Disordered: Anxiety Help

Josh Fletcher and Drew Linsalata

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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169 episodes
Updated Friday

Episodes169

Newest first

Sep 22, 2023 · 45 min
Sleep Anxiety. I'm Anxious About My Sleep!!!! (Episode 028)
I'm having problems with my sleep and I'm super anxious about it. HELP! Anxiety focused on sleep and sleep problems is one of the most common complaints in the Disordered community. Often, anxious people experience sleep disturbances or even periods of insomnia and wind up extremely anxious and afraid over this issue. Lack of sleep gets attached to fears about being even more anxious, never being able to recover, not being strong enough to resist anxious thoughts, or doing some actual physical or mental damage. This week on Disordered, Josh and Drew explore sleep and sleep-focused anxiety to ease some common misconceptions about sleep anxiety. The guys examine the usual suspects (resistance, avoidance, and compulsive problem-solving) as keys when approaching sleep-related anxiety. ---- If you love Disordered and think you might benefit from spending 30 full days in an everyday intensive small group recovery support group led by Josh and Drew, check out Disordered Boost at https://disordered.fm/boost ----- Want to ask us questions, share your wins, or get more information about Josh, Drew, and the Disordered podcast? Visit us on the web at ⁠⁠https://disordered.fm⁠⁠ Disclaimer: Disordered is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. Listening to Disordered does not create a therapeutic relationship between you and the hosts of the podcast. Information here is provided for psychoeducational purposes. As always, when you have questions about your own well-being, please consult your mental health and/or medical care providers. If you are having a mental health crisis, always reach out immediately for in-person help.
Sep 15, 2023 · 48 min
Anxiety and Self-Compassion w/Kimberley Quinlan (Episode 027)
This week we have our first official guest on Disordered! Our friend and highly respected anxiety/OCD expert Kimberley Quinlan is here to help us explore and understand the role of self-compassion in the anxiety recovery process. Kim literally wrote the book on self-compassion when it comes to OCD recovery. There's nobody we know that speaks more knowledgeably and eloquently on this topic. Give this one a listen. There's a ton of good stuff in here you can use in your journey. Find Kimberley online at: https://kimberleyquinlan-lmft.com https://cbtschool.com ---- If you love Disordered and think you might benefit from spending 30 full days in an everyday intensive small group recovery support group led by Josh and Drew, check out Disordered Boost at https://disordered.fm/boost ----- Want to ask us questions, share your wins, or get more information about Josh, Drew, and the Disordered podcast? Visit us on the web at ⁠⁠https://disordered.fm⁠⁠ Disclaimer: Disordered is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. Listening to Disordered does not create a therapeutic relationship between you and the hosts of the podcast. Information here is provided for psychoeducational purposes. As always, when you have questions about your own well-being, please consult your mental health and/or medical care providers. If you are having a mental health crisis, always reach out immediately for in-person help.
Sep 8, 2023 · 47 min
Anxiety: Overthinking, Worry and Rumination (Episode 026)
Are you a worrier? Overthinker? Can't stop ruminating? Do you use thinking as your go-to problem-solving and protection tool, then hate that you can't stop thinking? This week Josh and Drew tackle worry, overthinking, and rumination. This is a topic near and dear to many anxious people in our community so it's high time we talk about it. We'll talk about what overthinking, worry and rumination really are, why it seems like you should overthink or worry, and why this is just an anxious, frightened mind demanding that you problem-solve to stay safe. In the end, does thinking actually do anything but fool us into thinking that we're doing something? Tune in to find out! ---- If you love Disordered and think you might benefit from spending 30 full days in an everyday intensive small group recovery support group led by Josh and Drew, check out Disordered Boost at https://disordered.fm/boost ----- Want to ask us questions, share your wins, or get more information about Josh, Drew, and the Disordered podcast? Visit us on the web at ⁠⁠https://disordered.fm⁠⁠ Disclaimer: Disordered is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. Listening to Disordered does not create a therapeutic relationship between you and the hosts of the podcast. Information here is provided for psychoeducational purposes. As always, when you have questions about your own well-being, please consult your mental health and/or medical care providers. If you are having a mental health crisis, always reach out immediately for in-person help.
Sep 1, 2023 · 44 min
What Would Non-Anxious You Do? (Episode 025)
This week Josh and Drew do a deep dive into this million dollar question: "What would non-anxious you do?" The concept of "non-anxious you" and connecting to the way you would live your life if you were not accommodating the fear of fear is powerful. Josh talks about this all the time, and for good reason! Today we take a look at why acting like non-anxious you might act (even when you're clearly anxious) is so helpful. The guys also chat about how the idea of "non-anxious you" can lead you down the path that re-connects you with yourself, even when you feel like you're not even sure who you are and what you like any more. ---- If you love Disordered and think you might benefit from spending 30 full days in an everyday intensive small group recovery support group led by Josh and Drew,⁠ check out Disordered Boost: https://disordered.fm/boost⁠ ----- Want to ask us questions, share your wins, or get more information about Josh, Drew, and the Disordered podcast? Visit us on the web at ⁠⁠https://disordered.fm⁠⁠ Disclaimer: Disordered is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. Listening to Disordered does not create a therapeutic relationship between you and the hosts of the podcast. Information here is provided for psychoeducational purposes. As always, when you have questions about your own well-being, please consult your mental health and/or medical care providers. If you are having a mental health crisis, always reach out immediately for in-person help.
Aug 25, 2023 · 43 min
Did It Anyway! - Round 1 (Episode 024)
This week on Disordered we kick off a new feature. From time to time we'll do episodes that are entirely community-based, showcasing "did it anyway" stories from listeners. In this episode we take a closer look at a few of these stories, examining exactly what made them into big wins. We had a great time with this one and we hope you find it inspirational and encouraging to hear from your peers. ---- If you love Disordered and think you might benefit from spending 30 full days in an everyday intensive small group recovery support group led by Josh and Drew,⁠⁠ check out Disordered Boost:⁠ ⁠https://disordered.fm/boost⁠⁠ ----- Want to ask us questions, share your wins, or get more information about Josh, Drew, and the Disordered podcast? Visit us on the web at ⁠⁠https://disordered.fm⁠⁠ Disclaimer: Disordered is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. Listening to Disordered does not create a therapeutic relationship between you and the hosts of the podcast. Information here is provided for psychoeducational purposes. As always, when you have questions about your own well-being, please consult your mental health and/or medical care providers. If you are having a mental health crisis, always reach out immediately for in-person help.
Aug 18, 2023 · 45 min
Anxiety Recovery: What Is White Knuckling And How Do I Stop Doing It? (Ep 023)
White knuckling. What is it? Why do we use that phrase all the time in the context of anxiety recovery? This week Drew and Josh talk about what "white knuckling" means in recovery, why it's a natural and expected part of the process for almost everyone, and how to kindly and compassionately take small incremental steps toward letting go of your tight grip. How do you stop white-knuckling and holding on so tightly when anxious and afraid? A little bit at a time. :-) ----- Want to ask us questions, share your wins, or get more information about Josh, Drew, and the Disordered podcast? Visit us on the web at ⁠⁠https://disordered.fm⁠⁠ Disclaimer: Disordered is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. Listening to Disordered does not create a therapeutic relationship between you and the hosts of the podcast. Information here is provided for psychoeducational purposes. As always, when you have questions about your own well-being, please consult your mental health and/or medical care providers. If you are having a mental health crisis, always reach out immediately for in-person help.
Aug 11, 2023 · 46 min
Anxiety Recovery: Relapse ... setback ... and reversion (Episode 022)
This week on Disordered Josh and Drew address the topic of setback or relapse. What is it? Does it even exist, or is a "setback" just another experience along the way to recovery? Of special note is the concept of "reversion" which frames this issue not as failure or return of some anxiety monster, but as a return to hold habits. Did you get triggered and fall back into old habits? No problem! You're human like everyone else and this can happen to all of us. When you see that you're back in those old habits, now you can make new choices and "get back on that horse". Being triggered or feeling intense anxiety after having a long break is certainly discouraging and disappointing. You're allowed to have emotions about that. Just don't set up permanent residence in "It's back, I'm powerless, and I've failed" land. That's not fair to you. ----- Want to ask us questions, share your wins, or get more information about Josh, Drew, and the Disordered podcast? Visit us on the web at ⁠⁠https://disordered.fm⁠⁠ Disclaimer: Disordered is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. Listening to Disordered does not create a therapeutic relationship between you and the hosts of the podcast. Information here is provided for psychoeducational purposes. As always, when you have questions about your own well-being, please consult your mental health and/or medical care providers. If you are having a mental health crisis, always reach out immediately for in-person help.
Aug 4, 2023 · 34 min
Anxiety Recovery: Is Distraction A Good Plan? (Episode 021)
This week on Disordered Josh and Drew tackle the topic of distraction. Trying to find ways to distract yourself when anxious is a common and popular strategy, but is it a good strategy? The answer is no ... and yes! In this episode, we look at how distraction is almost always going to be part of the equation no matter what we do, why intent matters, and how using distraction as a way to focus on something other than how you feel teaches us important recovery lessons. Bonus: Listen to Josh and Drew do an epic role-play where Josh plays the triggered amygdala and Drew plays the wise mind guiding us through acknowledgment and intentional focus. Distraction ... used in a positive way! ----- Want to ask us questions, share your wins, or get more information about Josh, Drew, and the Disordered podcast? Visit us on the web at ⁠⁠https://disordered.fm⁠⁠ Disclaimer: Disordered is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. Listening to Disordered does not create a therapeutic relationship between you and the hosts of the podcast. Information here is provided for psychoeducational purposes. As always, when you have questions about your own well-being, please consult your mental health and/or medical care providers. If you are having a mental health crisis, always reach out immediately for in-person help.
