Dr. Russell Kennedy On Why You’re Always Anxious & How to Reduce and Heal Your Anxiety

Today’s guest is Dr. Russell Kennedy, aka “The Anxiety MD.” Dr. Kennedy specializes in the art and neuroscience of helping people recover from anxiety disorders. He knows anxiety from the inside out, as he developed his own anxiety disorder as a result of growing up with a dad with severe schizophrenia. Dr. Kennedy has degrees and advanced training in medicine, neuroscience and developmental psychology —but it’s not all science, as he is also a certified yoga and meditation teacher and was a professional stand-up comedian for over a decade (no joke!) In his award-winning book and audiobook, ANXIETY RX, he shows a practical, actionable program for anxiety relief that incorporates a combination of the latest in neuroscience with the grounding wisdom of the body with the ultimate goal of relieving the anxious thoughts of the mind.    Today we discuss how to understand and heal your relationship with anxiety, how to discover where your anxiety comes from, common mistakes people make when trying to reduce their anxiety, the difference between stress and anxiety, how to regulate your nervous system in the moment as well as ways to reduce your anxiety long term and much more.   Thanks to today’s sponsor: Paleovalley: Visit www.paleovalley.com and when you enter in the code “Doug” at checkout you will get 15% off.  What to Listen For:   00:00 Intro 02:00 What to do if you are feeling anxious RIGHT NOW 03:52 Why he thinks focusing on your anxious thoughts can be problematic 10:42 What’s causing your anxiety? 14:40 Tips for coping with anxiety  19:25 How to know if you struggle with anxiety 24:50 The difference between stress and anxiety  28:15 How does childhood impact your ability to self regulate as an adult 32:55 Healing your relationship with anxiety 42:50 Why you should practice strategies for reducing anxiety 45:40 The difference between anxiety and fear  50:50 What you can do during moments of panic Episode Resources: Connect with Dr. Russ | Website, Instagram,   Follow me on Social Media: LinkedIn Instagram Twitter ⚠ WELLNESS DISCLAIMER ⚠ Please be advised; the topics related to mental health in my content are for informational, discussion, and entertainment purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your mental health professional or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your current condition. Never disregard professional advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard from your favorite creator, on social media, or shared within content you’ve consumed.   If you are in crisis or you think you may have an emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.   If you do not have a health professional who is able to assist you, use these resources to find help:   Emergency Medical Services—911 If the situation is potentially life-threatening, get immediate emergency assistance by calling 911, available 24 hours a day.   National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org.    SAMHSA addiction and mental health treatment Referral Helpline, 1-877-SAMHSA7 (1-877-726-4727) and https://www.samhsa.gov   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices