Welcome to another inspiring round of "Did It Anyway" stories, where we celebrate real wins from our community members who chose to move forward despite their anxiety.In this episode, Drew and Josh share powerful listener stories that illustrate a fundamental truth about anxiety recovery: you can take meaningful action even when you feel scared, uncertain, or overwhelmed. From someone driving to the gym after a panic attack at work, to a listener climbing a boulder wall despite intense fear, to another person attending a job interview while experiencing physical symptoms - these stories show what's possible when we stop waiting for anxiety to disappear before we live our lives.You'll hear about:Breaking the pattern of retreating when anxiety shows upNavigating workplace anxiety while still showing up professionallyTaking on new challenges like rock climbing and learning musical instrumentsAttending job interviews despite panic symptomsManaging health anxiety during an actual medical situationThe difference between an "acceptable bubble" and true recoveryThese aren't stories of people who suddenly felt better - they're accounts of individuals who learned they could be capable and engaged with their lives even when anxiety was present. Each story demonstrates core principles from acceptance-based approaches: willful tolerance of difficult emotions, psychological flexibility, and values-driven action.Whether you're just starting your recovery journey or you've been working on anxiety for years, these real-world examples offer hope and practical inspiration. They remind us that recovery isn't about eliminating anxiety - it's about reclaiming your ability to do what matters to you, regardless of how you feel in the moment.---Disordered Roundtables are here! Think of it as "Disordered Live", a way for members of our audience to spend time with us in an intimate virtual setting (attendance is limited) to engage in real time sharing and discussion on specific anxiety disorder and recovery topics. To be notified when new Disordered Roundtable sessions are scheduled, visit our homepage and get on our mailing list.---Struggling with worry and rumination that you feel you can't stop or control? Check out Worry and Rumination Explained, a two hour pre-recorded workshop produced by Josh and Drew. The workshop takes a deep dive into the mechanics of worrying and ruminating, offering some helpful ways to approach the seemingly unsolvable problem of trying to solve seemingly unsolvable problems.-----Want to ask us questions, share your wins, or get more information about Josh, Drew, and the Disordered podcast? Send us an email or voicemail on our website.
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Anxiety and Mental Health Misinformation w/Dr. Birthe Macdonald (Episode 124)
In this essential episode, Drew and Josh are joined by Dr. Birthe Macdonald, a psychologist and neuroscience researcher who's become a vital voice in combating mental health misinformation on social media. The conversation tackles the overwhelming sea of questionable advice that anxious people encounter online, from vagus nerve stimulation devices to "nervous system regulation" quick fixes.Dr. Macdonald shares her journey from neuroscience researcher to science communicator, sparked by sponsored ads for electrical vagus nerve stimulators that made bold claims without solid evidence. The trio explores why these pseudoscientific approaches are particularly appealing to people struggling with anxiety disorders – and why they can actually be harmful.Key topics include:The dangerous appeal of "one thing" solutions that promise instant reliefWhy sponsored vagus nerve stimulation devices and similar products exploit vulnerable peopleHow social media algorithms amplify misinformation while evidence-based content gets overlookedRed flags to watch for when consuming mental health content onlineThe difference between what we know about how the brain works versus being able to "work" the brain directlyWhy ChatGPT and AI can become problematic reassurance-seeking tools for people with anxietyHow to become a more critical consumer of pop psychology contentThe conversation doesn't dismiss that some techniques may provide temporary relief, but emphasizes understanding why they work (often through distraction rather than magical nervous system manipulation) and recognizing when they become compulsive behaviors that maintain anxiety in the long run.This episode serves as both a reality check and a guide for navigating the complex landscape of mental health information online, helping listeners distinguish between evidence-based approaches and appealing but potentially harmful quick fixes.Find Birthe Online:https://www.instagram.com/dr.birthe.macdonald/https://www.birthemacdonald.comhttps://substack.com/@drbirthemacdonald---Disordered Roundtables are here! Think of it as "Disordered Live", a way for members of our audience to spend time with us in an intimate virtual setting (attendance is limited) to engage in real time sharing and discussion on specific anxiety disorder and recovery topics. To be notified when new Disordered Roundtable sessions are scheduled, visit our homepage and get on our mailing list.---Struggling with worry and rumination that you feel you can't stop or control? Check out Worry and Rumination Explained, a two hour pre-recorded workshop produced by Josh and Drew. The workshop takes a deep dive into the mechanics of worrying and ruminating, offering some helpful ways to approach the seemingly unsolvable problem of trying to solve seemingly unsolvable problems.-----Want to ask us questions, share your wins, or get more information about Josh, Drew, and the Disordered podcast? Send us an email or voicemail on our website.