Jul 28, 2023 · 38 min
Anxiety and Depersonalization / Derealization (Ep. 020)
Depersonalization and Derealization - AKA "DP/DR" This week Drew and Josh get into the nuts and bolts of this most common anxiety and stress response. This is the sense that you're not real, that you're detached from yourself, or that the world around you suddenly feels unreal or out of reach. As scary as this experience is, and as much as it is difficult to face, it is not permanent or dangerous and can't actually harm you. Adopting a more accepting and tolerant approach to DP/DR - allowing it to be there without fighting so hard or trying to figure it out - helps your brain learn that it's OK to leave it alone. Over time this means you're not really frightened of the sensation any longer which makes it far less likely to hang around like it does now. ---- ----- Want to ask us questions, share your wins, or get more information about Josh, Drew, and the Disordered podcast? Visit us on the web at ⁠⁠https://disordered.fm⁠⁠ Disclaimer: Disordered is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. Listening to Disordered does not create a therapeutic relationship between you and the hosts of the podcast. Information here is provided for psychoeducational purposes. As always, when you have questions about your own well-being, please consult your mental health and/or medical care providers. If you are having a mental health crisis, always reach out immediately for in-person help.
Jul 21, 2023 · 45 min
I'm Obsessed With Anxiety And Anxiety Recovery! (Ep 019)
I'm obsessed with anxiety and anxiety recovery! This week on Disordered Josh and Drew examine what happens when we become obsessed with anxiety and then obsessed with anxiety recovery. This is a thing that happens to many in this community, so it's worth examining. As usual, we share our own personal experiences with anxiety and recovery, then we throw in our professional knowledge and experience alongside the usual dose of humor and compassion. It's a good listen! Oh, and this one has more yummy quotes per minute than any other podcast episode ever recorded, so check it out. ----- Want to ask us questions, share your wins, or get more information about Josh, Drew, and the Disordered podcast? Visit us on the web at ⁠https://disordered.fm⁠ ---- Disclaimer: Disordered is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. Listening to Disordered does not create a therapeutic relationship between you and the hosts of the podcast. Information here is provided for psychoeducational purposes. As always, when you have questions about your own well-being, please consult your mental health and/or medical care providers. If you are having a mental health crisis, always reach out immediately for in-person help.
Jul 14, 2023 · 45 min
Driving Anxiety - Anxiety Experienced While Driving (Episode 018)
DRIVING ANXIETY! This week on Disordered, Josh and Drew take a look at a very common concern in the anxiety disorder community - driving anxiety. Many many people that suffer from panic disorder, agoraphobia, OCD, and other anxiety disorders often experience intense anxiety or even full-scale panic attacks when driving or when driving under certain circumstances or conditions. We'll talk about what driving anxiety is, a slightly more productive and less overwhelming way to frame it as not a special form of anxiety, some of the most common fears associated with driving anxiety, and how to best address this issue. As usual, the episode combines professional experience, clinical knowledge, our own lived experiences, a bit of humor, and plenty of understanding and compassion. ----- Want to ask us questions, share your wins, or get more information about Josh, Drew, and the Disordered podcast? Visit us on the web at ⁠https://disordered.fm⁠ ---- Disclaimer: Disordered is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. Listening to Disordered does not create a therapeutic relationship between you and the hosts of the podcast. Information here is provided for psychoeducational purposes. As always, when you have questions about your own well-being, please consult your mental health and/or medical care providers. If you are having a mental health crisis, always reach out immediately for in-person help.
Jul 7, 2023 · 44 min
Health Anxiety (Episode 017)
This week on Disordered, Drew and Josh tackle the topic of health anxiety. Health anxiety is an obsession with one's physical or mental health that drives a continuous series of compulsions designed to soothe the fear, uncertainty, and worry about well-being and safety. The episode covers intolerance of uncertainty, repetitive compulsive checking and seeking of reassurance, and how leaning into probability and reality rather than fear is the way out. As usual, the guys share some of their own personal struggles with health anxiety, along with a healthy serving of compassion, humor, and professional expertise. ----- Want to ask us questions, share your wins, or get more information about Josh, Drew, and the Disordered podcast? Visit us on the web at ⁠https://disordered.fm⁠ ---- Disclaimer: Disordered is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. Listening to Disordered does not create a therapeutic relationship between you and the hosts of the podcast. Information here is provided for psychoeducational purposes. As always, when you have questions about your own well-being, please consult your mental health and/or medical care providers. If you are having a mental health crisis, always reach out immediately for in-person help.
