Dear Anxiety

Latest Episodes:

How to Handle "I'm so bored!" Nov 15, 2019

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"School is so boring." "I don't have anything to do." "This car ride takes too long!" "I'm. So. BORED!" Everyone has heard these protests from their kids, and there's something about their words that pressures us into action, as if they were facing some physical danger. But what exactly is boredom, and why do we feel the need to fix it so urgently? Should we be fixing it at all? What are the reasons kids get bored in the first place? Hear all these questions asked and answered on this stimulating episode of Dear Anxiety.

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Feeling the Physical Symptoms of Anxiety Nov 08, 2019

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One of the hardest things about coping with anxiety is feeling the physical manifestations in our bodies. Blushing. Sweating. Racing hearts. Shortness of breath. Shaking hands. For some, the symptoms are annoying and embarrassing. For others, they're scary, even mimicking the symptoms of a heart attack! Plus, those symptoms themselves can make our worry worse; we get anxiety about our anxious experience! In this episode, Ed and Renee talk us through our physical reactions to anxiety, and no episode would be complete without plenty of tools to help us fight back.

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Turning the Tide on Sleep Deprivation Nov 01, 2019

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Most adults know that they're supposed to get 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night. Despite that knowledge, many of us don't really come close hitting that target. And teens are even worse! When it comes to getting their recommended hours of sleep, 97% of them fall short. So, what is the real cost of sleep deprivation? How can we help our kids get the rest that's essential for their development, and how can we change our own sleep habits so that we can show up as our best selves? Ed and Renee have answers to all these questions on this weeks episode.

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Challenges of Compassionate Parenting Oct 18, 2019

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Nothing worthwhile is ever easy, and parenting with compassion is no exception. Really, caring and compassion can be flat out exhausting, so much so that there has been actual research into the issue of compassion fatigue. Ed and Renee know you're here because you ARE a compassionate parent, so they spend this episode exploring why caring is tiring, how we can make space for ourselves to rejuvenate, and they give us examples of how we can show up as our best, most loving selves, even when we feel we've got nothing left to give.

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Finding Confidence, Authenticity, and Yourself Oct 11, 2019

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It would be hard to find a human who didn't want to be more confident, but despite the universal appeal, confidence means something a little different to everybody. Do you want more confidence on social situations? In relationships? Do you want to be more confident giving speeches? Or how about simply being more confidence in who you are as an authentic individual? Ed and Renee touch on all of these things while taking on confidence in this week's episode of Dear Anxiety.

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Homework Pressure, Stress, and Worry Oct 04, 2019

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"I love homework," said nobody ever. After a long day of sitting quietly, following directions, trying to focus, and being otherwise un-childlike, our kids are expected to come home, sit down, and do more of the same. Yuck! Additionally, many put pressure on themselves to perform and show up perfectly, so just the act of studying or being assessed is stressful. In this listener-requested episode, Ed and Renee take on homework by sharing tools for finding motivation and discovering the "why" of homework.

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Answering Questions on Acne, Embarrassment, Opening Up, and More! Sep 27, 2019

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We loving getting your letters and messages, and we've dedicated this entire episode to reading and responding to our favorites. There are letters from parents with struggling children, encouraging success stories from listeners who are making positive changes, and new strategies and interventions for dealing with the mental wellness challenges we face every day.

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Supporting Loved Ones Through Anxiety Sep 20, 2019

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Even if you're a person who experiences worry, even if you're all too familiar with the mental turmoil and physical pain of anxiety, most of us don't know how to help others who are dealing with similar challenges. Even worse, we find that anxiety in others starts to cause anxiety in ourselves. In this episode, Ed and Renee walk us through ways to calm and comfort our anxious family members and friends without escalating their experience or trying to match their emotions ourselves.

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Teaming Up Against Separation Anxiety Sep 13, 2019

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Maybe it's that time of year, when your kids are heading back to school, or maybe going for the first time. Maybe it's a first stay with a babysitter. Maybe it's a first sleepover. Whatever the case, it can be hard for a child to leave a parent. And really, just as hard for a parent to leave a child. At some point, we all experience some anxiety over being apart. It's a normal, biological response to separation from a protector or dependent. But we all need to endure those separations, and Ed and Renee are here with some tools for doing just that.

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Ready, Mindset, Go! Aug 30, 2019

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All the answers to your mental wellness challenges are right here in this very episode! Included is a simple set of instructions that will change your life: "You just have to look at the bright side and think more positively." Ugh, if only anything was that simple. In this episode, Ed and Renee talk through the complexities of three different types of mindsets: optimistic mindset, growth mindset, and stress mindset. You'll learn how they affect our behavior, and how they affect what happens inside our bodies.

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