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Anxiety Recovery: Semantics and Choosing Words Wisely (Episode 123)
In this episode, we explore how the language we use to describe our anxiety experiences can either fuel our struggles or support our recovery. We examine the difference between helpful and unhelpful ways of talking about panic attacks, intrusive thoughts, and anxiety symptoms.We discuss why saying "it feels like I'm dying" versus "I'm experiencing intense physical sensations" can dramatically impact your recovery journey. We challenge common phrases like "sit with it," "just ignore it," and "regulate yourself," offering more accurate and useful alternatives.We also address the importance of changing how others around you talk about your anxiety, and we introduce a memorable analogy: treating your anxiety disorder like an ex you're pretending to ignore at a party - acknowledging it's there without giving it center stage.This episode features inspiring "Did it Anyway" stories from listeners who did what they didn't think they were cable of doing, along with the usual dose of humor.We conclude with practical advice for responding to tinnitus-related anxiety, emphasizing how attention and resistance amplify symptoms, while acceptance allows the brain's natural filtering system to work.Timestamps:08:30 - Why "it feels like" is the most problematic phrase in anxiety recovery16:45 - The difference between "soul-crushing panic attack" and "intense adrenaline rush"23:45 - How compulsive commentary differs from detached awareness28:15 - Why saying "just sit with it" can be misleading32:20 - The "anxiety as your ex" analogy that will change how you think about ignoring symptoms37:15 - Inspiring "Did it Anyway" story about grandparent anxiety recovery38:45 - Comprehensive tinnitus and anxiety management advice
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Have You Learned How To Panic Yet? (Episode 122)
In this episode, Josh and Drew tackle one of the most counterintuitive concepts in overcoming panic attacks: learning how to panic better, rather than trying to avoid panic altogether.When facing a new job triggers familiar panic patterns, many people focus on preventing anxiety rather than developing a healthier relationship with it. Drew and Josh explore why "learning how to panic" is often the key to breaking free from panic disorder and agoraphobia.Josh and Drew discuss the difference between panic attacks (the physical experience) and panic disorder (how we modify our lives to avoid those attacks). They challenge the common belief that panic attacks are disasters that must be prevented at all costs, instead suggesting that true recovery comes from accepting that panic might happen—and discovering that we can handle it.Why avoiding panic attacks keeps you stuck in the cycleThe difference between learning "how to not panic" vs. "how to panic"Setting the right intention before challenging situationsHow catastrophic thinking creates unrealistic disaster scenariosThe role of willful tolerance in anxiety recoveryAddressing deeper fears about judgment and rejection at work[03:45] - Josh and Drew introduce the concept: "This isn't about learning how to not panic. This is about getting better at panicking."[11:30] - Drew challenges the core belief: "What would happen if I was wrong about that? What would happen if I'm wrong and I can actually handle having a panic attack at work?"[18:30] - Josh on setting intentions: "I'm going to go and do this thing and see how well I can do whilst panicking."[25:00] - Community win featuring someone who practiced "doing it anyway" during difficult existential thoughts[30:10] - Success story: Concert attendance despite anxiety, demonstrating attention redirection techniques[33:50] - Driving breakthrough story: Overcoming agoraphobia through gradual exposure and value-based action---The Exposure Explained workshop Drew mentioned in the episode:https://learn.theanxioustruth.com/exposure-explained---Disordered Roundtables are here! Think of it as "Disordered Live", a way for members of our audience to spend time with us in an intimate virtual setting (attendance is limited) to engage in real time sharing and discussion on specific anxiety disorder and recovery topics. To be notified when new Disordered Roundtable sessions are scheduled, visit our homepage and get on our mailing list.---Struggling with worry and rumination that you feel you can't stop or control? Check out Worry and Rumination Explained, a two hour pre-recorded workshop produced by Josh and Drew. The workshop takes a deep dive into the mechanics of worrying and ruminating, offering some helpful ways to approach the seemingly unsolvable problem of trying to solve seemingly unsolvable problems.-----Want to ask us questions, share your wins, or get more information about Josh, Drew, and the Disordered podcast? Send us an email or voicemail on our website.
