Facing My Panic: A Psychologist's Anxiety Journey

07/31/23 • 25 min

In this episode of "The Life Free of Anxiety Podcast," Dr. Charles Barr, a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in anxiety disorders, discusses his personal journey with panic disorder. He delves into the world of anxiety disorders, the symptoms, and the effects they can have on a person's life. Erica, a former patient of Dr. Barr who has successfully overcome her anxiety through the CHAANGE Anxiety Treatment Program, co-hosts the podcast.

Highlights from the podcast:

Dr. Charles Barr's personal experience with a panic attack: He had a panic attack during an earthquake while alone in his office. This incident led to a personal understanding of what his patients go through and a special interest in anxiety disorders.
Exploring the term 'Depersonalization': Depersonalization, according to Dr. Barr, is a feeling of unreality, as though you're losing a grip on yourself. It is a common symptom of panic disorder.
Anxiety is the 'great mimicker': Dr. Barr explains that anxiety can mimic symptoms of serious health conditions such as heart attacks and strokes, leading to misinterpretation of the symptoms.
The devastating impact of panic disorder: Panic disorder can completely change how a person perceives themselves and the world around them.
The importance of tackling 'What-ifs': Dr. Barr emphasizes the need to control anxiety-inducing thought patterns and replacing the 'What-ifs' with 'So what?'
There's help and hope: Dr. Barr assures that panic disorder can be managed and overcome with the right set of tools like cognitive-behavioral therapy, breathing, and relaxation training.
Skepticism is normal: If you're feeling skeptical about whether you can overcome your anxiety, Dr. Barr assures that it's normal. What's important is to keep an open mind and be willing to seek help.

To take our 3-minute FREE Anxiety Assessment and get your personalized anxiety profile, head to lifefreeofanxiety.com and look for the Discover Your Anxiety Profile button at the top!

Don't forget to check out CHAANGE in 16, our 16 week at-home anxiety reversal program backed by our 100% money back Get Better Guarantee!
(limited spots available, signups end soon!)
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Highlights from the podcast:

Dr. Charles Barr's personal experience with a panic attack: He had a panic attack during an earthquake while alone in his office. This incident led to a personal understanding of what his patients go through and a special interest in anxiety disorders.
Exploring the term 'Depersonalization': Depersonalization, according to Dr. Barr, is a feeling of unreality, as though you're losing a grip on yourself. It is a common symptom of panic disorder.
Anxiety is the 'great mimicker': Dr. Barr explains that anxiety can mimic symptoms of serious health conditions such as heart attacks and strokes, leading to misinterpretation of the symptoms.
The devastating impact of panic disorder: Panic disorder can completely change how a person perceives themselves and the world around them.
The importance of tackling 'What-ifs': Dr. Barr emphasizes the need to control anxiety-inducing thought patterns and replacing the 'What-ifs' with 'So what?'
There's help and hope: Dr. Barr assures that panic disorder can be managed and overcome with the right set of tools like cognitive-behavioral therapy, breathing, and relaxation training.
Skepticism is normal: If you're feeling skeptical about whether you can overcome your anxiety, Dr. Barr assures that it's normal. What's important is to keep an open mind and be willing to seek help.

To take our 3-minute FREE Anxiety Assessment and get your personalized anxiety profile, head to lifefreeofanxiety.com and look for the Discover Your Anxiety Profile button at the top!

Previous Episode

The Tools to Deal With Life's Stresses

Welcome back to the NEW and IMPROVED Life Free of Anxiety podcast!
We have been on a break, but after undergoing major surgeries and welcoming a newborn baby, Dr. Charles Barr and Erica have much to share.
So stay tuned! We're back with more enlightening insights and personal experiences about coping with stress, anxiety, and life changes.
As always, remember that...

