Disordered: Anxiety Help

In this episode of Disordered, the guys delve into the common anxiety symptoms of dizziness and lightheadedness. They share personal experiences, discuss the impact of these symptoms on daily life, and explore coping mechanisms such as interoceptive exposure and mindfulness.

The conversation also highlights community wins, listener questions, and the importance of awareness in managing anxiety. The hosts encourage listeners to challenge their fears and practice being present in their experiences.

Takeaways

• Dizziness and lightheadedness are common anxiety symptoms.
• The threat response often amplifies feelings of dizziness.
• Changing behaviors due to dizziness can reinforce anxiety.
• Mindfulness practices can help in recognizing anxiety triggers.
• Interoceptive exposure can desensitize the fear of dizziness.
• Community support plays a vital role in recovery.
• Challenging the narrative of anxiety is crucial for progress.
• Practicing being dizzy can reduce fear over time.
• Awareness of thoughts and feelings is key to managing anxiety.
• It's important to focus on what matters most in life.

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Agoraphobia. Is it fear of open spaces? Do people with agoraphobia always fear open spaces? What even is agoraphobia and how to I overcome it?

This week we're looking at the complexities of agoraphobia, exploring its definitions, connections to panic disorder, and the fear of open spaces. We're sharing some personal experiences and insights on how navigate through these challenges, emphasizing the importance of exposure therapy (what a surprise) and understanding that specific triggers mostly don't matter.

We also include a few great did-it-anyways, including flying with an anxiety disorder, a primary fear for many struggling with agoraphobia.

Takeaways

• Agoraphobia is the fear of losing control outside of a safe zone.
• Many agoraphobics plan their lives around safe zones.
• Distance does not equate to increased anxiety; it's about perception.
• For some, wide open spaces can trigger feelings of anxiety and fear
• Hypervigilance makes it difficult to cope in unfamiliar environments.
• Exposure therapy is essential for overcoming agoraphobia.
• Specific triggers (like open spaces) are largely irrelevant in the recovery equation.
• Anxiety can distort perceptions of safety and control.

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Sometimes life throws real challenges at you. Medical issues. Loss. Uncertainty. The kind of stuff that makes anxiety feel completely justified. So how do you move forward when you're genuinely scared AND dealing with actual difficult circumstances?

In this episode, we share some of the most powerful "did it anyway" stories we've ever received. From someone facing serious health challenges to a marathon runner dealing with panic attacks, these listeners show us what it really means to engage with life even when things are legitimately hard.

We talk about why waiting to "fix yourself" before living your life doesn't work, how to handle the reality that feelings don't always indicate actual danger, and what it means to let both the good and difficult parts of life exist at the same time. You don’t have to be fearless. But you can do what matters even while you're afraid.

If you're struggling with the gap between how you feel and what you want to do with your life, this episode might help you see that moving forward is possible, even when it feels impossible.

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Panicogenic Relaxation: Why You Feel Anxious When Feeling Calm

You're finally feeling better. The anxiety has lifted. You're relaxed and calm for the first time in months or even years. So why does that feel so weird? And why are you suddenly anxious about feeling calm?

In this episode, Drew and Josh explore "panicogenic relaxation". This is a common experience in anxiety disorder recovery where feeling normal, neutral, or relaxed can trigger concern or even high anxiety and panic. When you've been anxious for so long, that heightened state becomes your predictable default. The absence of anxiety can feel unfamiliar, strange, or even threatening.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why feeling calm or relaxed can feel uncomfortable or even scary during recovery
• How your brain's scanning mechanisms continue even when you're no longer anxious
• Why anxiety becomes a "predictable pillar" after long periods of struggle
• The importance of practicing being relaxed, not just practicing being anxious
• How the shock-attention-resistance cycle continues even when you're feeling better
• Why all emotional states - including calm - need to be permissible
• How to recognize when you're still checking and monitoring even during neutral states

We also share inspiring "Did It Anyway" stories from the community, including someone who kept pushing through fatigue to go to new places, and another who took their first step away from 13 years of self-medication.

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