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Forgiving Yourself In Anxiety Recovery (Episode 121)
When you're struggling with anxiety disorders, you often do things that don't reflect who you really are - avoiding social gatherings, canceling plans, or making demands on loved ones that you normally wouldn't. As you start to recover, it's common to feel overwhelming guilt about how your anxiety affected the people around you.In this episode, Drew and Josh explore the complex journey of self-forgiveness after anxiety recovery. They discuss why anxiety disorders can make people appear self-centered while emphasizing that the disorder isn't who you are as a person.Understanding that anxiety disorders are incredibly common and not your faultWhy trying to achieve absolute certainty that you didn't hurt others keeps you stuckThe difference between healthy regret and destructive self-criticismHow to practice willful tolerance of difficult feelings like guilt and shameWhy some people need to apologize while others don't - there's no universal approachRecognizing that feeling bad about past actions reflects your values, not your failures[2:45] The Reality of Anxiety's Impact: Drew and Josh discuss how anxiety disorders make people do things against their nature and why this creates lasting guilt.[6:50] You're Not Responsible for Having a Disorder: "We'd have to rent the city of Denver to fit all the people with panic disorder" - Drew explains why anxiety disorders are common medical conditions, not personal failures.[12:15] The Impossible Standard: Why seeking absolute certainty that you never disappointed anyone is both unrealistic and counterproductive to healing.[14:30] Drew's Personal Story: A vulnerable moment where Drew shares his ongoing regret about not visiting a dying friend, and why he doesn't want to "get over" this feeling completely.[17:45] The Meta Problem: How the same tendency that creates anxiety disorders can turn against you when processing guilt about the past.[27:40] Josh's Compassionate Reframe: "Would you rather be someone who doesn't feel bad when they act against their values?" - A powerful perspective on why guilt reflects your moral compass. This episode offers practical wisdom for anyone struggling with self-forgiveness while maintaining the hosts' signature balance of professional expertise and lived experience. Drew and Josh remind us that healing often means learning to sit with difficult feelings rather than trying to eliminate them entirely.---Disordered Roundtables are here! Think of it as "Disordered Live", a way for members of our audience to spend time with us in an intimate virtual setting (attendance is limited) to engage in real time sharing and discussion on specific anxiety disorder and recovery topics. To be notified when new Disordered Roundtable sessions are scheduled, visit our homepage and get on our mailing list.---Struggling with worry and rumination that you feel you can't stop or control? Check out Worry and Rumination Explained, a two hour pre-recorded workshop produced by Josh and Drew. The workshop takes a deep dive into the mechanics of worrying and ruminating, offering some helpful ways to approach the seemingly unsolvable problem of trying to solve seemingly unsolvable problems.-----Want to ask us questions, share your wins, or get more information about Josh, Drew, and the Disordered podcast? Send us an email or voicemail on our website.
Disordered is the podcast that delivers real, evidence-based, actionable talk about anxiety disorders and anxiety recovery in a kind, compassionate, community-oriented environment. Josh Fletcher is a qualified psychotherapist in the UK. Drew Linsalata is a therapist practicing under supervision in the US. They're both bestselling authors in the anxiety and mental health space. Josh and Drew are funny, friendly, and they have a knack for combining lived experience, formal training, and professional experience in an encouraging, inspiring, and compassionate mental health message.
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