Deep Dive: Stress Less

Summary

Podcast Summary: Dr. Laura Call of the Day – Episode: Deep Dive: Stress Less

Introduction

In the July 31, 2025 episode of "Dr. Laura's Deep Dive" titled "Stress Less," renowned host Dr. Laura Schlessinger addresses the pervasive challenges of stress and anxiety in today's fast-paced world. Highlighting the burgeoning global wellness industry, valued at $6 trillion, Dr. Laura emphasizes practical, cost-effective strategies to manage anxiety without solely relying on commercial products or medications. Throughout the episode, she engages with listeners facing various stress-related issues, offering no-nonsense advice grounded in ethics, accountability, and personal responsibility.

Understanding Stress and Its Impact

Dr. Laura begins by contextualizing stress within the framework of life-changing events such as illness, divorce, and health scares. She underscores how these triggers can lead to heightened anxiety and depression, affecting individuals' overall well-being. By acknowledging the physical and mental manifestations of stress—including trouble sleeping, irritability, and physical symptoms like headaches and heart palpitations—Dr. Laura sets the stage for actionable solutions.

Caller Segment 1: Caroline's Anxiety Over Husband's Cancer Diagnosis

Timestamp: [00:00] – [06:30]

Caroline's Story: Caroline, a long-time listener, shares her struggles with anxiety following her husband's cancer diagnosis. Despite a hopeful first-year checkup, the looming biannual appointments exacerbate her fears and stress levels.

Dr. Laura's Advice: Dr. Laura responds candidly, urging Caroline to curb her negative vocal expressions of anxiety.

• "Stop whining. It doesn't help you to cope with this when you're whining," [02:52]. She encourages Caroline to adopt positive coping mechanisms such as prayer, meditation, and engaging in physical activities. Emphasizing gratitude, Dr. Laura advises Caroline to focus on the present blessings rather than the uncertainties of the future.
• "Thank God for keeping him alive this past year. That's the best we all have," [05:59].

Key Insights:

• Positive Affirmation: Shifting focus from fear to gratitude can significantly alleviate anxiety.
• Healthy Distraction: Engaging in activities like hiking or meditation provides mental respite.
• Support Systems: Maintaining connections with uplifting individuals enhances emotional resilience.

Caller Segment 2: Kevin's Social Anxiety and Reluctance to Medicate

Timestamp: [09:23] – [15:40]

Kevin's Concern: Kevin seeks alternatives to prescription medications for managing his social anxiety, expressing discomfort with the idea of taking anxiety meds.

Dr. Laura's Guidance: Dr. Laura advocates for meditation and controlled breathing exercises as effective, non-invasive methods to combat anxiety.

• "Why take drugs when all you have to do is breathe?" [13:11]. She leads Kevin through a guided deep-breathing exercise, demonstrating how mindful breathing can induce relaxation and reduce panic symptoms.

Key Insights:

• Mindful Breathing: Simple deep-breathing techniques can significantly mitigate anxiety symptoms.
• Cognitive Distraction: Redirecting focus through visualization or counting helps regain emotional control.
• Self-Empowerment: Taking control of one's breathing fosters a sense of autonomy over anxiety.

Caller Segment 3: Indra's Panic Disorder and Seeking Therapeutic Solutions

Timestamp: [17:32] – [34:38]

Indra's Struggle: Indra discusses her persistent panic attacks, which have intensified over recent weeks. Despite previous attempts at natural remedies, her anxiety remains unmanageable.

Dr. Laura's Recommendations: Dr. Laura emphasizes the importance of cognitive therapy, advising Indra to seek a specialist trained in anxiety disorders.

• "You're going to make tremendous progress in cognitive therapy," [22:06]. She also suggests considering low-dose antidepressants, tailored through DNA testing to minimize side effects, highlighting her personal success with such an approach.
• "I ended up on Celexa... The panic attacks were gone," [27:18].

Key Insights:

• Cognitive Therapy: Addressing irrational thoughts through structured therapy can effectively reduce panic symptoms.
• Medical Intervention: When natural methods fall short, personalized medication may provide necessary relief.
• Professional Guidance: Consulting with specialists ensures targeted and efficient treatment plans.

Caller Segment 4: Sarah's Severe Panic Attacks and Seeking Help

Timestamp: [24:04] – [34:38]

Sarah's Experience: Sarah recounts her severe panic attacks that seemingly occur without warning, leading to multiple ER visits out of fear of heart attacks.

Dr. Laura's Solutions: Dr. Laura advises Sarah to pursue cognitive therapy and consider medical evaluations for possible biological imbalances.

• "You've got something screwed up in the chemistry up there," [26:36]. She recounts her own experience with panic attacks following her husband's cardiac issues and stresses the importance of combining therapeutic techniques with appropriate medical treatments.

Key Insights:

• Integrated Approach: Combining cognitive therapy with medical treatment can address both psychological and physiological aspects of panic disorders.
• Self-Awareness: Recognizing the triggers and physiological responses aids in developing effective coping strategies.
• Proactive Measures: Seeking timely professional help prevents the escalation of panic symptoms.

Conclusion and Final Advice

Towards the episode's end, Dr. Laura encapsulates the essence of managing stress:

• Lifestyle Adjustments: Simplifying one's schedule by saying no to additional responsibilities can prevent burnout.
• Positive Environment: Surrounding oneself with supportive and happy individuals boosts emotional health.
• Physical Activity: Engaging in hobbies and outdoor activities like gardening or hiking offers therapeutic benefits.
• Mindfulness Practices: Techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, and organizing can foster a sense of control and reduce anxiety.

Notable Quotes:

• "The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another," [27:08].
• "People who have not had panic attacks do not understand how overwhelming and terrifying they are," [31:13].
• "If you like this podcast, be sure to rate it on Apple Podcasts or your favorite place to listen to my podcast," [Final Segment].

Final Takeaway

Dr. Laura underscores that while anxiety is an inherent part of the human experience, individuals possess the tools and agency to manage and reduce their stress levels effectively. By adopting a combination of cognitive strategies, physical activities, and, when necessary, professional therapeutic interventions, listeners can achieve a more serene and controlled life despite the inevitable challenges that arise.

Resources Mentioned:

• DrLaura.com: For becoming a Family member and accessing more resources.
• Cognitive Therapy: Recommended for individuals struggling with panic and anxiety disorders.
• Breathing Exercises: Demonstrated techniques for immediate anxiety relief.

Contact Information: Listeners are encouraged to reach out to Dr. Laura for personalized advice:

• Phone: 1-800-DR-LAURA
• Email: on [e-mail]

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This comprehensive summary captures the essence of Dr. Laura's discussion on managing stress and anxiety, offering valuable insights and practical advice for listeners seeking to navigate their challenges without solely depending on commercial wellness solutions or medications.

Transcript

[Dr. Laura]

Hi neighbor. Welcome to Birch Lane where you'll find timeless furniture and decor for your fall refresh. To help you celebrate it all, from big holiday gatherings to everyday moments at home, shop classic style for Joyful [e-mail] Listen to all my episodes of Dr. Laura's Deep Dive in your favorite podcast app. Search for Dr. Laura's deep dive podcast and follow my deep dive today. Dr. Laura's deep dive. Deep dive dive right in Dr. Laura's deep dive podcast. I read an article recently that said the global wellness business has become a $6 trillion industry. From weighted blankets to mindful menopause retreats, there are endless products, services, supplements and medications to help relieve the stress of everyday life. Before you convince yourself that the only way to get more peace is to purchase it, you should try some of the anxiety taming tips I'm discussing today. There are simple ways to gain serenity that don't cost a bundle or require globetrotting to wellness workshops. Talk about stress. Life changing events like the death of a loved one, divorce. Health scares are common triggers of anxiety and depression. When I first spoke to Caroline, she was panicking over her husband's cancer diagnosis. With checkups scheduled every six months, we discussed ways to avoid working herself into a frenzy before each visit. Carolyn, welcome to the program.

[Caroline]

Hi Dr. Allura, thanks for taking my call and a longtime listener and I just wanted to ask you. I've been married for three years now and about a year ago my husband got diagnosed with cancer which thankfully we just had his first one year checkup and all is still well.

[Dr. Laura]

Good.

[Caroline]

But I am have. The anxiety of it is really getting to me and I know that we have, you know, these six month checkups for several more years before, before everything's okay. And I just need some tips on, you know, we're one of the lucky ones, but I just need some tips on how to manage it.

