The Anxiety Coaches Podcast

In today's episode, Gina discusses some of the more disturbing physical symptoms that anxiety can present us with. These symptoms can strike us at any time and often lead us to think there is something medically wrong with us. A range of these symptoms are explored: what causes them and what can be done to quiet them when we realize that anxiety is the cause. Listen in for great tips on how to reduce and eliminate some of anxiety's worst bodily sensations and symptoms!

Stillpoint Fridays is my once-a-week Friday note — a slower, more personal reflection that’s different from what I share on the podcast.
If you’d like a quiet place to land as the week winds down, you can join here: http://eepurl.com/bR2F9P or on our website anxietycoachespodcast.com and sign up for the newsletter.

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Website https://www.theanxietycoachespodcast.com

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Learn more about anxiety What is anxiety?

Free Guided Meditation for Calming Your Anxious Mind 10-Minute Body-Scan Meditation for Anxiety

Quote:

Self-compassion is simply giving the same kindness to ourselves that we would give to others.

-Christopher Germer

Chapters
0:26 Anxiety Dizziness Explained
3:25 Breathing and Carbon Dioxide
6:49 Body Tension and Triggers
8:41 Calming the Nervous System
10:06 Movement and Meditation
12:10 Healing Happens Gradually
14:08 Watch Caffeine and Stimulants
17:25 Change the Inner Script
18:36 Hope and Recovery

Summary
In this episode, we look at the dizzy, lightheaded, off-balance feeling that can happen when anxiety is high. We describe how these sensations can appear during everyday situations, how they can quickly trigger fear, and how that fear can intensify the symptoms.

We explain some possible physical causes of anxiety-related dizziness, especially changes in breathing. When we breathe faster and more shallowly, carbon dioxide levels can drop, which may lead to lightheadedness, tingling, feeling unreal, chest tightness, unsteadiness, vision changes, or brain fog.

We also discuss other contributors, including muscle tension in the neck, shoulders, jaw, and scalp, as well as blood sugar swings, dehydration, sleep deprivation, overstimulation, and caffeine or other stimulants. We note that these sensations are real, but they are often linked to a dysregulated nervous system rather than a medical emergency.

We then share practical ways to help the body feel steadier: gentle diaphragmatic breathing, movement such as walking or stretching, meditation or quiet nervous system rest, reducing overall nervous system load, and paying attention to triggers like caffeine and lack of sleep. We also emphasize using non-catastrophic self-talk during symptoms.

We close by encouraging patience and self-compassion, noting that recovery often happens gradually as the nervous system learns safety again.

#AnxietyDizziness #Lightheadedness #AnxietySymptoms #PanicAttackRelief #AnxietyLoop #FightOrFlight #PhysicalAnxiety #Derealization #OvercomingPanic #AnxietyIsReal #AnxietySupport #NervousSystemRegulation #VagusNerve #SomaticHealing #CalmYourNervousSystem #NervousSystemHealing #BodyMindConnection #BreathworkForAnxiety #DiaphragmaticBreathing #SomaticAwareness #AnxietyRecovery #HolisticHealing #StressReduction #CaffeineFree #BloodSugarBalance #MindfulMovement #SleepDeprivation #DigitalDetox #Overstimulation #CalmTheMind #MindfulSelfTalk #SelfCompassion #MindfulnessPractice #AnxietyCoaching #MentalHealthMatters #InnerPeace #HealingIsLinear #AnxietyCoachesPodcast #GinaRyan #YouAreNotAlone
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In today's episode, Gina shares some key tips to help you strengthen your vagus nerve to help you feel safer and more stable. A description of how the vagus nerve connects the brain and body is included, as is how it can influence a range of anxiety related symptoms, including sleep and digestive problems. A number of ways you can strengthen your vagus nerve are also included. Helping signal to your brain that you are safe can go a long way to restoring your sense of peace and balance.