You are NOT alone.
You are NOT broken.
You are on your way to a life FREE of anxiety!
<3
-------------------------------
This week, we're discussing:

A Society That Forgets to Pause

Dr. Barr and Erica take a critical look at society's expectations about taking breaks. Whether it's recovering from surgery, adjusting to life with a new baby, or even managing an aging pet, life throws challenges that demand pause and care. Yet, we're often pressured to 'keep on trucking' and maintain appearances of normalcy. This societal tendency can be incredibly stressful, exacerbating existing challenges and potentially creating new ones.

Social media can be a particular culprit, displaying snapshots of seemingly perfect lives and rapid recoveries. Such representations can put enormous pressure on individuals to bounce back quickly after life-altering events like childbirth or surgeries. It's crucial to remember that healing takes time and everyone's journey differs.

Healing and Acceptance: Everyone's Journey Is Unique

Dr. Barr emphasizes that your body's needs and pace should be respected. Healing doesn't always happen quickly, and patience with oneself is crucial. It's not uncommon to feel disappointed if your recovery doesn't match someone else's story. This is especially true with seemingly universal experiences, like breastfeeding after childbirth. It's essential to remember that each body and circumstance is unique, and comparison only fuels anxiety and self-doubt.

Managing Stress with The Right Tools

Erica shares an invaluable lesson about managing stress and anxiety — the importance of having the right tools. She recalls her initial skepticism about tools as a solution, feeling they were too simple to address something as complex as anxiety.

To take our 3-minute FREE Anxiety Assessment and get your personalized anxiety profile, head to lifefreeofanxiety.com and look for the Discover Your Anxiety Profile button at the top!

Next Episode

No, You're NOT Going Crazy and Here's Why! (Erica's Anxiety Journey)

In this episode of The Life Free of Anxiety Podcast, Erica, a former patient and now a successful overcomer of anxiety, alongside Dr. Charles Barr, delve into their personal experiences with anxiety and how they managed to regain control over their lives.

Panic and Anxiety History: Erica and Dr. Barr discuss how some people can pinpoint their first panic attack while others have dealt with anxiety all their lives. They dissect how creative minds may have a heightened imagination that might enhance fears and anxieties.
The Impact of Substance Use: Erica candidly shares her experience with marijuana use and how it led to heightened anxiety and the fear of permanency in that state.
Depersonalization and Anxiety: They explore the concept of depersonalization, a sensation that can make individuals feel like they're losing their mind. Erica recounts her battles with this sensation, particularly during stressful situations, and how she successfully overcame it.
The Path to Recovery: Erica and Dr. Barr highlight the importance of practicing therapy for anxiety disorders, emphasizing that improvement is impossible without consistent practice. They discuss exposure therapy and the initial fear and skepticism that comes with confronting anxiety-inducing situations.
The Role of Medication: The duo addresses the controversial role of medication in treating anxiety, acknowledging the variability in individual responses. Erica shares her personal journey, from her struggles with medication to eventually overcoming her fears and phobias without it.
Hope and Recovery: Lastly, the podcast promotes a message of hope. Contrary to common misconceptions, Erica and Dr. Barr stress that it is possible to completely overcome anxiety disorders and live a fulfilling life.

If you're struggling with anxiety, remember that there is hope. The CHAANGE Anxiety Treatment Program is designed to help you beat anxiety in 16 weeks. Listen to the experiences of those who have walked the same path and emerged victorious. You're not alone, and there is a process to get you through this.

To take our 3-minute FREE Anxiety Assessment and get your personalized anxiety profile, head to lifefreeofanxiety.com and look for the Discover Your Anxiety Profile button at the top!

Life Free of Anxiety - Facing My Panic: A Psychologist's Anxiety Journey

Transcript

EPISODE: Facing My Panic: A Psychologist’s Anxiety Journey

[00:00:00] Erica: And we are back. But I'm glad to be back with you. Today, in this episode, you get to meet Dr. Barr, you get to hear about what was that bad experience with an earthquake that he had. I'm going to kind of interview him. It's an important one. It's about a therapist who was specializing in anxiety and thought he really knew what anxiety was.

[00:00:18] He thought he under