[Dr. Laura]

Yoga, meditation, prayer, hiking, swimming, bike riding. These are the things human beings do to deal with difficult situations.

[Caroline]

Okay, thank you, that's helpful. And any combination of those things, but I can do a lot more. I just don't. We just had our first like kind of scare that turned out to be nothing but.

[Dr. Laura]

Carolyn, Carolyn, I know you can hear me. People tell me they hear me, but they'd rather hear themselves. Carolyn, get the whining sound under your voice right now. That's the first thing you have to do is stop whining.

[Caroline]

Okay?

[Dr. Laura]

It doesn't help you to cope with this when you're whining, okay. You Two dodged a freaking bullet. As of now, he's still alive. You're still whining.

[Caroline]

I just, you know.

[Dr. Laura]

Stop it. I know. I just. Nothing. I know it is stressful. You're young. You're looking forward to a whole life and wondering if he's going to be dead. I got it. But he's not going to be. Not dead or dead based on you getting hysterical. It's not going to have any impact. Being hysterical has no power to keep him alive. I wish it did. Then I would recommend it. Seriously. So far, you've had another year with him, and there'll be another six months with him, and maybe you're going to have a good 40 years with him. Who knows? Even if he didn't get cancer, we don't know who's going to live when. Plane crash, car crash, some idiot comes in your house and tries to steal your belongings and shoots you. We don't know.

[Caroline]

Yes. That's all. Yes.

[Dr. Laura]

All you know is he could have been dead and he's not.

[Caroline]

Yay. Right.

[Dr. Laura]

Let me hear you say yay.

[Caroline]

Yay.

[Dr. Laura]

No, say it like you mean it.

[Caroline]

Yay.

[Dr. Laura]

Yay. Come on. Yay.

[Caroline]

Yay.

[Dr. Laura]

Right. And every time we go in for a checkup, you're going to go in nervous and come out and do yay, and everybody's going to think you're nuts and you're not going to care.

[Caroline]

Okay. All right. Thank you, Dr. Laura.

[Dr. Laura]

Prayer.

[Caroline]

I really appreciate it.

[Dr. Laura]

Meditation, music. These are the things all human being and talking to a friend. But you don't want to od friends with constantly whining about this.

[Caroline]

Yeah, no, of course not. And, you know, I realize that it's just one person in my life right now. I know it's inevitable that more people as I get older will be going through things like this. So, you know, I just want to get the skills established now.

[Dr. Laura]

Distraction, distraction, distraction. And for people who are religious. Are you a religious person?

[Caroline]

Spiritual. Yeah.

[Dr. Laura]

Yeah. Okay. Which means not the people who are very religious. Like, I have friends who are very religious. It is, I think, the most incredible support because you feel that God cares about you even though you're suffering, and when all is said and done, you'll be in heaven.

[Caroline]

I do. I feel like God watches over me and us. I just, you know, I was raised Catholic, and that's where I sort of.

[Dr. Laura]

Differ from a lot of people. Then right now, why don't you thank God for keeping him alive this past year?

[Caroline]

Yes, I've done that a lot today.

[Dr. Laura]

Say thanks. For the blessing of another year.

[Caroline]

Okay.

[Dr. Laura]

Okay. That's the best we all have, sweetheart. That's the best we all have.

[Caroline]

Yes. And I think you're right. Instead of being dreadful of what's coming, I need to just be appreciative for what is happening in the moment and what we've had so far.

[Dr. Laura]

Otherwise, why keep him alive if you're just going to look at the bad part, right?

[Caroline]

Exactly.

[Dr. Laura]

Yeah.

[Caroline]

All right. Thank you so much, Dr. Allora. Have a nice afternoon.

[Dr. Laura]

