Dear Anxiety

Latest Episodes:

Self Love is All You Need Jun 07, 2019

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Why is it so hard to be loved? We're not talking about being loved by other people; we all have people who love us. Why is it so hard to be loved by ourselves? Why is it easier to beat ourselves up than it is to have some compassion for ourselves? Why is it easier to say "I need to be better" than it is to say "I love who I am right now"? It's a love fest for Ed and Renee, as they discuss some scientific reasons for showing ourselves more love, reasons we're so self critical, and offer some tools more making it easier to be inwardly affectionate. Also, Ed sings!

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Renee Jain Interviews Dr. Tamar Chansky May 31, 2019

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It's a week off for your hosts, Ed Crasnick and Renee Jain, but Dear Anxiety must go on! We're happy to share with our listeners this interview with Dr. Tamar Chansky, a psychologist dedicated to helping children, teens, and adults overcome anxiety. Dr. Chansky discusses hallmark signs of anxiety, tips for role playing with your child (a Dear Anxiety favorite), and some games to help your child understand what their worry is telling them.

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Tolerating Frustration May 24, 2019

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Frustration is bad, right? We certainly treat it that way. When our kids get frustrated, we want them to stop. Immediately! Their frustration even frustrates us. As for ourselves, sometimes feeling frustrated fuels even more frustration. Well, if you've ever heard Dear Anxiety before, you probably know that "frustration is bad" isn't the whole truth. Renee and Ed explain what exactly frustration is, why we feel it, and how the feeling of frustration is really just the tip of an emotional iceberg.

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Putting Sleep Anxiety (and Your Kids) to Bed May 17, 2019

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Nearly everyone, kids included, struggles with sleep. In fact, the problem is so rampant, the Centers for Disease Control called insufficient sleep a public health epidemic. Anxiety kicks in, thoughts begin to race, fears run wild, and all we can do is stare at the ceiling. In this episode Renee recounts her battles with sleep, Ed ponders whether he's slept enough to be considered human, and together they share nine tools, strategies, and bits of wisdom to help you and your child when it comes to nighttime battles.

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Social Anxiety - Truths, Myths, and How To Work Against It May 10, 2019

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Your child seems afraid of being around other kids, and it hurts to see them struggle so much with friends. Why are they behaving this way? Are they just shy? Insecure? Or could this be social anxiety? What does that even mean? The first step in discussing social anxiety is to discuss what social anxiety is not. Social anxiety is not being an introvert. Social anxiety is not being shy. Social anxiety is not feeling a little nervous. If it's not those things, then what is it? Ed and Renee discuss the hard, disruptive impact of social anxiety on our lives and on the lives of our kids, and they introduce some interventions for managing it.

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Passing Through the Not-So-Great State of Loneliness May 03, 2019

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How would you describe loneliness? Is it isolation? Disconnection? A feeling of not belonging? Whatever words you choose, we can all agree it hurts, and it hurts so much, it actually rises to the level of a public health issue. That's right, it has real, physical consequences! Researchers have come to some stunning conclusions, stating loneliness may be the health equivalent of smoking 15 cigarettes a day, and that it's more dangerous for your body than obesity. In this episode, Ed and Renee help us understand what loneliness really is, what it is not, and how we can help ourselves, and our loved ones, navigate this dangerous and painful state of mind.

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The Pain of Social Comparison Apr 26, 2019

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We've all heard that "comparison is the thief of joy." Still, we can't help but measure ourselves against others. We compare our jobs and salaries, clothes and appearances, relationships and families. Our kids to it, too, measuring popularity, grades, looks, athleticism, social media numbers. Social comparison isn't bad when we let it inspire us, when we recognize and respect the achievements of others. However, too often the comparisons make us feel inadequate, like failures, or just plain bad about ourselves. Ed and Renee have been there, and they know a thing or two about turning the tide on the pain of social comparison.

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Renee Jain interviews Dr. Laura Markham on Anxiety, Anger, and Connections Apr 19, 2019

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Ed and Renee have the week off, but that doesn't mean Dear Anxiety gets a break. We're happy to share this interview with Dr. Laura Markham. Dr. Markham is a Clinical Psychologist with a PhD from Columbia University, and she’s also a mom who translates proven science into practical solutions for your family. In a conversation pulled from the Resilient Child Summit, she shares strategies for diminishing anxiety, anger, and fear in your child, and in yourself, too.

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Overcoming Overwhelm Apr 12, 2019

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We've all felt it. That volatile sensation that just one more item on the to-do list, or one more job to do, or one more role to play, is going to put us completely over the edge. There's only so much we can handle, and any more will make our heads spin. Overwhelm. Ed and Renee have felt it, too, and in this episode, they show up with some tools for helping us, and our overwhelmed children, get control of our countless responsibilities, and our emotions.

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Failing Better: Mistakes and our Mindsets Apr 05, 2019

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Why do mistakes hurt so much? What is it about failing that makes us feel worthless, broken, and afraid to try again? Ed and Renee explain that we come into the world knowing that we learn by experimenting, failing, and repeating, but when we lose sight of what it takes to grow our minds, we become fixed and fearful. Listen in as they describe exercises to actually encourage mistakes, risk-taking, and a growth-mindset.

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