The Panic Pod

In this episode, Joshua and Ella discuss when panic disorder is centred around the fear of developing a serious mental health problem. This is referred to as Mental Health Anxiety.

The pattern of mental health anxiety is the disorder of mental health anxiety. Seeing thoughts for what they are (mere, passing thoughts) and remembering that “What If”s can’t lead you towards further anxiety or depression are important things to note when one feels they are in a pattern of mental health anxiety (the fear of developing mental health problems).

Ella has a realisation when she says that the pattern that we fall into with mental health anxiety is doing something to compensate for the feeling of control that we desire. Sometimes we fabricate control which eventually drives us towards disorder.

Things we talked about:

Josh’s New Book! Untangling Your Anxiety by Joshua Fletcher and Dean Stott

Brene Brown - Daring Greatly (book)

Krista Tippett - On Being Podcast Episode “What’s Happening in Our Nervous Systems?”

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Unlike other types of anxiety responses, derealisation and depersonalisation are stress responses which can make you feel like you are having an out-of-body or not-fully-lucid experience. Since anxious responses affect both the mind and body, experiences vary from person-to-person or relate to the situation you’re in. They are a result of stress, hyperventilating, or over-breathing over a long period of time. When something triggers an anxious response, it makes blood flow attend to the large muscles of our body (think fight, flight, freeze response behaviour in animals). There is increased blood pressure in the brain and blood oxygen levels. Derealisation means things may feel and look weird, and you can recognise your environment but it doesn’t feel like you’re there. You might even feel off-balance or have temporary tinnitus. Depersonalisation is when you feel like you are in a dream. You may “hear” your own voice louder, and have existential thoughts. Both derealisation and depersonalisation are harmless though the feelings that arise from the body’s response can feel scary. Dissociation is a response to trauma. People with PTSD may dissociate when they feel like they are back in their traumatic situation. This reaction is our minds’ way of experiencing less trauma by blocking out the experience we find ourselves in, even if the situation is only triggering a memory. Dissociation may be when we have a flashback whether we want to or not.

As discussed in this episode, vasovagal syncope is a similar but different body response. Similar to a panic episode like derealisation, depersonalisation, or dissociation, vasovagal syncope can happen simply by being triggered by a conversation or image. In some circumstances it can also be triggered by dehydration or constipation, and it may cause people to faint. Unlike derealisation, depersonalisation, or dissociation, vasovagal syncope decreases blood pressure in the brain, opens blood vessels in the calves and lower body, and is unique in that it is triggered specifically by the sight or graphic description of blood or injury. If you feel like it is coming on, your only injury may come from fainting, so it is advised to sit down or stabilise yourself against a wall.

We hope you found this episode informative and encourage you to share it with a friend you know who has experienced a dramatic body response, especially if they are unsure what it was.

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In this episode, Josh and Ella discuss the difference between feelings of anxiety and when anxiety becomes a disorder. Comparing it to a sleep disorder or an eating disorder, an anxiety disorder is something uncomfortable that keeps happening, but can be overcome. An anxiety disorder occurs when one finds themselves in a downward spiral of anxious behaviour, so much so that a tactic they are using to comfort themselves may be causing more harm to their recovery. Using examples drawn from his professional practice, Josh quizzes Ella on how to identify one or the other. Ella shares her experience of feeling anxious before a gig compared to unexpected anxiety while making dinner.

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We are on instagram as @thepanicpod

Email us a question or comment at [email protected]

In this episode of The Panic Pod, we’re joined by Dr. Radha. She is a doctor, broadcaster, and author. In an inspiring conversation between Joshua and Dr. Radha, they break down one of the most common used buzzwords in self-help podcasting: “wellbeing”. Wellbeing encompasses all things that make a person comfortable, happy, and healthy, so therefore regards both physical and mental health. As Dr. Radha is a practicing GP, she provides insights as to where the health system plays a role in signposting anxiety sufferers to the right resources, as well as how important those same resources are for front line workers. Using examples of how language has shaped our culture, Joshua and Dr. Radha dive into where the intersection between mental and and physical health are, how emotional health can be improved, and the reality of how emotions can affect our physical health. Find Dr. Radha on instagram as @dr_radha and on twitter as @drradhamodgil or visit her website http://drradha.co.uk/ Find us on instagram as @thepanicpod Would you like to send in a question to be read on the podcast? Email [email protected]

**CORRECTION: The biggest killer of men under 50 is suicide and depression**

Today, Josh is joined by one of his all-time favourite people, Drew Linsalata.

Fearing emotions is the topic discussed in today's episode. One that may not fit so cleanly into the category of anxiety or panic but, during their time helping clients manage their anxiety disorders, both Josh and Drew have noticed an overlapping theme that's worth a mention.

And that theme is the fear of our emotions. Or perhaps we should say, fearing emotions that we feel we 'shouldn't' be feeling.

Being able to express and feel our emotions freely and without judgement is a crucial part of the anxiety recovery process and of course, life! Unfortunately, social conditioning has taught us that certain emotions are to be feared. We are taught that negative emotions are inherently 'bad' and 'unhelpful' which becomes an unhelpful perspective in and of itself. When we believe these things to be true, it's understandable that we may fear our emotions and wonder what they might mean about us.

Today Josh and Drew debunk some myths and explain why we might fear our emotions, how that impacts our lives and what it means to express ourselves without judgement.

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