Anxiety Has Been My Lifelong Companion

Summary

Podcast Summary: Dr. Laura Call of the Day

Episode Title: Anxiety Has Been My Lifelong Companion
Release Date: February 4, 2025
Host: Dr. Laura Schlessinger
Platform: SiriusXM Triumph 111

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Introduction

In this insightful episode of "Dr. Laura Call of the Day," Dr. Laura Schlessinger addresses the pervasive issue of lifelong anxiety. Drawing from a heartfelt call from a 29-year-old listener, the discussion delves into the origins, manifestations, and coping strategies associated with chronic anxiety.

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Caller's Journey with Anxiety

Background and Early Experiences

The caller shares a poignant narrative of battling anxiety from a young age. Initially triggered by frequent school changes between ages five and eight, the anxiety manifested physically through vomiting and difficulty breathing. Over the years, these intense symptoms mellowed into persistent feelings of unease and occasional palpitations.

Caller [09:15]: "Wow, I mean, I actually do that all the time."

Current Struggles

Even as an adult, the caller experiences morning palpitations, particularly during winter. These physical symptoms accompany a constant underlying anxiety that remains challenging to pinpoint and manage mentally.

Caller [02:00]: "I still feel, though, some palpitations. Even now, you know, in the morning, especially in the winter times..."

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Dr. Laura's Insights and Recommendations

Acknowledging Strength and Resilience

Dr. Laura begins by commending the caller's bravery in confronting daily anxiety, highlighting the importance of recognizing one's own strength.

Dr. Laura [03:25]: "You should be freaking impressed with you. You get up every morning and have some palpitations... and you still confront the day."

Physiological vs. Psychological Basis of Anxiety

Dr. Laura emphasizes that the caller's anxiety symptoms likely have a physiological foundation rather than being purely psychological. She suggests that seeking help from a psychiatrist could be beneficial, as they can explore medical interventions such as antidepressants to balance neurotransmitters.

Dr. Laura [04:55]: "You may want to ask your doctor, your regular internist, do you know a psychiatrist?"

Importance of Medical Intervention

She advocates for a medical approach to managing anxiety, advising against solely relying on psychotherapy, especially when physiological factors are at play.

Dr. Laura [11:24]: "How about we just say this is medical and we're going to figure it out?"

Role of Physical Exercise

Dr. Laura highlights the positive impact of physical activity on brain chemistry, suggesting that regular exercise can alleviate anxiety symptoms by enhancing neurotransmitter function.

Dr. Laura [12:10]: "When you exercise, you increase and change the parameters of the neurotransmitters in your brain."

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Caller’s Response and Progress

Immediate Calm During the Call

As the conversation progresses, the caller experiences a noticeable reduction in anxiety, feeling "very calm" and "cool" during the interaction.

Caller [12:03]: "Very calm. Very cool."

Adopting Exercise as Therapy

Motivated by Dr. Laura's advice, the caller has incorporated regular workouts into her routine, finding that even short periods of exercise on the treadmill provide significant relief from anxiety.

Caller [13:49]: "I feel it after two minutes on the treadmill."

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Conclusion and Encouragement

Dr. Laura concludes the episode by encouraging listeners to adopt proactive strategies, such as seeking medical treatment and engaging in regular physical activity, to manage anxiety effectively. She underscores the importance of combining medical intervention with lifestyle changes to achieve long-term relief.

Dr. Laura [13:35]: "If you are particularly impacted in the morning, you might want to try that because it'll change the chemistry in the brain."

The episode serves as a compassionate guide for individuals grappling with chronic anxiety, offering both validation and practical solutions to improve mental health and overall well-being.

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Notable Quotes

• Dr. Laura [03:25]: "You should be freaking impressed with you. You get up every morning and have some palpitations... and you still confront the day."

• Caller [12:10]: "I feel it after two minutes on the treadmill."

• Dr. Laura [13:18]: "Just think about all these parts... you might want to try that because it'll change the chemistry in the brain."

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Final Thoughts

"Anxiety Has Been My Lifelong Companion" offers a deep dive into the challenges of managing chronic anxiety, blending personal storytelling with expert advice. Dr. Laura Schlessinger's empathetic approach provides valuable insights and actionable strategies, making this episode a must-listen for anyone seeking to understand and overcome anxiety.

Transcript

[Dr. Laura]

Have a spouse who travels a lot, a new driver in the family, a kid in college. When you turn on Life360, you can turn down the worry. Life360 is a location sharing app that.

[Moshe]

Lets you locate anyone in your family.

[Dr. Laura]

You'll know when they're on their way or safely at their designated location. And you'll have peace of mind with Life360's roadside and emergency response programs. For things that don't drive themselves, there's Life360 Bluetooth Tile trackers. I've got the cutest pink punch colored tile hooked to Lily's collar. Tiles attach to all kinds of things like bikes, keys, remote controls so you can avoid the drama of lost and stolen stuff. The newest tiles have a longer range, a louder ring and SOS button that can send emergency alerts.

