Psychedelic mushrooms completely helped me get out of addiction and depression. It totally rewired my mind. Honestly, they worked better than antidepressants.
Singing, learning a language, studying or learning something new (physically reading a book, not just RU-vid) - these are some of the top things that have helped me refocus my brain and halt anxious thought. The classic do yoga, meditation, tai chi, etc. are all amazing, IF you are someone that enjoys them. I have never enjoyed it and found that meditative walks, etc. all further my ability to ruminate about the present, past and future in an anxious way. Maybe these might help others...
He's such a sweet person who cares about others. Thank God, this doctor has explains something useful to do so that you do not dismiss the video. Without realizing it, many therapists leave us feeling worse at the end of their videos because either it is the same old suggestions(journal, clean your room, engage in useless hobby, call a "friend" who may make things even worse, ) which never work or none at all. All the blathering never works-- unless the therapist is compassionate. It only makes things humiliating/embarrassing and deepens the pain. Why isn't my prayer effective for reducing anxiety? Too much thought? I don't know. "Letting go" never resonated with me. Does it mean forget? I can't. Let it float by? It floats back by in full force. I found this doctor's suggestion focused and actually helpful.
Trained RN...BEST BOOK I HAVE READ TO DATE !!! This man is amazing his explains are literal & figurative ......It's A MUST READ !Thank you Godspeed Doc ...lol you're humor
Love everything you recommend Russ…best advice from someone with the lived experience of anxiety. Your book arrives in the mail this week and I can’t wait to read it! Thanks from the bottom of my heart.
I find that.. for starters... following the in breath and the out breath is a great help in bringing the mind out of the state of worry..Also, listening to the sounds around one instantly puts one in a state of awareness and induces a sense of 'waking up' as opposed to being subsumed by mind-fog.
I listen to you. You’re a God send. I’m not completely healed from anxiety. But I had a horrible childhood. I was violated and abused if you get what I’m saying. And also was hooked on drugs at the age 14. I started with weed around 12. And the drugs was my way of escaping. And now my life is awesome. I’m still addicted to nicotine but haven’t used drugs in along time. But my anxiety which mainly stems from health anxiety. And I’m 42 years old now. And still dealing with my younger self. But you help me a lot. And I just wanted you to know that
I've been suffering from anxiety and panic attacks for about 3 years now, I absolutely refuse to take medication. I was completely anxiety free for the first 25 years of my life. I believe there's a remedy that doesn't include drugs. Thank you for the tip, I will try this next time.
I just found you on Mel Robbins RU-vid 1.30 hour of so useful tips !! I’m so happy to start sharing your channel !! This is truly priceless! I now completely get it !! I practice Qigong and it really helps to get me into my body, sometimes it’s easier than my meditation practice….. I would love to help the people in my life that struggle with these ALARMS in the body !! I love that word !!! I prefer using these tools rather than meds !! I used meds for a 4 year period in my life and it ended only increasing the alarms in my body , worst than before meds….. thanks for your work Dr Russ !!!
I have long haul covid nightmare. Thank you for your help. Mine is mostly physical but I know I can use this help to help lighten this insanity. So crippling. Crushing depression.
Nice tip. I use inner body awareness and slow deep belly breathing. Longer exhales. Breathwork works best for me to shift my state and calm the mind so that i can meditate. This daily practice drastically decreases anxiety / stress in my body. Thanks... your videos have been helpful as well.
@@mauherkanbreathe in for about 4-5 seconds, hold for one second, and then exhale for as long as you can. If that’s too hard, then exhale for 8-10 secs. It really helps!
@Avatar849 unfortunately it didn’t have the same affect for me.. I did psilocybin in April with experienced facilitators under a controlled environment and it actually did the opposite. It scared me so much more and re-traumatized me. Before it I just anxiety and after it I had severe de realization and depersonalization.
I very much agree with this. Something I learned years ago, but knowing and succeeding in the anxiety realm is so different, lol. I sometimes think that our ability to abstractly think is more harm than good.
Thank you so much for this valuable tip. Your voice is soothing which I appreciate. Done the simple exercise shown and immediately felt calm, my safe place within. New Subscriber. ❤🎉🙏
I am a new listener, and you have helped me a lot with my struggles with amxiety, i am alone and no family members that can support me emotionally with it and i find your topic very interesting and it helped me so much. You are an angel sent from heaven. THANK YOU. from the Philippines
I sometimes pay my chest, hard enough to feel some reverberations. Also, I tend to massage my face and head and shoulders, almost wherever I am. And adaptogenic blend capsules helped in the past, taken every day, and help now when taken on occasion. Thank you for the thumb and ring finger technique.
i watched your healing anxiety video yesterday and it was so helpful. Even so today I found myself feeling anxious and watched this video. Squeezing my fingertip and thumb together also helped. Other than that I try vagus nerve massage/manipulation and breathing tips from various people. I wished I had been able to watch your video 60 years ago. thank you
I engage in stitching embroidery. It has pulled me out of that pit. I'm using the method mentioned here when I don't have my stitching with me. Thank you Doctor.