Stillpoint Fridays is my once-a-week Friday note — a slower, more personal reflection that’s different from what I share on the podcast.
If you’d like a quiet place to land as the week winds down, you can join here: http://eepurl.com/bR2F9P or on our website anxietycoachespodcast.com and sign up for the newsletter.

Please visit our Sponsor Page to find all the links and codes for our awesome sponsors! https://www.theanxietycoachespodcast.com/sponsors/

Website https://www.theanxietycoachespodcast.com

Join our community Group Coaching Join our Group Coaching Full or Mini Membership Program

1:1 Coaching Learn more about our One-on-One Coaching

If you prefer to listen AD-FREE, try our Supercast premium access membership:

Learn more about anxiety What is anxiety?

Free Guided Meditation for Calming Your Anxious Mind 10-Minute Body-Scan Meditation for Anxiety

Quote:

Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor.

-Thich Nhat Hanh

Chapters
0:26 Vagus Nerve Basics
7:13 Breathing for Calm
9:59 Sound and Laughter
12:44 Meditation and Resilience
14:17 Gentle Movement Matters
15:37 Connection Heals
17:43 Small Reset Practices
19:25 Trusting the Anxious Body
20:59 Closing Thoughts

Summary
In this episode we talk about the vagus nerve and its role in anxiety recovery and nervous system healing. We explain that supporting the vagus nerve can help the body feel safer, which can also help the mind settle.

We describe the vagus nerve as part of the parasympathetic nervous system, traveling through the brain and body and connecting with the heart, lungs, digestion, vocal cords, face, and ears. We also explain that communication goes both ways between body and brain, so body tension, shallow breathing, fatigue, or overstimulation can affect how we feel mentally.

We review common anxiety-related symptoms that may be linked with nervous system dysregulation, including digestive issues, nausea, brain fog, sleep problems, heart palpitations, chronic tension, hypervigilance, panic symptoms, and feelings of disconnection. We also note that anxiety is complex and that understanding the body can reduce fear and self-blame.

#anxiety #anxietyrecovery #nervoussystemregulation #vagusnerve #vagaltone #parasympathetic #mentalhealth #emotionalregulation #stressmanagement #somatichealing #mindfulness #breathwork #diaphragmaticbreathing #longexhales #wellness #emotionalwellbeing #somaticexperiencing #hrv #resilience #socialconnection #laughtertherapy #gentlemovement #grounding #vagusnervestimulation #humming #gutbrainaxis #Gina Ryan #AnxietyCoachesPodcast #ACP
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In today's episode, Gina answers a listener question about how longer days in the summertime can actually seem to make himself more anxious. This is contrary to the pattern more commonly observed of less light in the winter months causing more depression and anxiety. The importance of regular sleep is discussed as well as how the darkness (more plentiful in winter months) can actually provide a sense of closure and comfort at the end of the day. Listen in for advice on how to adapt to the lengthening of the daylight hours during spring and summer!

Stillpoint Fridays is my once-a-week Friday note — a slower, more personal reflection that’s different from what I share on the podcast.
If you’d like a quiet place to land as the week winds down, you can join here: http://eepurl.com/bR2F9P or on our website anxietycoachespodcast.com and sign up for the newsletter.

Please visit our Sponsor Page to find all the links and codes for our awesome sponsors! https://www.theanxietycoachespodcast.com/sponsors/

Website https://www.theanxietycoachespodcast.com

Join our community Group Coaching Join our Group Coaching Full or Mini Membership Program

1:1 Coaching Learn more about our One-on-One Coaching

If you prefer to listen AD-FREE, try our Supercast premium access membership:

Learn more about anxiety What is anxiety?

Free Guided Meditation for Calming Your Anxious Mind 10-Minute Body-Scan Meditation for Anxiety

Quote:

Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself and know that everything in this life has a purpose.

— Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

Chapters
0:26 Light and Anxiety
5:12 Seasonal Nervous System
11:46 Summer Overstimulation
14:50 Calming Evening Rituals
18:49 Honor Your Rhythm

Summary
In this episode we respond to a listener email from Bill in the northeastern United States about how increasing daylight in spring and summer affects his anxiety. We discuss his experience of feeling more pressure to be productive, more FOMO, and more difficulty sleeping when the evenings stay light longer.

We explore how light can influence the nervous system. We explain that humans are naturally attuned to sunrise and sunset, and that longer daylight can affect melatonin, energy levels, emotional regulation, and the sense that we should keep going. For some people, especially anxious or sensitive nervous systems, this extra stimulation can feel dysregulating.

We also talk about the opposite experience in darker months. We note that many people feel more settled when darkness comes earlier because it creates a sense of closure, fewer expectations, and more permission to rest. We contrast that with the cultural pressure around summer to be active, social, and constantly making the most of the day.

#AnxietyCoachesPodcast #GinaRyan #AnxietyRelief #NervousSystem #MentalHealthAwareness #SummerAnxiety #SeasonalAffectiveDisorder #ReverseSAD #SelfCare #Mindfulness #SleepHygiene #ProductivityPressure #FOMO #HSP #HighlySensitivePerson #NervousSystemRegulation #WellnessJourney #RestIsProductive #EmotionalWellbeing #SelfCompassion #HealthyRhythms #InnerPeace #CalmMind #SpringEquinox #SummerSolstice #MentalHealthMatters #ACP
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In today's episode, Gina discusses how to deal with intrusive thoughts, especially as they manifest for people with anxiety. Intrusive thoughts can be very common for individuals with overstimulated minds and bodies. They can be highly disturbing, as well. Listen in for tips on how to address your intrusive thoughts: calm the mind, thoughts and body.

Stillpoint Fridays is my once-a-week Friday note — a slower, more personal reflection that’s different from what I share on the podcast.
If you’d like a quiet place to land as the week winds down, you can join here: http://eepurl.com/bR2F9P or on our website anxietycoachespodcast.com and sign up for the newsletter.

Please visit our Sponsor Page to find all the links and codes for our awesome sponsors! https://www.theanxietycoachespodcast.com/sponsors/

Website https://www.theanxietycoachespodcast.com

Join our community Group Coaching Join our Group Coaching Full or Mini Membership Program

1:1 Coaching Learn more about our One-on-One Coaching

If you prefer to listen AD-FREE, try our Supercast premium access membership:

Learn more about anxiety What is anxiety?

Free Guided Meditation for Calming Your Anxious Mind 10-Minute Body-Scan Meditation for Anxiety

Quote:

The mind is a wonderful servant but a terrible master.

-Robin Sharma

Chapters
0:26 Intrusive Thoughts Explained
6:41 Contain the Thought
10:42 Allow the Feelings
13:56 Return to the Present
16:41 Practice Self-Compassion

Summary
In this episode, we talk about intrusive thoughts and how they can feel shocking, disturbing, and isolating. We explain that these thoughts are common, especially when the nervous system is anxious or overstimulated, and that the distress they cause does not mean they reflect who we are.

We describe how intrusive thoughts can become repetitive when fear makes the brain treat them as important. This can lead to a loop of hypervigilance, self-monitoring, and more fear. We compare this to a survival response that stays active long after the original alarm has passed.

We then offer three steps for responding differently. First, we contain the thought instead of becoming fused with it, and we ask for actual evidence rather than reacting to fear. We note that a thought is not an intention, a prophecy, or an identity.

Second, we allow the physical sensations to rise and fall without adding panic. We name what is happening in the body, such as adrenaline or tightness, and remind ourselves that discomfort does not mean danger.

Third, we return to the present moment again and again through grounding and mindfulness. We mention simple practices like noticing the feet, breathing, sounds, textures, and nearby surroundings, and we emphasize that repeated returning is practice, not failure.

