Bad Online Anxiety Advice (w/Emma McAdam) - Podcast Ep 297

Some "advice" is probably considered objectively bad, but if I've learned one thing about my anxiety struggles, it's that one size does NOT fit all.

I honestly think since I started this journey consuming all of this internet info has made things worse. Not The Anxious Truth, or Therapy in a nutshell…but a I do watch both mostly bunch of the other stuff out there.…it made me focus too much on the symptoms. It also made me focus too much on the diagnosis like you guys were saying.

This has been the roughest 6 months of my life . I’ve been consumed with anxiety to the point where I didn’t go anywhere for months. I’m now getting out, but this is so hard accepting and floating through these feelings . I listen to you a lot and it’s been very helpful . GAD , and health anxiety sufferer

This has been the roughest 6 months of my life . I’ve been consumed with anxiety to the point where I didn’t go anywhere for months. I’m now getting out, but this is so hard accepting and floating through these feelings . I listen to you a lot and it’s been very helpful . GAD , and health anxiety sufferer

The biggest mindset shift I ever had was realizing that fear, while it manifests in myriad of ways, is not an emotion. It's a threat detection mechanism. It's not a mental illness in any way, and therefore cannot be treated as such.

One thing I've realized about my social anxiety is this. I was told many years ago by a good friend that I'm too hard on myself and best myself up. So i worked on stopping that at such an intense level. But here's what it turned into. When i walk into a room full of people i commence to whippin' my a*s and i allow it because i am then able to blame it on everyone in the room. Like " oh i know this is what they're thinking about me " so I'm doing it but i convince myself that i can read their mind lol or facial expressions and interpret those absolutely accurately. So I've found a way to criticize myself without taking responsibility. Hope that helps

Back when you asked how many anxiety content creators you followed, I answered two. You and Emma.

Though I'm biased with Emma. She lives where I grew up. I enjoy seeing bits of the culture I'm from come through in how she teaches.

Great great great… I really like when you and Emma get together. This is the second one I have watched with the two of you. I learned a lot about the way in which councillors should be working with clients and the issues of algorithms leading content. The nuclear option being a late option was good for me to hear. Sometimes I’m a little too quick to take the easy nuclear route. Thanks you! Great help on your sites both of you ❤

Mine too… I like Shaan as well. They have solid content. Off to do a little exposure therapy after pushing this piece away for years. Wish me luck 🍀

Drew, do you do online sessions? Or know of good people in the PNW?

My two favorite creator!! So happy to see you two together again. Amazing episode as always!

Hi Drew, I started reading your Anxious Truth book and you give a rather large mixed message. On the one hand, you say there is nothing wrong with you for having an anxiety disorder but then you emphasize the difference between a "normal" person and the person with an anxiety disorder reading your book and that one day you too will be normal. See what I mean?

Hello sir i recently red your book. It is like a bible to me. From 3 months ago i started having panic. I am from mongolia. 3 million people live in this country and most of the people cant take help cause of their language difficulity. If i get your permission i want to translate it to mongolian and want help people who got same issue in my country.

I used to have a yoga instructor that would offer tons of advice, but he would always caveat it with saying: I'm giving you the advice, its your responsibility to decide to take it or not. Of course it gets harder on the internet as there are so many competing voices, but I find the best stuff is always backed by science, where the articulator can point to thier sources, should you be inclined to go digging. My therapist when introducing new information will always point to studies that back up what he's saying. Sorry for the essay 😅

Great episode. Emma is so right when she makes the point about people wrongly assuming a diagnosis is permanent. So many people these days are diagnosing themselves from social media posts that are simply a list of symptoms. Unfortunately the algorithm seems to be set up in such a way that scaring people creates engagement.

I love Emma, she has helped me so much through my recovery journey