On this week’s episode of The Anxiety Guru Show I interviewed Licensed Professional Counselor Celeste Coffman. We explored Celeste’s personal experience with high anxiety and discussed her professional views on how to manage it. This was a rare but welcome opportunity given Celeste’s unique experience. During our talk she shared a balanced understanding of what anxiety actually feels like and what people can do to reduce the impact of anxiety in their own lives.
Celeste is the owner of Thoughtful Journey Counseling and Quiet Mind Collective – a member’s only community focused on educating and supporting those that live with high stress and anxiety.
So, listen now.
In this episode of The Anxiety Guru Show you’ll hear about:
- Celeste’s personal experience with high anxiety
- What she did to help herself get back on track
- Tools that you can use to lower your own anxiety
- And, of course, my personal ramblings
To listen, you can click the play button below or visit the AG iTunes page.
Hi Anxiety Guru
I wanted to discuss something that happened to me last week. I let my anxiety effect my boyfriend and his job. We had dinner plans but he had to go to after work drinks before dinner with some of his coworkers. I told him I was fine with that of course. As the course of the day went I started to create my own anger and anxiety on the situation. I became jealous and upset that he made plans before our dinner plans even though I told him it was fine. But maybe i wasn’t. I was upset that we had these plans for a week and last minute mentioned an old coworker wanted to grab drinks. I partially was upset that he mentioned another girl’s name. When I met him in front of the restaurant I brought my angry energy that I just told him how upset I was he didn’t include me in this get together before our dinner plans and that he made these plans last minute. He went back in to say goodbye and a supervisor stopped him telling him he needed to meet with her Monday about his behavior with me outside. So she happened to see our fight. We weren’t screaming at each other but my selfishness and anger caused him problems and I can’t help feeling awful about it. How can I make this up to him? He now has to take a psych exam at work and some responsibilities were taken from him. How can I prevent this from happening next time?
Extremely boring. Not very helpful, at all. Either I am cured and I don’t care about these professional issues or this was really bad.
Hey Anita, thanks for the feedback. Do you have suggestions for future shows? Thanks.
Don’t get your feelings hurt, Paul. I have sent you many ideas for shows (this is only a screen name) for which you have thanked me. Your voice and your speech cadence is why we tune in. You could read the phone book and it would be soothing. This just didn’t make the cut. I would think that people that are freaking out wouldn’t care to hear two colleagues chew the fat. They tune in to hear why they are having these horrible chest pains or lightheadedness or whatever. They are scared and not table to follow this converstion. Thoughtful consideration is not part of the plan when you are in the throes. And never give up your tag line. Repeatedly hearing that got me to where I am; not freaking out much. Just plagued with symptoms. God bless you. You’re the top banana.
Hey Paul – I appreciate the wide varieties of topics you cover on your podcasts. Some really hit home, and some are more acedemic. You are a really inspirational person, and the effort you put into these podcasts is to be commended. I think it is great that you are offering full counciling services now. Keep the podcasts coming. This website helps so many.
Cheers
Derrick
Hello everyone my name is Alex and I think I’m dealing with anxiety…if felt this way for many years but many have told me anxiety if not real,grt over it, or just calm yourself down everything is OK. Whenever I think about something unusually go to worse case. If something happens at work I think oh I’m going to get in trouble or get fired. If my girlfriend doesn’t text me or answers I think something happen to her or she’s cheating on me. If I’m going to get on ride I feel I’m going to die.i get this horrible feeling that I can’t shake off and it either keeps me on edge or I break down and just cry if I can’t find away to try and calm down. I feel this contributes to my high stress or or it might be the other way around. I feel I eat for comfort.i workout and go to the gym but I can’t find away to loose the weight. I just don’t know where to start
Paul,
Thanks so much for this great experience. I loved the chance to chat with you and interact, and to share some of our ideas about how therapy should ideally work for clients. Certainly it may not be everyone’s cup of tea to hear the back story behind how therapists are trained and work, but I think it’s helpful to folks who are doing their research on entering therapy or who might want to enter the field, too. I’ve gotten great feedback from your other listeners who’ve visited my site, and I love the positive energy! Thanks again.
Thank you Celeste for being so gracious with your time and knowledge. I really enjoyed our chat as well.
Thanks for the support Derrick. It is appreciated!
Paul, people do not tune in just because of your cadence and tone of voice. You’re a natural, but i wouldn’t listen to you read the phone book. I don’t appreciate someone speaking on behalf of your listeners saying that we’re scared and not able to follow the conversation. The interview wasn’t your best show but not for the insulting reason suggested by “Anita”
Paul, you are a survivor who wrestled this bear to the ground with your own two hands. You’ve since gone on to get the degree, the license and put together a practice so you can help others. Your example is what keeps us going. Keep telling that story
Miss your knowledge and directives, Paul.
Hope to see a new article and podcast soon.
Shell F.
Thanks Shell! I’m still around. I’ll explain during the next show which I hope to publish in 1-2 weeks.
Paul
Paul! So good to “hear” from you! Looking forward to your next podcast!
Paul,
I tried to buy your book/subscription and after a full month the paypal payment timed out and reverted. Do I need to do something different?
Orlando
Everybody’s case is different, what helps for one individual might not help for another. I personally have dealt with high anxiety and what helps me is making sure I rest 7 to 8 hours a night and balancing our stress full life’s with something you love to do. Eating healthy and exercise is a must for me as well. I hope that this helps someone. Thanks for sharing.
Jesse,
Your post helped me. Very high anxiety and stress here. I forget to take care of the things like exercise and healthy eating. Both of which I’m sure could help. Thank you for your post, it helped me on a particularly rough day.
Paul, we miss you!
Missing your podcast Paul! I hope you are fine!
Hi Paul! Is everything ok in the world of Anxiety Guru? We haven’t heard from you in a while and miss you! Take care and hope all is well.
Paul we really miss you. Hope update is soon!
😩😩😩 Paul……
Paul, you have a lot of devoted listeners … I’m sure you understand why we are wondering what happened to you. If your taking an extended hiatus…please just let us know. You have supported us and we will support you!! ☺
Hi Kristi, my break from the show was actually unplanned. But I do intend to return soon. Thank you for your concern. I am doing well. I promise!
For the first time in many mornings, I have felt a surge of hope, instead of adrenaline!!!
We all look forward to your return Paul!! Not anxiously , even!!!! 🙂
Paul we’d love an update! We
Miss you and are concerned about you. If you don’t continue the show we get it. Just let us know what’s going on and how you are. You are in inspiration to all of us. Thanks!!!