This is the second video of yours and I just subbed. I found my alarm and once I found it , it went away in a short time. I am 72 n my first diagnosis was High Anxiety.
Just listened for the first time, I was really impressed with your presentation, I have very high anxiety and I am going to follow you and get your book, Thank You
In the same way that my anxiety is worsened by thinking, at times my anxiety is also worsened by focusing on sensations or feelings. I think relief must come from THE WAY one focuses (whether it's on feelings and sensations OR thoughts.) And of course, also having the presence of a compassionate and caring doctor (or indeed ANY loving mammal) in the room would have a HUGE impact. Perhaps the real tip is focusing on the ♥, not the technique.
Wow you have really enlightened me , my alarm is all over my body at times , which makes my brain race and makes the alarm louder and louder , it's been hell, but now getting this whole anxiety thing nailed ❤
Hi Dr. Kennedy! I first want to express how THANKFUL I am to have found you! You have REALLY helped me. I have had anxiety/panic since giving birth to my daughter 31 years ago. But medication has helped. I do not like medication. I was off of meds for 4-5 years and got covid for the second time in September. And just like that.. WHACK! I'm in full blown anxiety/panic as bad as it has ever been. I bought your physical book and a Kindle copy. I am trying to get through this without meds. I actually tried to go back on my previous med but it just intensified the panic. I'm sure it has something to do with covid, and that scares the heck out of me because they don't know very much about it. Terrifying. I have incredible health anxiety, and great fears of death. I am seeing a therapist, but I'm not really feeling much better. I have really good days, and then feel horrible again. I just hate feeling this way. I have Xanax for when it gets really bad, but do my very best to not take them. I have alot of childhood trauma....alot. And everything you say in your book is pretty spot on. I just want to thank you so much for everything you do. Bless you!
I got COVID and it triggered my past trauma from inflammation my headaches was so bad it sent me into a deep depression of my past and it’s been going on for 2 years it’s horrible the anxiety and depression .Im on meds but only get real relief from Klonapin life isn’t supposed to be like this I’m so mad that COVID triggered it.If you need Xanax,I know it’s a crutch but fuck we are suffering I will pray for you
I just started to touch my second last finger to my thumb like you suggested in this video, but i my still feeling very uneasy and anxious. I'm also trying to do deep breathing but nothing seems to help, my heart seems to be beating rapidly
Dr Kennedy - I wanted to find your step by step as Mel Robbins wouldn't let you speak! But I am interested in your heal your body idea. Does this also work for phobias?
Than you I have healt anxiety my dad died 2 years ago by a infection and evry time when i feel pain or somthing i rhink i gonna have it also and then i overthinking evrery option and i cant sleep at night because im scared thank you for sharing this im gonna try🙏
I use the mammalian dive reflex exercise to derail sudden, overwhelming anxiety in a situation that is NOT actually dangerous. I know I am actually safe but I FEEL threatened, sometimes even when awakening from a deep sleep due to a dream or I feel anxious for some other reason, which happens to me often. I am not a scientist, but I have learned this technique from professionals. I keep a large ziplock bag of ice in my freezer. If anxiety strikes, I place the bag on my face and hold it firmly in place, leaving room for nostrils to inhale to a count of four, bear down and hold the breath several seconds, then slowly exhale to a count of eight or longer through pursed lips or closed teeth, making a sound like the hiss of a deflating balloon. Repeat ten times, focusing especially on a long, calm exhale. It works to calm down the vagas nerve, which extends from brain stem to lower abdomen. It is amazingly effective for calming down in a crisis. If you don’t have a bag of ice, stick your face in a basin of cold water. The anxious person should control the application of cold, the inhale and the exhale. Never force it on someone else or “dunk” someone else. The mind shifts from the anxiety to counting and breathing. It’s amazingly effective at calming a panic attack when there is really NO reason to be afraid.
Thanks going to try what you said i have a painful physical problem,dont know if its stress as it's not there all the time, but it sure feels real thanks again
Walking, (attention) to bird sound, trees, distance, piano playing, drawing, reading a good book...the inner body will respond with calm. Illness can be a teacher.