You're welcome. And good luck on the next test. My number one, 800-375-2872. All these feelings that people have about these are all normal. Surviving them. Too many people turn to drugs and alcohol and stupid stuff. Turn to love and art and music and prayer and friends and activities. In other words, stay invested in life. Even though part of it really sucks. Part of life really sucks. That doesn't mean you let go of all the other parts because then it's not just part of life that sucks. You're making all of life suck. But that doing is your choice. And wherever we have a choice, we can vote yes, we can vote no. Anxiety isn't something that goes away easily or permanently. I'd say the greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another. When you're stuck in a negative thought cycle, go pet a dog or just think about petting a dog and I bet you'll feel a shift. Distract yourself with a walk by calling a friend or organizing a closet. Do you have a hobby? No. Well, you should get one. Creativity can transform your mood. A physical hobby like hiking or gardening gets you outdoors with the positive benefits of sunlight, fresh air, soothing sounds. Now, stress can be difficult to define and even harder to measure. But oh, how your body and mind let you know when you're anxious. You have trouble relaxing and sleeping. You become impatient or irritable over minor things. You can't concentrate. You're not able to make decisions. Maybe you drink, smoke or munch munch, eat too much, you feel tense. Sometimes fight or flight hormones are released, causing physical symptoms like nausea, sweating, dry mouth, thumping heart and headaches. And all that stress can contribute to other illnesses like irritable bowel syndrome, psoriasis, migraines, tension headaches. We don't want that. The good news is that bringing more peace to your life works wonders. You can self medicate in positive ways with relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, yoga, chamomile tea and prayer. These are great places to start when you like my caller, Kevin Want to reduce anxiety without the help of drugs. Kevin, welcome to the program.

[Caroline]

Hello. How are you?

[Dr. Laura]

Good. How can I help?

[Caroline]

I have a question about anxiety. Social anxiety mainly. So my doctor wants to prescribe me anxiety medicine, but I don't feel comfortable taking that. Is there a way to cope with anxiety without prescription medication?

[Dr. Laura]

I'd like to send you to India for about a month. You'd come back not dealing with it anymore because they know how to meditate, calm their hearts down and let things go. That's basically what meditation is about. And I prescribe it. It's non. It has no side effects that are bad. Have you ever tried it?

[Caroline]

Meditation? Not from a. From a technical standpoint, but it's funny you said calm your heart down because I do get the heart races, the palpitations. That's one thing. Yeah?

[Dr. Laura]

Oh, yeah. Oh, it's real. Oh, believe me, I know it is real. However, it can be controlled by breathing. And it's not only just the breathing, it's focusing in on the breathing. Are you driving a car right now?

[Caroline]

No.

[Dr. Laura]

Good. Are you sitting?

[Caroline]

Yes.

[Dr. Laura]

Good. Put your feet flat on the floor. Put me on speakerphone and put the phone down. And then just put your hands, just let them flop on to your legs, your thighs.

[Caroline]

Okay.

[Dr. Laura]

Okay. Close your eyes and just give me three deep breaths. That's it. Just three deep breaths. In through your nose, out through your mouth. Not fancy, just deep. I'm going to do it with you out through your mouth. One more. Three.

[Caroline]

Okay.

[Dr. Laura]

How do you. How do you feel just doing that? I just felt relaxed. My shoulders came down.

[Caroline]

Definitely. I feel more relaxed now.

[Dr. Laura]

Tell me. Tell me a situation where you are standing. Don't stand up, but tell me a situation where you are standing and you're getting anxious. Irritated, maybe even anxious.

[Caroline]

Waiting in line at the store. Pay for something.

[Dr. Laura]

I have a tendency to walk away. That's how I deal with that tension. But if you have to be in that line, you keep your eyes open and you breathe and you count. It's like, let's try this. I want you to picture being in a long line and it's pissing you off, but you have to stay in the line. So you're going to breathe into the count of let's. Since you haven't done this, let's just do six. Breathe in until you get to six through your nose. And when you get to six, hold it for just one second and then blow out slowly to six again. Just keep it symmetrical. So I'm going to do it. We're going to start now. One, two, three. Breathe in to six. Hold it. Exhale to count of six.

[Caroline]

Okay. Definitely feel my heart kind of slow a little bit.

[Dr. Laura]

That's it. Why take drugs when all you have to do is breathe? A lot of people don't want to do the breathing. They want something quick and dirty like, just drug me. But you know, then your life is not in your control, which is another thing that anxiety tickles with. Out of control. You have control now. So let's do it one more time. I want you to picture that line and I want you to tell me when you're getting pissed off about the line. Tell me.

[Caroline]

Okay.

[Dr. Laura]

Okay. In count of six, through the nose. Hold it. Exhale to count to six.

[Caroline]

Okay.

[Dr. Laura]

It is so hard to be annoyed when you're doing that.

[Caroline]

I don't know if it's necessarily an annoyance. It's more like a. Oh, there's people looking at me. What are they thinking? Something like that, Frankly.