#AnxietyCoachesPodcast #GinaRyan #IntrusiveThoughts #AnxietyRelief #AnxietySupport #NervousSystemRegulation #NervousSystemHealing #AnxietyLoop #Overthinking #Catastrophizing #Hypervigilance #Mindfulness #GroundingTechniques #PresentMoment #SelfCompassion #MentalHealthMatters #AnxietyRecovery #CalmYourMind #InnerPeace #StressRelief #AdrenalineRush #MindsetShift #AnxietyTips #MentalWellness #HealYourAnxiety #Overwhelmed #BreakTheCycle #SelfKindness #EmotionalRegulation #MindfulLiving #ACP
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In today's episode, Gina explores small, simple actions that can help individuals calm anxiety. Through small, incremental steps, anxiety can be lessened, both in the immediate sense as well as the longer term sense. Many of these actions are easy to implement, such as stepping outside for some exposure to the sunlight. Listen in for many more easy to use actions you can start to use today and feel more peace and calm!

Stillpoint Fridays is my once-a-week Friday note — a slower, more personal reflection that’s different from what I share on the podcast.
If you’d like a quiet place to land as the week winds down, you can join here: http://eepurl.com/bR2F9P or on our website anxietycoachespodcast.com and sign up for the newsletter.

Please visit our Sponsor Page to find all the links and codes for our awesome sponsors! https://www.theanxietycoachespodcast.com/sponsors/

Website https://www.theanxietycoachespodcast.com

Join our community Group Coaching Join our Group Coaching Full or Mini Membership Program

1:1 Coaching Learn more about our One-on-One Coaching

If you prefer to listen AD-FREE, try our Supercast premium access membership:

Learn more about anxiety What is anxiety?

Free Guided Meditation for Calming Your Anxious Mind 10-Minute Body-Scan Meditation for Anxiety

Quote:

Little by little, one travels far.

-J.R.R. Tolkien

Chapters
0:26 Introduction to Calmness
6:16 Small Daily Practices
10:40 The Power of Slowing Down
13:03 Gentle Self-Talk Techniques
15:46 Noticing the Pleasant Moments
17:00 Building a Safe Relationship
19:06 Closing Reflections

Summary
In today's episode of the Anxiety Coaches Podcast, I delve into the immensely powerful impact of small, consistent actions on managing anxiety. I emphasize how simplicity can be overlooked but is often the key to creating significant change. Many of us have the misconception that we need a singular breakthrough or dramatic technique to alleviate our anxiety, but I argue that it’s the gentle and consistent efforts that truly resonate with our nervous systems.

Our discussion revolves around the idea that our nervous system learns through patterns cultivated over time. I encourage listeners to embrace everyday activities that promote a sense of safety and comfort. By focusing on these small, repeatable actions, we can begin to shift the narrative of our minds and bodies from one of panic to one of calm. I highlight several everyday practices, each with the potential to help instill a sense of tranquility.

I walk listeners through practical strategies like stepping outside for a moment of natural light, which regulates our internal rhythms and signals the beginning of a new day. I discuss the benefits of letting our eyes rest on nature, allowing our nervous system to relax by stepping out of the constant scanning mode of detection. I stress the importance of unclenching our bodies throughout the day, gently letting go of tension even if just a little, and exploring the simplicity of lengthening our exhales to send calming signals to our bodies.

#AnxietyRelief #NervousSystemRegulation #Mindfulness #MentalHealthMatters #AnxietyCoachesPodcast #StressManagement #VagusNerve #CalmYourMind #SmallHabits #DailyMindfulness #Grounding #HealingJourney #SelfCareDaily #Breathwork #InnerPeace #MentalWellness #SelfCompassion #AnxietySupport #HolisticHealth #MorningRoutine #QuietAnxiety #HealthyMind #MindBodyConnection #OvercomingAnxiety #WellnessTips #SlowLiving #PeaceOfMind #EmotionalHealth #RelaxationTechniques #GinaRyan
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