All posts tagged anxiety

Trump Anxiety

Psychologists and massage therapists are reporting ‘Trump anxiety’ among clients (WaPo): To the catalogue of anxieties her patients explore during therapy — marriage, children and careers — psychologist Alison Howard is now listening to a new source of stress: the political rise of Donald Trump…

Anxiety Podcasts

Decreasing anxiety often begins with doing some figuring. What is anxiety exactly? How’s it work for me? What helps? What doesn’t? Learning how others have addressed anxiety can help guide that exploration and have the added benefit of helping you feel not so quite alone. Toward that help, consider checking out some of these anxiety […]

Excercise v. Smoking

Smoking and exercise are not the greatest match. But it turns out that exercise can help people–especially anxious people–quit smoking more easily: [New] research suggests that exercise can reduce anxiety sensitivity and depressive symptoms, doubling the chances of cessation for these adults. “Exercise can reduce anxiety sensitivity”–that may speak to you, smoker or not. Enjoy […]

49 Things to Say to an Anxious Child

PsychCentral has a list of 49 things to say to calm an anxious child. Even if that child is you. Some are more all-ages than others. But they’ll all work. You might try “I’m taking deep breaths” and “Let’s go to your happy place” with yourself. You might even try this: 35. “I see Widdle […]

Worry v. Real Risk

Here’s a NYT article about how our sense of risk sometimes outweighs the reality. It leans on David Ropeik, author of How Risky Is It Really?  Haven’t read it yet, but it sounds like it could be helpful–or completely unhelpful–for some anxiety sufferers. From the flap: International risk expert David Ropeik takes an in-depth look at our […]

Learning Mindfulness

From the NYT, In Mindfulness, a Method to Sharpen Focus and Open Minds: “Take yourself out of autopilot,” she said. And eventually expand that “being in the moment” to other parts of your life. The idea is that over time you’ll feel more focused and more connected to yourself and others. It sounds simple, but […]

When Stress Gets in the Way of Life

Jane Brody talks anxiety with Dr. Tamar Chansky in the NYT: When feeling pressured to figure out how to fix things now, “walk away for a few minutes, but promise to come back.” As with a computer that suddenly misbehaves, Dr. Chansky suggests that you “unplug and refresh,” perhaps by “taking a breathing break,” inhaling […]

The Busy Trap

On being “crazy busy” (NYT): Idleness is not just a vacation, an indulgence or a vice; it is as indispensable to the brain as vitamin D is to the body, and deprived of it we suffer a mental affliction as disfiguring as rickets. The space and quiet that idleness provides is a necessary condition for […]

Five Anxiety Reducers

From PsyBlog, Feeling Anxious? 5 Scientifically Proven Relaxation Techniques. The list: 1. Progressive relaxation 2. Applied relaxation 3. Autogenic training 4. Meditation 5. Cognitive behavioral therapy Details on the site.  

Vacation from Stress

Non-newsflash from the L.A. Times: Studies show that vacation time can go a long way in reducing stress and bringing our brains back to a more even keel. “A vacation is not a luxury,” says Jens Pruessner, an associate professor in the departments of psychology, psychiatry, neurology and neurosurgery at McGill University in Montreal. “It’s an investment […]