My anxiety (which I’ve had for decades) comes in the form of what I can best describe as vertigo. If I’m standing in a line, or walking in a large open space (a large hallway, for example, or through an open grocery store) I feel like my legs are going to give out and/or I’m going to fall over. 20+ years of this and I’ve never actually fainted or fallen, but imagine the embarrassment when walking down a hallway with a boss or coworker and having to make an excuse to basically lean against the wall for something to hold onto. My question is: is this common, why does it happen, and any tips specifically for this “vertigo” type anxiety?
stevestojan I have seen anxiety reproduce just about every clinical symptom of every disease. In 20+ years of general practice medicine I’ve seen so many people get investigated and have many many tests for things it turned out to just be anxiety. Anxiety is extremely powerful.
Dr Russell Kennedy - THE ANXIETY MD the room doesn’t “spin,” I just feel like I’m fully off balance and might fall. I’m almost positive it’s anxiety and not truly vertigo because if I have a couple drinks, it never happens. Also it doesn’t happen unless I’m in certain situations that I know will trigger it. For example, having to stand in a group of people, not near a table/podium/etc to hold onto. Also, it never ever happens when I’m home alone.
@@stevestojan That is a really good indication that it is mental and not physical. Especially when you get into a state of alarm and it happens. I guess I would look at doing some breathwork/conscious breathing BEFORE you get into these situations. That might help.
Dr Russell Kennedy - THE ANXIETY MD honestly, how amazing are you? Giving out medical advice on RU-vid? I’m much better now through years of medication and meditation. I’m actually a high level executive. I’m only telling you that for 1) to let you know that it hasn’t held me back, 2) I’m OFTEN looked at as someone who “couldn’t possible have mental health issues” and 3) I’m put into these situations multiple times a day. You’d be happy to know I’ve used the thumb and ring finger tip at least 10 times in the last month. And it isn’t perfect, but it’s like a sliver of Xanax in a 15 seconds I need it. Honestly, I’ve learned to know I won’t be “cured” but I’ll say again how remarkable it is that you are here, helping people.
What can I do when I have shortness of breath from the time I get off my bed. It lasts all day and my mind tends to wonder off like I can't focus, my thoughts are all over the place
Doc suppose your thinking is more on the sensations of the body which spirals the fear deeper? My anxious sensations is usually in my chest. The palpitations of my heart. My stomach as well in getting a bit of a diarrhea. But it increases when my thoughts now drift to calming down my body.
Amazing advice! Also found Dr only yesterday on Mel playbacks, and after CBT intense and a lot for of €, I know now what needs doing first! Thank you so sharing you knowledge/experiences to help others!
Dear Dr. I do not have Just ANXIETY......I do have EXTREME , EXTREME ANXIETY....which is a BIG DIFFERENCE from JUST ANXIETY......many doctors think that I have FIBROMYALGIA or something Unknown , but no one is sure ....my symptoms and pain are out of this world....I wonder if some Doctor has ever treated a case like mine or abandon the patient? Thanks.
Hello Doctor..I suffer from anxiety and tension when I face a problem. My body trembles, my heartbeat increases, and I feel difficult to speak. ..Do you recommend supplement to treat my condition..Please help my age 40 years
Dr. Kennedy I was just diagnosed with high blood pressure and started taking Lisinopril 10 mg.The first couple of day it was dropping about 10 points everyday. I have very bad anxiety and now when I am checking my BP I can feel all that anxiety rushing back and giving me high readings. When I tell myself I’m not going to check my BP my anxiety calms down but as soon as I put the monitor on I know my BP rises. Please help!
Anything that gets you out of your worried mind and into your body, the sensation of your body will help. But the truly heal, I believe that you have to go back and find the pain that you felt as a child and resolve that again through the body for long lasting benefits thanks for your comment.
Is it possible for someone to develop chronic fatigue or other complex illnesses due to having this extreme alarm response. I mean cfs is basically a nervous system that goes up and doesn't come down again like normal people have.
i have fibro and my anxiety goes straight to my stomach i wish i could keep calm. when ever i have to go out anywhere i get so anxious i end up not going because my stomach flares up and am to afraid to leave the house , am fine when am not going any where but as soon as an appointment looms all hel breaks loose , even if its somewhere i want to go . is there any thing i can do about this .
Does this work when you are on antidepressants and you have messed up your taper and become psychotic and all of a sudden have phobias and anxiety that you never had before and you think your life is ruined
