The seventh episode of Broken covers anxiety.
Hannah and Alexa start the episode by sharing some listener feedback. Hannah responds to a comment she made about divorce on an earlier episode and clarifies what she intended.
Hannah and Alexa then introduce John Tsilimparis, MFT. John is a psychotherapist, author, speaker, and expert on anxiety who practices in Los Angeles, California. He also shares about his own experience with anxiety.
John begins by defining anxiety and provides information about impairment and knowing when levels of anxiety have reached the point of diagnosable disorders.
He clarifies the two main types of anxiety symptoms: cognitive (thoughts like fears and worries), and somatic (physical experiences like rapid heartbeat and flushing).
"Normal" anxiety, "healthy" anxiety, and dysfunctional anxiety are identified, as are various types of anxiety like social anxiety and generalized anxiety.
John provides an overview of treatment for anxiety including cognitive therapy, restructuring, thought logging, peer support, lifestyle change and mindfulness.
He identifies three characteristics people with anxiety typically experience:
1) Excessive need for control, being averse and reacting to uncertainty.
2) Perfectionism: living in a world of extremes with no grey area.
3) Reliance on others for approval, people pleasing.
John shares the "ten minute rule", a suggestion for slowing down thoughts early, to decrease anxiety. He talks about the capacity to tolerate discomfort.
John, Hannah and Alexa discuss current trends in anxiety, when anxiety can be useful, how anxiety is often pathologized as bad, the opportunity to look at anxiety as an internal warning sign and help, multitasking, setting priorities, urgency, self-compassion, therapy, neuroplasticity, treating anxiety with medication, trauma, fight-flight-freeze responses, the danger of avoidance, parenting, reducing stigma, and the importance of talking openly.
The three discuss the opportunity people have in learning how to confront anxiety, tolerate discomfort, build courage, and learning their own strength.
John discusses the dangers of trying to control anxiety as well as avoiding it, and instead suggests processing thoughts and using mindfulness.
They discuss anxiety experienced by children and adolescents and how parents can help.
He also shares about his own experience of anxiety and how he has overcome personal struggles.
Broken sends a big thank you to John Tsilimparis!
Resources:
John Tsilimparis, MFT: https://johntsilimparis.com
His book: "Retrain Your Anxious Brain": https://www.amazon.com/Retrain-Your-Anxious-Brain-Practical/dp/0373892918/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1396534450&sr=8-1&keywords=retrain+your+anxious+brain