[Dr. Laura]

Frankly, my dear, nobody gives a shit. They've all got stuff going on in their own heads. Not anybody looking at you gives a shit. That's a tough reality. We all have to recognize everybody has their own crap going on in their heads, and that's what they're focusing in on while you're breathing and letting it go.

[Caroline]

Yeah, I appreciate that. Thank you very much, Dr. Laura.

[Dr. Laura]

Call me next week after you've used this a few times. When you're in the line, though, I'd like you to do it three times. Okay?

[Caroline]

Okay.

[Dr. Laura]

All right. I want to hear from you next week or I'll be beside myself. I'll have to do deep breathing. And it doesn't matter how much you inhale. I don't want anybody out there thinking none of that. I don't care. You're just going to breathe slowly into the count of six.

[Caroline]

Stop.

[Dr. Laura]

Exhale. Gonna take a break here. And while I do, let's breathe together. Now do it quietly. I'll be right back. Dr. Laura's deep dive podcast. Life doesn't have to be so complicated. Walmart helps you simplify. They're your one stop. Shop for daily essentials like groceries, snacks, school supplies. And thanks to Walmart Pharmacy, you can count on them for your prescription needs, too. Use the Walmart app to easily manage your family's medications and save time by getting prescriptions delivered right to your door. Switch your prescriptions to Walmart Pharmacy delivery not available for all prescriptions and and exclusions apply. Did you know that skin care can start in the laundry room. The Dr. Laura program is happy to be partnering with our sponsor, All Free Clear Laundry detergent. My peeps with kids are especially thrilled to use it because it's 100% free of dyes and perfumes. All Free Clear is the number one laundry detergent brand recommended for sensitive skin by pediatricians, dermatologists and allergists. For a clean you can feel good about, all you need is all free clear. Dr. Laura's much deeper Deep Dive podcast. There are times when you can calm yourself down and times when you cannot. Some levels of stress require a more therapeutic approach, as I discussed with Idra when she called. Indra, welcome to the program.

[Caroline]

Yes, ma'. Am. How are you?

[Dr. Laura]

Good, thank you.

[Caroline]

Hi, Dr. Laura. I'm sorry, I'm a little bit shaky. I'm calling because I've been dealing with anxiety for the past three or four weeks now, and I don't know how to control it.

[Dr. Laura]

Well, first of all, one does not ever control anxiety. You have to sit with that thought for a moment. Trying to control it is exactly the opposite thing you do to anxiety. I know that sounds crazy, but that's the truth. You do not control anxiety. The more you try to control it, the bigger it gets. So tell me what's been going on the last three weeks. What happened three weeks ago?

[Caroline]

I know that this is going to sound very overboard, but for many years, I've been afraid of dying of death. And I've been hearing so much about just cancer lately, reading about it, listening to the news. And back in May, I went to the dentist because I had a black spot in my mouth. And for some reason I thought I had mouth cancer. And I got very, very bad. I went to the doctor and it was nothing, right? And I was good from May to. To the last three or four weeks where I started having abdominal pain. And I just feel like anytime I have some kind of pain or ache, I associate it with having cancer, and I'm just, like, so afraid of it that I don't know why. I. I don't know. I've never been diagnosed with it or anything. I don't know why I'm so. I think about it so much and it just really. I don't know, it really just works. It just really bothers me. I don't know. And I just start getting.

[Dr. Laura]

So. This started when you're talking about a year ago, six months ago.

[Caroline]

In May is when I went to the dentist because I was scared, because I had.

[Dr. Laura]

Okay, and before May, were you spending. Before May, were you Spending time being fearful?

[Caroline]

No, ma'. Am. For the first time in my life, it was When I was 17 or 18, I had a bad panic attack and I was afraid of dying. I was afraid of getting in a car. I thought I would get into a car crash.

[Dr. Laura]

Okay. You have something to write with?

[Caroline]

I'm sorry?

[Dr. Laura]

Do you have something to write with?

[Caroline]

Yes, ma'. Am. I have a notepad.

[Dr. Laura]

Good. You're going to write down cognitive C, O, G. Yes, ma'.

[Caroline]

Am.

