In this episode of Us Anxious Folk, I talk about 'fatigue of the spirit', which according to Claire Weekes (the Australian physician famous for her work with nervous suffering) is what occurs alongside mental fatigue and physical fatigue, when we are speaking of long-term anxiety and panic.

I discuss the five things that I think are critical to help heal this spiritual exhaustion, and how we can find ourselves back to a place of feeling invigorated and alive in the world again.

You can find Claire Weekes books here ⁠https://www.amazon.com.au/Complete-Self-Help-Nerves-Claire-Weekes/dp/0732287073/ref=pd_lpo_sccl_3/357-6850995-8620202?pd_rd_w=YA04O&content-id=amzn1.sym.7ef4c059-30c9-4984-b131-e38134d0b653&pf_rd_p=7ef4c059-30c9-4984-b131-e38134d0b653&pf_rd_r=A15WZTZHTYH4FF88Z50D&pd_rd_wg=jqpo0&pd_rd_r=68321b21-5be4-4a98-a587-38a398f7da30&pd_rd_i=0732287073&psc=1⁠

and some audio here

⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlMsNAcsUSg⁠

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If you would like to be a guest on the podcast and share your anxiety story, please get in touch with me at hello@iamlaurenrose.com.

I would love to have you!

My Website - http://iamlaurenrose.com My Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/laurenr_rose **TRIGGER WARNING: this episode discusses sensitive topics such as self-harm and sexual assault** In this episode of Us Anxious Folk, I talk to Demi Slater, a cyber-security student from London. Demi discusses her struggles with anxiety, self-harm, and the difficulty in obtaining mental health diagnoses and treatment. She reflects on her journey of trying different forms of therapy, including CBT and DBT, and receiving specialized therapy for PTSD following a sexual assault.

Demi emphasizes the importance of self-compassion, open communication about mental health, and the challenges of seeking and navigating mental health care, as well as the significance of supportive relationships and humor as coping mechanisms.

We talk about stigma, medication, and the what the journey towards self-acceptance and self-love looks like. If you would like to get in touch with Demi, you can find her at https://www.instagram.com/semiquaver/ If you would like to be a guest on Us Anxious Folk to share your anxiety story, please get in touch with me at hello@iamlaurenrose.com. I would love to have you!

In today's episode of Us Anxious Folk, we are delving into the concept of presence, and how we can truly 'be with' our anxiety in order to encourage and grow a nurturing and healing relationship with the stickier emotions (like panic and discomfort!)

We spend so much time and energy trying to cure ourselves of the uncomfortable feelings...but what if we were instead spending time and energy on really getting to know those uncomfortable feelings. Spending time exploring their edges, becoming familiar with the depths of our fears. How would this change the relationship we have with ourselves?

For me, the goalpost has been shifting for a while now; I'm less willing to spend time 'solving', and more open to spend time just being present with exactly what's here.

If you would like to share your story on Us Anxious Folk, please get in touch with me at "hello@iamlaurenrose.com"

"All of anxiety is separation anxiety" - Dr Russell Kennedy

In this episode of Us Anxious Folk, I discuss a claim I heard recently about anxiety and separation, which led me to take a trip down memory lane, back to when my anxiety first started.

I explore whether or not this claim rings true for me (spoiler alert: Yes) and how a sense of separation has not only acted as a root cause of anxiety, but something I've inadvertently perpetuated by trying to cover it up.

I discuss how focusing on connection rather than fixating on eliminating anxiety can lead to more sustainable relief, and how prioritizing meaningful connections and self-exploration can bridge the gap between feeling cut off from the group and feeling connected and whole.

Mentioned in this episode:

Dr Rangan Chatterjee - Neuroscientist: Why Trying To Eliminate Anxiety WON'T SOLVE Your Problems! | Dr. Russell Kennedy

https://youtu.be/eSjDLjhsLdI?si=drzCmbwl0whBe4Kv

Lauren Rose - Finding the life of your dreams...even WITH anxiety ✨

https://youtu.be/_g9fSmrAAi8

In this episode of Us Anxious Folk, I am joined by business owner, marketing guru and just the most all-round joyous soul, Silvia from Portugal. Silvia shares her anxiety story - from anxiety in adolescence and searching for answers, to finding relief through therapies such as CBT and EMDR (https://www.emdr.com/what-is-emdr/) and how she managed to cultivate a passion for travel and, as she calls it, 'doing scary things'! We discuss medication, relationships and avoiding co-dependency, and how and why she is deliberate about finding the joy in everyday. You can find Silvia on instagram at / silviaamorimb I hope you enjoy this episode, and as always, if you would like to be a guest on the podcast and share your anxiety story, please get in touch with me at hello@iamlaurenrose.com. I would love to have you!

In this episode of Us Anxious Folk, I talk all about the impact of long-term anxiety on the body, and how to work towards a sense of ease and peace within.

Anxiety is designed to have noticable (and uncomfortable) physical effects within the body. Short-term, this is fine - our bodies know how to recover. When it comes to long-term anxiety and panic, however, we start to find that our bodies are becoming a tricky place to inhabit.

I discuss how it felt to be in my own body during my housebound years, and the toll of chronic fear on my emotional and physical wellbeing. From digestive issues, muscle tension, sensory sensitivities, and food stress, to that full-body feeling of "no", and what the pathway towards willingness looks and feels like.

Mentioned in this episode:

Mary Oliver - Wild Geese

"You do not have to be good.

You do not have to walk on your knees

for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.

You only have to let the soft animal of your body

love what it loves.

Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.

Meanwhile the world goes on.

Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain

are moving across the landscapes,

over the prairies and the deep trees,

the mountains and the rivers.

Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,

are heading home again.

Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,

the world offers itself to your imagination,

calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting -

over and over announcing your place

in the family of things.

- Mary Oliver, Wild Geese

Bloodaxe, 2004

I hope you enjoy this episode, and as always, if you would like to be a guest on Us Anxious Folk to share your anxiety story, please get in touch with me at hello@iamlaurenrose.com

In this episode of Us Anxious Folk, I share my recent mental health struggles - which saw an increase in panic but most notably, a heavy feeling of hopelessness.

I discuss the pressure and weight of expectation, the need to keep up a facade of being 'okay', the compartmentalising that a lot of us tend to do (especially parents) and how when you lose yourself to a mental health dip, it seems like the more you grasp at wellness, the further away you fall.

I talk about the non-negotiables for when I'm feeling this way - the things I know I need to do in order to safeguard myself, and the tiny little changes I made to start finding mental space again.

Trigger Warning: this episode touches on feelings of hopelessness and suicidal ideation.

Books mentioned in this episode: Go As A River, Shelley Read

If you are experiencing thoughts of self-harm or suicide, PLEASE don't be afraid to seek help. You can get help RIGHT NOW from Beyond Blue - call 1300 22 4636, or visit https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/get-immediate-support?&gclid=CjwKEAjwkPS6BRD2ioKR7K245jASJAD1ZqHOKpibw-KeAuRr2anqlMlyC8Kg0qn04AeBkubgTE1xhBoCN0Xw_wcB

In this requested episode of Us Anxious Folk, I talk all about how to cope with and navigate the idea of "time wasted". Spending years bound by panic and fear can leave you feeling as if you've missed out on your own life. Grief, guilt, regret, shame....these are all emotions that tend to arise when it comes to anxiety disorders.

This episode covers how and why we need to acknowledge grief, what happens when grief turns into resentment, and what we can do to shift and grief and release those emotions from our body.

I hope you enjoy this episode, and as always, if you would like to be a guest on Us Anxious Folk to share your anxiety story, please get in touch with me at hello@iamlaurenrose.com