Welcome back to A Slice of Life – the Anxiety Master podcast with British psychotherapist Dominic Decker.

What do you think makes a loving relationship?

For many of us, this can be hard to define. Yet, we all know when our relationships aren’t working.

Maybe it’s not enough time together, too little attention from each other, competing life priorities, or the relentless busyness of modern life. Mobile phones and other distractions can pull you away from what truly matters: giving and receiving the love and connection you both need.

Left unaddressed, these challenges can cause partners to drift apart, unsure how to find their way back to one another.

If any of this feels familiar, you’re in the right place.

Today, we’re diving into the subtle factors that can weaken emotional bonds and exploring practical, proven strategies to rebuild and strengthen intimacy. Here’s what we’ll cover:

• Understanding Relationship Breakdown: Why miscommunication often masks deeper emotional disconnection.
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• Recognising Common Patterns:
• The impact of neglecting meaningful interactions.
• How small gestures of affection can prevent emotional distance.
• Overcoming the harmful effects of stonewalling during conflicts.

• Practical Antidotes:
• The power of undivided, empathetic listening.
• Reintroducing meaningful gestures to show care and appreciation.
• Building a culture of gratitude and support in your relationship.
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These simple yet effective approaches can help you and your partner reconnect and create a more loving, supportive bond.

I’d love to hear your thoughts! Please take a moment to complete our listener survey—it only takes a couple of minutes: https://podcast.anxietymaster.org/survey.

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Welcome back to A Slice of Life: The Anxiety Master podcast with psychotherapist Dominic Decker.

Today's Episode: False Moods vs. True Anxiety

Original article: https://www.anxietymaster.org/anxiety-truth-false-triggers-real-challenges/

Do you ever feel anxious or edgy for no clear reason?

Perhaps a tingle on your tongue or a slight unease in your stomach bursts forth nowhere. Your thoughts race, your attention feels slippery, and suddenly, you're searching for answers—what’s wrong?

Is it nerves before tomorrow's meeting because you want it to go well?

Or is it lingering worry about a relationship in your life?

You scan your emotional landscape for clues to the cause of unease.

This extra scrutiny has you feeling more distracted, and sensations of anxiety may intensify. With your attention honed in on what's wrong, your well-intentioned brain assists the search, leading to cascading worries that overlook (potential) simple causes.

The good news is anxiety is often less complicated, and we'll be untangling this in today's episode.

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Welcome back to A Slice of Life - the Anxiety Master podcast with British-registered psychotherapist Dominic Decker.

This episode explores how tuning into your body's signals can help manage anxiety and improve decision-making.

Article Link Here.

I discuss the impact of modern distractions, how to listen to discomfort and identify common anxiety triggers.

You'll learn practical steps to harness your body's intuition, overcome ambivalence, and make clear, confident choices.

Join me and embrace your body's wisdom to enhance your well-being and guide you through life's decisions.

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In this podcast episode, "Why Do I Keep Saying Sorry? Learning to Break the Apology Cycle," we tackle the common yet often unexamined habit of excessive apologising.

The episode covers a common of excessive apologising, and how it affects our self-perception and relationships.

We'll guide you through understanding the difference between unnecessary apologies and genuine accountability, offering practical advice for shifting towards a gratitude-based communication style.

Practising the guidance in this short podcast can transform your approach to interactions, enhance your well-being and the quality of your connections.

Join me - British-registered psychotherapist - Dominic Decker to learn how to make this pivotal shift in your communication habits.

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Welcome back to A Slice of Life - the Anxiety Master podcast with British-registered therapist Dominic Decker.

Today, we'e uncovering various strategies for becoming more assertive in your daily life.

Assertiveness can be confusing because it requires balancing clear, direct communication of one's needs and boundaries with respect and empathy for others.

People often confuse assertiveness with aggression. This is infringing on others rights, or mistake it for passivity. This is failing to stand up for one's rights.

Finding the middle ground where you respect yourself and others can be challenging without proper understanding and practice.

This episode covers the roots of passive behaviour, different communication styles, why assertiveness can be difficult, and how to gradually build and apply an assertive attitude to daily conversations at work and in personal relationships.

By the end of the episode, you'll have practical tools to express your needs and boundaries clearly and respectfully, fostering deeper connections and a more empowered sense of self.

To access the article and the FREE supportive resource:

https://www.anxietymaster.org/assertive-communication-comprehensive-therapist-guide/

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Welcome back to A Slice of Life - the Anxiety Master podcast with British-registered psychotherapist Dominic Decker.

Today's episode explores the concept of self-sabotage and the underlying drivers that keep us tethered to harmful or unhelpful behaviours

Have you ever found yourself puzzled by your own behaviours or decisions?

Perhaps you can think of a time when you:

• Haphazardly rushed in to help, only to later regret it.
• Made a snap purchase for a shiny new thing you likely knew was rubbish.
• Sabotaged your health goals for a quick fast-food guzzle.
• Engaged in an impulsive online spat, only to feel yucky afterwards.
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All sorts of impulses and motivations drive our actions, and sometimes, what we do may surprise and confound us.

Understanding the why behind your actions reveals much about your emotional undercurrents and how they drive you toward or, indirectly, away from your deeper desires.

This episode will help you uncover the psychological drivers behind confusing behaviours so that you can begin to identify and manage your primary needs.

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It's back. January. New Year, New Youu ... uck.

Some view the post-Xmas off-ramp as a timely interval to reflect and reset.

Others scoff at fleeting intentions set to fade by February (who needs the torment?)

Then there's the middle ground, where many of us stand – serious about improvement without being militant.

Wherever you land, it never hurts to reassess your beliefs about change and potential for progress.

And, according to some research, many of us foster an odd understanding of our capacity for change ...

Let's Dive In!

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Welcome back to A Slice of Life - the Anxiety Master podcast with registered therapist Dominic Decker. 

Today's Episode:

We tackle the complex and sensitive subject of parental gaslighting. 

This form of emotional manipulation can profoundly affect individuals, shaping their perceptions of reality and self-worth. 

Have you ever had your confidence and trust in yourself and others abruptly shaken?

Perhaps a time when: 

•  You're unfairly blamed.
•  A close friend questions your honesty.
•  A trusted ally appears indifferent when you are clearly upset.
•  You feel betrayed by someone you never dreamed would let you down.

Incidents like these can be unsettling, fostering self-doubt and undermining belief in yourself and others.

Circumstances become even more tangled when the source of distress derives from precisely the people you'd most hope to rely upon for dependable care and support. 

In many cases, this means your parents.

Parental gaslighting pitches you an unnerving curveball to test your instincts and emotional wits as to how and when manipulative behaviour seeps into the parent-child relationship.  

We all have an intrinsic understanding of our parents' profound influence on our psychological development, worldview, and sense of identity. So, when parental manipulation sparks doubt and self-scrutiny, it can ignite a disturbing conflict that strikes at the core of who we are.

Today's episode offers a comprehensive overview of parental gaslighting and a tried-and-tested method to immunize and heal yourself from avoidable parental harm. 

Key Topics Covered:

• Definition and Understanding: What is parental gaslighting? 
• Characteristics and Signs: Recognizing the subtle yet significant markers of parental gaslighting.
• Psychological Impact: Exploring how this manipulation affects trust, confidence, and mental health.
• Practical Strategies: Concrete steps to manage, heal, and move beyond the impact of parental gaslighting.

I hope this episode is helpful and reassuring. Remember to share and subscribe. Best wishes, Dominic

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