[Dr. Laura]

N, I, T, I, V, E. Cognitive therapy. You're going to get a referral to a cognitive therapist whose expertise is panic disorder. You have panic disorder. This is fixable with cognitive therapy. Not drugs, not talking about your feelings, but cognitive therapy, which is talking about these irrational thoughts and fears. Okay, but the first thing I have to tell you is that you cannot fight it off. Can't. It just makes it bigger. So it's the beginning of the week. Try to get an appointment today or tomorrow and start working on this.

[Caroline]

Yes, ma'. Am.

[Dr. Laura]

Thoroughly understand what you're feeling. It's terrifying. It's all consuming. It's exhausting.

[Caroline]

I'm so exhausted. I can't talk to anybody because, I mean.

[Dr. Laura]

No, most people have no idea what you're talking about. It sounds annoying. Thoroughly understand it.

[Caroline]

I talk to people about it because I feel they're not going to understand. And I feel like maybe they're going to think I'm exaggerating, but I just can't.

[Dr. Laura]

Okay, Indra, can you stop talking for a moment right now?

[Caroline]

Yes, ma'. Am.

[Dr. Laura]

Okay. Don't talk to a lot of people about it because they don't understand unless they have had panic disorder. So there's no point in talking to everybody about it because they don't get it. Unless you've had it, you don't get it.

[Caroline]

Yes.

[Dr. Laura]

But I promise you, you're going to make tremendous progress in cognitive therapy.

[Caroline]

Yes, ma'. Am.

[Dr. Laura]

So hang up and get on the phone and get yourself. Now, remember, has to be a psychologist whose expertise is anxiety disorder. Nobody else.

[Caroline]

Okay.

[Dr. Laura]

And they do cognitive therapy. Only thing I want you to do.

[Caroline]

Yes, ma'.

[Dr. Laura]

Am.

[Caroline]

I wrote everything.

[Dr. Laura]

This takes months, not years.

[Caroline]

Okay.

[Dr. Laura]

Sometimes weeks, depending. Some people turn around pretty fast.

[Caroline]

Thank you so much. I was, like, scared of calling.

[Dr. Laura]

Oh, never be scared of calling me. Come on.

[Caroline]

Thank you so much.

[Dr. Laura]

You're welcome.

[Caroline]

Have a great day, Dr. Laura.

[Dr. Laura]

Okay, and until then, till you get squared away, no caffeine, okay?

[Caroline]

Yes. And I actually stopped drinking coffee for, like, good.

[Dr. Laura]

You don't need to get Hyper excitable right now.

[Caroline]

Yes, thank you very much, ma'. Am.

[Dr. Laura]

All right, take care. Feeling overwhelmed might be the signal. You need to take something off your plate. What can you say no to? You're not good at that, are you? What can you drop from your to do list if you don't give yourself a break, you wear down your equipment. What's your equipment? You. Your body, soul and mind. In order to feel a change, you need to actually make a change. So reduce your TO dos in order to reduce your stress. Did you know that the longer you let your stress and anxiety fester, the harder it will be to resolve it in a natural way? There are times when the brain just sort of takes over and a panic reaction can set in for almost no reason at all. That was what Sarah was coping with when she called. Sarah, welcome to the program.

[Caroline]

Oh, hi, Dr. Laura. Thank you for taking my call.

[Dr. Laura]

You're welcome.

[Caroline]

My question to you is I suffer from severe panic attacks. But it's just.

[Dr. Laura]

And when do you start having panic attacks?

[Caroline]

They come out of the blue. But it's.

[Dr. Laura]

I know that I just said, when did you start? I know they come out of the blue.

[Caroline]

You're right. Oh, for many years, I think, since I've been like.

[Dr. Laura]

I don't know what many years means.

[Caroline]

16. 16 years of age.

[Dr. Laura]

Okay. And what treatment have you had for panic attacks?

[Caroline]

So I've. I've seen some therapists. I've done mindfulness. I've never taken any medicine. I've always wanted to do it natural learning.

[Dr. Laura]

Okay, well, you're 59 now. From 16. Doing it natural didn't help you.

[Caroline]

No.

[Dr. Laura]

So you might want to talk to a good psychiatrist who doesn't just hand out pills and find out. They do DNA tests now and they can tell you which antidepressant in a very low dose will match with your physiology. They actually do that now. It's very impressive. So a low dose, hopefully a low dose of an antidepressant after you get through two weeks of the. Some weirdo side effects that usually leave, depending upon which medicine you have, will cut them out or cut them down. There's no point in continuing to suffer with it.

