Hi all! I recently received an email from an AG reader and she was like "Hope you're ok." I was like man, better get on here and let folks know that I am, in fact, still breathing haha. I've been busy with work and family so I've stopped working on the AG website altogether. I can't bring myself to retire the site, but for now things are likely to stay this way. I've also been running a private practice that helps anxious people. Kinda sucks that I can only work with people in California, but hopefully the laws that govern my profession will
3 Genius Fixes For Internalized Anxiety
Today I want to introduce you to a single concept. It's called externalization. In my view, learning externalization techniques can set you on a new path. One that leads far, far away from high anxiety. See, when you have really bad anxiety it's common to assume that you and your anxiety are one and the same. For example, people often say things like "I'm such an anxious person." If this is the narrative that you have adopted then over time it becomes hard to tell where you start and where anxiety ends. It makes anxiety feel embedded. This is
Paul Answers Listener Email
In this week's episode of the AG Show I shift gears a bit and just answer a few emails. Actually, this wasn't even my idea. An AG Show listener suggested it a few weeks back and I thought it would be a nice change of pace. I chose 6 or 7 emails that cover a wide range of issues to help sharpen your anti-anxiety skills, or help you fall asleep, it really depends on how soothing you think my voice is. Perhaps the most interesting part of this week's podcast was the opportunity to hear just how many different ways anxiety can impact a person's
Can Exercise Cause Panic Attacks?
Typically, exercise is supposed to be one of the best remedies for anxiety and depression. For example, aerobic exercise has been shown to elevate mood, improve sleep and decrease tension. This is ideal for the anxious person. But what happens when exercise increases anxiety? I once had a client who told me that at the end of his workouts his face would turn white, he'd feel dizzy, and his heart would pound. He was terrified that a panic attack was imminent and that he wouldn’t be able to stop it. There was a time when exercise was a
Are You Really Going to Be Okay?
You're probably not always confident about your ability to be okay. And I understand why. You are filled with doubt, negative anticipation, and fear, which isn't exactly a recipe for confidence, right? When you're calm you can tell yourself a hundred logical reasons why you are going to be okay, and in the moment things feel manageable. But the minute that anxiety knocks at your door, you freeze and wonder if this is the end - the day that your worst nightmare comes to life. This happens for several reasons, chief among them is the fact
9 Ways to Stay Motivated During the Recovery Process
Are you sick and tired of feeling anxious and unmotivated at the same time? Millions of anxious people just like you experience terrible symptoms every day but struggle to do something about it. What if I told you that there was a better way? Well, there is, and today I'm going to tell you how it's done. First, let me back up a bit - when I was at the height of my anxiety I convinced myself that feeling other emotions was bad. Sure, I got anxious, but I couldn't control that. So, to maintain what little control I did have, I bottled-up
This Simple Change Will Double Your Chances of Recovery
My earliest memory of abnormal anxiety centers on my first panic attack. I remember everything about that night, including how confused I was afterward. I imagine that you must have felt something similar when this all started for you as well, right? You ended up confused, mentally paralyzed, and worst of all, stuck in a useless, unproductive cycle of worry and reassurance seeking. This, of course, is a problem if you ever intend to get better. You need direction; a firm expectation of full recovery. Not everyone would agree with me
You Are Not Alone
Everybody feels alone sometimes. But you face loneliness on a higher level because of over-thinking. You analyze and re-analyze every anxiety-riddled thought, symptom and experience which keeps you in perpetual contemplation. The problem is that as you muse away the day you create real distance between you and the world. That's why whenever you take the time to look up from your disaster fantasies, you might notice that you feel, or are, alone. But understand that the anxious thoughts you cultivate are responsible for
A Personal Challenge From Paul Dooley
I don't like New Year's resolutions because they don't work. The reality is that you can start to change on any given day. So I'm not going to ask you to set a goal with an arbitrary timeline. Instead, I want you to reflect on a few things. For starters, what are you going to do differently this year to lower your anxiety? I want you to take a step back and really think about that. After you and I stop stuffing our faces with cookies and pie (or is that just me?) this holiday season it's time to get serious about your