looks at me like I'm less than dirt as he rings me up. Then I remember not to go back into that store for the next eight months or so. I would never, ever purchase an herbal supplement from the gas station store, a convenience store or the 99 Cents or 150 Cents Store-ish variations. You might decide otherwise. If you do want to risk it, pack a magnifying glass because you have to read the label. What is the dosage? It might not be the full bottle. And most important, have the contents been verified by an independent industry respected testing organization? We need to be careful out in the wild. Just my two cents. This is my opinion which ain't worth a bucket of salt. Which does not stop me from this episode on how to evaluate herbal health supplements. Resources Mentioned: Operation Supplement Safety is intended for folks in the military that have restrictions on the kind of supplements they can use. However there is a non-military consumer version of the that is a PDF download that gives guidelines on how to evaluate a supplement. U.S. National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS), National Institutes of Health (NIH) Dietary Supplements: updated January 2023. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health page called and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) FDA page on , updated 2022. FDA page on . You can search by name, vendor, website or a specific action taken by the FDA. Emergency Resources Provides crisis support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth through phone (1-866-488-7386), text (START to 678-678), and online chat. Available 24/7. They also provide peer support and community. : Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online. There are phone lines for those serving overseas. Visit the website to find the current status of the Veteran line and international calling options. Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 service. Users can use text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact. Disclaimer: Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. /episode/index/show/anxietyroad/id/38118950

ARP 365 What is Fright? 08/26/2025

ARP 365 What is Fright? Living in a place with non-human beings can give you an appreciation of the unexpected. I've had encounters with possums, coyotes and skunks. Main skill is be aware of your surroundings, back up and give them a path to exit. Haven't had a bear encounter yet. Do not want one either. Part of the inspiration of this episode is an old video of a man leaving his home, preoccupied on getting to work only to discover a big ole bear in his driveway. This can cause most people a wee bit of fright. That is the topic of this pebble in the anxiety road. Resources Mentioned: On the Psychology Today blog is a post called ? The National Alliance for Mental Health (NAMI) has a post from 2021 on ? There is an explanation of what is fear and anxiety, the symptoms and some ideas on how to process those experiences. Emergency Hotline Resources : Provides crisis support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth through phone (1-866-488-7386), text (START to 678-678), and online chat. Available 24/7. They also provide peer support and community. : Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online. There are phone lines for those serving overseas. Visit the website to find the current status of the Veteran line and international calling options. Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 hotline and users can text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact. Disclaimer: Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. /episode/index/show/anxietyroad/id/37960270

ARP 384 Changes to 988 Suicide Hotline 08/11/2025

ARP 383 Dealing with Intrusive Thoughts 07/30/2025

Anxiety Road Podcast

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