[Caroline]

Okay. I was just hoping to find.

[Dr. Laura]

16 years old. You are 59. Stop with your hoping.

[Caroline]

But it's. Can I just ask you one thing? It's like I just go from. It's only when I get a bodily symptom, I go from A to Z. I always, like, think the worst possible scenario.

[Dr. Laura]

I know that's part of that whole thinking, if. But I. I'm sure you already went into cognitive therapy and dealt with that, right?

[Caroline]

Okay. All right. Yeah.

[Dr. Laura]

So get the medication. You've got something screwed up in the chemistry up there, and this might just solve the problem. Unless you want to hold on to it and seem pathetic and get sympathy.

[Caroline]

No, no, I just. No, I think, yeah, you're right. Maybe it is a hormonal or biological thing that I may need some balancing out in the brain.

[Dr. Laura]

And hopefully it'll be a very low dose. They'll start. Just tell them I want to start with the lowest, lowest dose. And that may even seem cluck subclinical and see how that works. And you give it a couple of weeks and you might get sort of a mild panic attack, in which case you know how to breathe through it and you'll be more in charge of your life. There's no point in continuing to suffer. I mean, that you've let it go this long is sad to me.

[Caroline]

Yeah, well, because I heard that you had panic attacks as well, and I thought maybe you had a different way of thinking when you had one and how not to.

[Dr. Laura]

I went through all of that, and then I finally ended up on Celexa.

[Caroline]

Oh, okay.

[Dr. Laura]

A subclinical dose. I said, I want to start with the lowest dose. And he said, but this is considered that. I said, yeah, but I'm very sensitive to drugs. If it works at all, subclinical will probably work on me and sh. For five years straight. Not a panic attack, just normal anxiety. You know, if I have to do something new, that's just normal. You have to feel that. That's called being human. But the panic attacks were gone, and I had tried the. Everything else didn't work, and I wasn't going to spend my time suffering. I don't believe in that.

[Caroline]

Oh, wow. Okay. Thank you. That changed my thinking.

[Dr. Laura]

Well, I mentioned Celexa, but that's what I use. Doesn't mean it's good for you. So I didn't suggest you get that. I was just pointing out that my doctor said you ought to try this. Think it's going to work? I tried it. It worked. Made my life a lot better.

[Caroline]

Okay, because you understand.

[Dr. Laura]

Can you be quiet for a second? You have to understand that once you spend this many decades with panic attacks there. It's like a furrow of mud in the rain. There's a pathway in your brain. So if you have anything that causes you, like, oh, God, I have a little bit of a temperature. I'm probably dying, Whatever it is goes down that funnel and a panic attack happens. So at this point, I would not even suggest you try mindfulness.

[Caroline]

Okay.

[Dr. Laura]

You've let it go on so long that it's a natural thing for your brain to go down this path, period.

[Caroline]

Okay.

[Dr. Laura]

It's like a furrow in the earth. You know what I mean? The water will just go along the furrow.

[Caroline]

All right. Okay. Well, thank you for taking my call and the time to answer my question.

[Dr. Laura]

You're welcome. I just don't want you to end up six times in the emergency room thinking you have a heart attack.

[Caroline]

I know. I've done that. Yeah, I know.

[Dr. Laura]

Yeah, I know. When my. When my husband first had his cardiac issues in the middle of the night and almost died, that's when I started my panic attacks. Then I realized this is just not going away. And I'm expert in doing things like mindfulness and the thoughtfulness and the breathing and the exercising, and I did all of that, and it just. It was a pathway in my head, so I got rid of it.

[Caroline]

Right, right. So you don't get them anymore at all.

[Dr. Laura]

Now and then a mild. And I. When I feel it coming on, I go, yeah, try it. I actually say, yeah, try it. I'm going to ignore you. And I get up and do something. I get up and do something, and it distracts me, and it's gonna. Oh, could be folding laundry. I mean, it doesn't have to be anything intelligent.

[Caroline]

Yeah, but so you know when it's happening, like, it just feels horrible. Like, it's so.

[Dr. Laura]

It just rises up in my chest. Yeah. Yeah, but you see it. My furrow is very superficial now.

[Caroline]

Because. Yeah, because your threshold's probably lower. Like, now it's like nothing.