[Moshe]

It does everything.

[Dr. Laura]

Stay connected to all you love with Life360, visit life360.com or download the app today and use the code DRLAURA to get 15% off that. That's life360.com code DRLAURA thanks for listening.

[Moshe]

To my Call of the Day podcast. You can hear my live radio program Monday through Friday from 2 to 5pm Eastern Time on Sirius XM Triumph 111. Moshe welcome to the program.

[Caller]

Hi Dr. Laura. Thank you for taking my call.

[Moshe]

You're very welcome. How can I help?

[Caller]

Okay, so I'm 29 years old and I've been having different levels of anxiety throughout my life. Started when I was a little child. I remember when I was changing schools Probably I was 5, between 5 and 8 ages I was coming back into the new school that I was actually in previously, just change out to somewhere else in the meantime. And when I came back I was, you know, I didn't want to go into the class and I was, you know, my parents would drop me off of the school, run away and then, you know, slowly I got, you know, settled and I started going on my own. But you know, then every, you know, and then I have a lot of anxiety when I was there for the next few years, always in the beginning of the year, especially in the beginning of the year and got to a point where even as I was going through the teenage years, high school and then later on for additional schooling, I would have sometimes in the beginning of the year always feel that same funny feeling. And I would, you know, when I was younger with more severe where I was vomiting and couldn't breathe, you know, you know, didn't have a good breathing pattern. But then as I Got older, it was just more, you know, just a bad feeling and then the story that went away as time went on. But I got to the point now and then, you know, anything I did in life after that, the beginning items that I did, the beginning times was always a little anxious. But what happens is that I still feel, though, some palpitations. Even now, you know, in the morning, especially in the winter times, I still feel, you know, early in the morning, like when I get up, I just feel that, you know, palpitations, I feel funny. And I just attribute it to being just something anxiety, something that's there behind the scenes. And like I feel it physically, but I can't mentally place what it is and get to it.

[Moshe]

Okay, couple of things. Number one, you should be freaking impressed with you. You get up every morning and have some palpitations, some physiological anxiety, and you still confront the day, realize how strong, courageous you are to do that. See, this really becomes a problem when you allow it to stop you. It becomes a red light, for example, as opposed to a blinking yellow light. What you're talking about probably has a physiological more than a psychological basis. Meaning if you went to see a good psychiatrist who really knew how to handle pharmaceuticals, you could probably. They give you blood tests now and to find out, for example, which antidepressant most likely the body is going to use well, and they match it up with you and start with a teeny tiny dose. And you wake up in the morning and you're not feeling that at all or as much. And the reason being is that that tiny bit of medication helped straighten out a neurotransmitter in your brain. So what you're describing sounds to me not like you're a scaredy cat, because you're not.

[Dr. Laura]

You face things.

[Moshe]

Even when you were a kid, you threw up, but you face things. You went back to school the next day, hated it. But you've always been courageous and that's more important than palpitations. So you may want to ask your doctor, your regular internist, do you know a psychiatrist? Not a psychotherapist, not a psychologist, a psychiatrist who can talk to you, do the blood test, figure out which medication would probably be useful and you could probably get relief within the month. Curling up on the couch for a movie is one of my favorite ways to end the day. Lily's always right there with me. And we have a new addition to our movie nights, the fluffiest pretty rosewater pink Lola blanket. Lola blankets are unbelievably soft, double sided faux fur blankets with a huggable stretch that molds to your body. Lola blankets come in a beautiful array of colors and three different sizes so you can find just the right fit for your family. They even offer weighted blankets for better sleep and relaxation and super cute knotted faux fur pillows. With thousands of five star reviews, Lola blankets are the must have upgrade your home and comfort deserve. So go to lolablankets.com use my code DRLAURA at checkout for 40% off. An incredible discount just for you my listener. What are you waiting for? Go to lolablankets.com today and experience the life changing softness for yourself. Let's be real, doing laundry stinks except the folding. I actually find that pretty meditative. But those heavy detergent jugs that spill and all those chemicals you don't really need? No thank you. Earth Breeze has changed the game with their detergent sheets. It's like a dryer sheet but for your washer. Just toss in an Earth Breeze laundry sheet. Walk away. You get a powerful clean without the unnecessary chemicals. It's hypoallergenic so no irritation or itching. Earth Breeze is all about making life easier and they do so by keeping things simple. So here's the deal. Go to earthbreeze.com drlora for 40% off with your subscription. If you don't love it, they'll give you your money back, no questions asked. Just go to earthbreeze.com drlaura if you want 40% off with your subscription. Once you try Earth Breeze, you'll never go back. See for yourself.

