An assumption is a mental leap you take without looking around first.  They’re also taken for granted, and it’s this easy-going acceptance of them that contributes to much of your anxiety.

I would never trash assumption itself because it serves a critical role.  It can help you make decisions when you don’t have all the facts and also helps to remove mental hurdles that could otherwise complicate decision making.  For example, when you’re driving down the highway you have to assume, to some extent, that other drivers aren’t going to run you off the road.  By assuming this you can clear your mind a bit and not drive like a nervous wreck.

Now you may or may not be a selfish person at heart but the fact of the matter is that anxiety and depression can make you selfish or at the very least make you seem selfish to others.  Do you spend a lot of time wrapped in your own thoughts?  Are you consumed by the next possible anxiety related disaster?  Then chances are that you’re struggling to get outside of yourself and maybe even having  trouble in your personal relationships.  However, even if this is the case you can make a change and not only preserve your relationships, but also improve your anxiety symptoms in the process.

 

 Rumination Exposed: "Pure OCD" (Podcast): Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

An essential component of anxiety disorder is rumination .  That is the constant and intense brooding about problems or perceived problems.  It is the extreme version of simple worry and there is a name for it – Pure Obsessional  OCD or "Pure O".

I have long touted the benefits of diaphragmatic breathing (belly breathing) but I felt like more than promoting it this time, I want to give you the basics of this very effective relaxation technique in audio.

I decided to do this in audio format so it is easier to follow along with.  It is kinda of hard to relax and concentrate on deep breathing while your scrolling up and down on your computer.  Here is a brief recap of my version of this breathing excercise.

On today’s podcast I spoke with an Anxietyguru.net reader named Peter. Peter is from Sudbury, Massachusetts and has lived with bipolar disorder and anxiety for the better part of his life.

I think this episode is particularly interesting given that Peter has taken medication for his condition for the past thirty plus years. There is something to be said about experience, and Peter has a great deal of insights to provide as a result.

On today’s podcast I discussed the finer points of driving while anxious. I recruited my younger brother to share with you his phobia – driving. I recently received a request from an Anxiety Guru reader who wanted this topic reviewed so we beat this issue to near death on our quest for driving nirvana.

Panic attacks can exact a devastating toll on your body and mind. For this reason it is critical that anxiety sufferers not only look for detailed descriptions of their problems but also for solutions to their problems. In this guest podcast by Alex Taylor of Preventyourpanic.com Alex explains the roots of anxiety and how you can learn to prevent panic attacks.

It’s been awhile since I published a podcast so I decided to do a podcast round up which basically consist of recent issues I’ve talked about on the blog. Here is a short list of some of the things I covered on this podcast.

1. State of the world and why this should not concern you as much as the news would have you believe.

Show Notes:

Hypochondria

1. Hypochondria is a health phobia that makes its sufferers believe that they are ill in the absence of disease. It is marked by constant worry about health issues.

a. This is an obsession that cannot be easily alleviated. Even a trip to the doctor is not enough to calm the nerves of a hypochondriac.

Show Notes:

Anxiety Guru News Desk:

1. According to an article in the American Chronicle depression and anxiety are not conditions but rather emotions that have gotten out of control. Talk about controversial.

2. Doctors are now experimenting with new forms of treatment for PTSD. The latest treatment is called a stellate ganglion block, which is an injection of anesthetic into the neck. This shot is meant to “reset the nervous system” and helps to alleviate anxiety. The treatment is currently in the early stages of development. Click here to learn more.