[Dr. Laura]

Yes.

[Caroline]

With you. Like, you're good.

[Dr. Laura]

Well, I wouldn't go that far, but I would get close to that. Yes.

[Caroline]

No, you're amazing. Like, I've been listening to you for years. I just think I've learned so much from you. And I said, oh, my God. She gets panic attacks. Like, me. I have to call her. I just want to know what she thinks. Why? I only. Well, it only bothers me if I get a symptom.

[Dr. Laura]

Oh, they just. They have a mind of their own. After a while, they just have a mind of their own. And you have to do something more to cut the path.

[Caroline]

Right. Okay.

[Dr. Laura]

People who have not had panic attacks do not understand how overwhelming and terrifying they are. No, I mean, one time I went to New York City, arrived very late at night. At the airport, not many people around. And I had to do an interview for one of the books and I wrote what have you. And so I'm walking along all of. And it's nighttime and I'm getting a little scared. All of a sudden the panic attack starts, which is sort of logical. So I walk over to one of the poles and I put my arms around the pole because I didn't want to fall to the ground. So I'm standing there for a while and I say to myself, I didn't fall to the ground. I'm not dying. So get your ass to the hotel. And off I went. Yeah, it requires you to talk to yourself a little bit.

[Caroline]

Yeah, I do that a lot.

[Dr. Laura]

Out loud, though, not in your head, because that. Those are the weaker ones are just in your head, the stronger ones. When I say I didn't drop, I'm not going to die. It's a panic attack. Get my ass to the hotel, take a shower, go to bed. Tomorrow I do the interview. And so with a tight chest, I go off and do it. You muscle through at some point. Not now, right now. You can't muscle through. It'll just make it worse.

[Caroline]

Right. You're right. Well, thank you. I will go see my doctor and suggest something so low dose. I just want to start low. Low.

[Dr. Laura]

Well, don't see your general practitioner. Get a referral to see a psychiatrist who actually does this for a living.

[Caroline]

Yeah, but it takes forever to get appointments here. Like referrals take forever to get any. To see any specialists.

[Dr. Laura]

Well, the reason is I want them to do the DNA test on you to see which antidepressant is going to cause the least side effects, et cetera. It's a DNA test.

[Caroline]

Oh, is it just a simple blood test. Oh, okay. I'm going to ask and family doctors can't do that. Just a psychiatrist can order that.

[Dr. Laura]

I'd rather you were treated by somebody who knows what they're doing because they were trained to do this. A general practitioner isn't that doesn't have training. And I really don't want you doing things that mess with your brain with somebody who hasn't studied it in school.

[Caroline]

Okay, great. I'm going to do that. Thank you.

[Dr. Laura]

To me, the general practitioners are the people who go, it's nothing, you're fine. Or they send you off to a specialist to have them treat certain things. No, that's not what they're there for. There for? To make a general assessment and direct you. Medicine has changed an awful lot. So, yeah, do this the right way so you don't deal with a lot of miserable side effects. I have to take a break. I'm stressing out trying to get you to unstress out. Okay, I'm gonna go do a full push up. Well, maybe I'll do more than one full push up. I'll be right back. Dr. Laura's Deep Dive Deep Dive podcast deeper Dr. Laura's Deep Dive Podcast Deep rough patches, sadness, worry, these are all normal. Anxiety is a part of life, but you can usually get some control over it. You're human. Being human comes with a price. But no matter how anxious we get, we've got to learn to take care of ourselves. Start by putting your mind in a more positive place. Spend time with people who are happy and uplifting. Do something physical or something relaxing to distract yourself from your negative thoughts. Breathe deeply. Listen to your favorite music. Stretch. Snuggle your pet. Take a hot shower. Organize something. Putting things in order and the sense of control that comes with that can be very therapeutic. Spend quality time with people who care about you. Yeah, really care about you. That's a major anxiety reducer. Finally, talk it out with someone as opposed to keeping it bottled up. You can start by calling me, for goodness sake, at 1-800-doctor Laura, or make an appointment to speak with me on [e-mail] now go. Do the right thing. If you like this podcast, be sure to rate it on Apple Podcasts or your favorite place to listen to my podcast. Of course, I'd love if you gave me five stars. And be sure to share this podcast with a friend on Facebook or your preferred social media platform.