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[Dr. Laura]

Have a spouse who travels a lot, a new driver in the family, a kid in college. When you turn on Life360, you can turn down the worry. Life360 is a location sharing app that.

[Moshe]

Lets you locate anyone in your family.

[Dr. Laura]

You'll know when they're on their way or safely at their designated location and you'll have peace of mind with life 360s roadside and emergency response programs. For things that don't drive themselves, there's Life 360 Bluetooth Tile trackers. I've got the cutest pink punch colored tile hooked to Lily's collar. Tiles attach to all kinds of things like bikes, keys, remote controls so you can avoid the drama of lost and stolen stuff. The newest tiles have a longer range, a louder ring and SOS button that can send emergency alerts.

[Moshe]

It does everything.

[Dr. Laura]

Stay connected to all you love with Life 360. Visit life360.com or download the app today and use the code DRLAURA to get 15% off. That's life360.com, code DRLAURA.

[Caller]

Wow. You know, I remember when I was younger, my parents did take me initially to a psychologist after the first episodes. And I don't know, maybe I met them two or three times, but get anywhere.

[Moshe]

And then because I think they, they were looking only at a psychological reason. And my contention is when I listen to how people describe what they're going through, that some of this is physiological. This is how your brain is working and it needs more serotonin. For example, give it a little more serotonin by cutting down on breaking down the serotonin or blocking it from being taken down. Yeah. And suddenly you handle things better. And the palpitations are rare, but in life you're always going to have those. I have them. Everybody has them. When you do something new, there are days I get up and I go, geez, what is this? And I realize I haven't eaten, I'm low in blood sugar.

[Dr. Laura]

So some of this is physiological.

[Moshe]

And that's why I'm wrecking the recommendation with the caveat you're handling it well.

[Dr. Laura]

So I wish you'd stop thinking about.

[Moshe]

It being so horrendous when you're able to function anyway. It's like a person has a bad leg. Do they just sit home and try to figure out how to make the bad leg be a good leg when they can't? Or do they go out and do what they can on that leg? That's you, and that's admirable. But I'd also like you to get some relief if it's possible. So I'm thinking you have a neurotransmitter. Not enough of one of them.

[Caller]

Got it. Because I kept, I kept on getting into my own head, you know, thinking all different types of things. Well, my parents were divorced. Well, my father was.

[Moshe]

Oh, no, no, no. You know what? That's just crappy. And everybody has that crap in their lives.

[Caller]

And. Right. And I can tell myself this goes back way before that started. So this is something totally different.

[Moshe]

How about we just say this is medical and we're going to figure it out? Get the appropriate, mild, small, tiniest bit of medication to straighten out the neurotransmitters. Or you could spend 20 years in a therapist's office talking about how your parents were annoying.

[Caller]

Definitely not going to do that. Ain't got time for that.

[Moshe]

And make some therapist rich.

[Caller]

Yeah. Okay. Sounds good.

[Moshe]

All right, now tell me right now, when you came on the air, didn't you have palpitations?

[Caller]

I didn't have them strongly. I definitely felt a little uneasy, and I was, you know, worried where this was going to go, but.

[Moshe]

And how do you feel right now?

[Caller]

Very calm. Very cool.

[Moshe]

See, this is why they tell you when you exercise, you increase and change the parameters of the neurotransmitters in your brain. Usually makes you feel better. Eliminates or modifies depression for some period of time. So the experience you just had with me changed your brain.

[Caller]

Wow. I mean, I actually do that all the time. Recently, I started going.

[Moshe]

Exactly. Yeah. One of the reasons I work out all the time helps the. Helps the brain feel better. I get a little antsy and I get real weird, and I know I've eaten, so that's not the issue. I walk a mile or two up and down some hills, and I feel better.

[Caller]

Wow.

[Moshe]

That's my medicine. Yeah.

[Caller]

Okay, Sounds good.

[Moshe]

So just think about all these parts. You know, there are a lot of people who get up and just do an hour jog or an hour bike ride every day. If you are particularly impacted in the morning, you might want to try that because it'll change the chemistry in the brain.

[Caller]

Yeah, I mean, that's actually when I started. I started. I work out three times a week now, and I like to work out in the morning.

[Dr. Laura]

Good.

[Moshe]

And notice from now on how that changes your state of mind.

[Caller]

Oh, I mean, I feel it after two minutes on the treadmill.

[Moshe]

I hate the treadmill. But I gave you shinp Shin Shin splints once. That's hard to say. Fast. All right, sir, call me back anytime.

[Caller]

Thank you very much, Dr. Laura. Appreciate it.

[Moshe]

You're very welcome. My number, 1-800-375-2872. Check out my social media on Facebook and Instagram. I post stories, photos, and videos seven days a week and feature some of.

[Dr. Laura]

What you've sent me, too.

[Moshe]

There's always something interesting going on there. You can find me at facebook.com drlaura and instagram.com drlauraprogram.

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