Jun 30, 2023 · 40 min
But HOW Do I Accept Anxiety? (Episode 016)
Accepting anxiety and acceptance are two of the most difficult to grasp and misapplied concepts in the entire anxiety recovery sphere. This week on Disordered, Josh and Drew dig into the idea of acceptance. What is accepting? How do I accept anxiety? What happens when I accept? What things are most certainly NOT acceptance? As usual, this episode combines professional knowledge and training, professional experience, personal lived experience, and big helpings of both compassion and humor to shed some light on an important part of the anxiety recovery process. We hope you find it useful in some way. ----- Want to ask us questions, share your wins, or get more information about Josh, Drew, and the Disordered podcast? Visit us on the web at ⁠https://disordered.fm⁠ ---- Disclaimer: Disordered is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. Listening to Disordered does not create a therapeutic relationship between you and the hosts of the podcast. Information here is provided for psychoeducational purposes. As always, when you have questions about your own well-being, please consult your mental health and/or medical care providers. If you are having a mental health crisis, always reach out immediately for in-person help.
Jun 23, 2023 · 44 min
My Loved Ones Don't Understand My Anxiety (Episode 015)
My Loved Ones Don't Understand My Anxiety This week on Disordered Drew and Josh talk about how anxiety disorders have impact not just on the person struggling to recover, but on the people close to them. When your loved ones want to help you, but just don't understand or "get it", this can cause frustration, conflict, and even anger and resentment. The guys talk about how our loved ones can be helpful, and how we can help them to help us in recovery. This is a great episode to share with someone close to you that might be frustrated by your anxiety struggles and looking for guidance. ----- Want to ask us questions, share your wins, or get more information about Josh, Drew, and the Disordered podcast? Visit us on the web at ⁠https://disordered.fm⁠ ---- Disclaimer: Disordered is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. Listening to Disordered does not create a therapeutic relationship between you and the hosts of the podcast. Information here is provided for psychoeducational purposes. As always, when you have questions about your own well-being, please consult your mental health and/or medical care providers. If you are having a mental health crisis, always reach out immediately for in-person help.
Jun 16, 2023 · 45 min
Anxiety and Depression (Episode 014)
This week on Disordered Drew and Josh look at the ways that anxiety and depression are tied together. The guys examine depression, how it is and isn't connected to anxiety, and the very important difference between being depressed and developing a fear of becoming depressed (this is very common in our community). We talked about rumination and the inner critic as they relate to depression. We touched on the role of medication in treating depression and anxiety, and we examined how negative self-beliefs can fuel both anxious and depressive states. ----- Want to ask us questions, share your wins, or get more information about Josh, Drew, and the Disordered podcast? Visit us on the web at https://disordered.fm ---- Disclaimer: Disordered is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. Listening to Disordered does not create a therapeutic relationship between you and the hosts of the podcast. Information here is provided for psychoeducational purposes. As always, when you have questions about your own well-being, please consult your mental health and/or medical care providers. If you are having a mental health crisis, always reach out immediately for in-person help.
Jun 9, 2023 · 39 min
Anxiety: ALL ... DAY ... LONG (Episode 013)
What if I'm anxious all day long? This is a question we get asked almost daily. This week on Disordered let's take a look at being anxious all day long. In this episode, we'll address misconceptions about anxiety that hangs around all day long. We'll also share our own experiences with persistent anxiety. Finally, we get into a discussion about accidentally fueling the cycle of all-day anxiety and why trying to fix it is generally a bad plan. Grab a coffee or tea and join us! ----- Want to ask us questions, share your wins, or get more information about Josh, Drew, and the Disordered podcast? Visit us on the web at https://disordered.fm ---- Disclaimer: Disordered is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. Listening to Disordered does not create a therapeutic relationship between you and the hosts of the podcast. Information here is provided for psychoeducational purposes. As always, when you have questions about your own well-being, please consult your mental health and/or medical care providers. If you are having a mental health crisis, always reach out immediately for in-person help.
Jun 2, 2023 · 42 min
ANXIETY: Morning and Night (Episode 012)
This week on Disordered, Drew and Josh dive into two very popular topics in the anxiety community. The dreaded morning anxiety and the equally dreaded night anxiety. Many people struggling with anxiety disorders will lament the fact that they experience elevated levels of anxiety in the morning or at night (or sometimes both) and will insist that this is special or different and there must be specific interventions for that "kind" of anxiety. This is understandable although generally misguided. This episode talks about the ins and outs of morning and night anxiety, looking at basic concepts that govern how each is approached. As usual, the guys both share some of their own experiences with anxiety, both in the morning and in the evening. ----- Want to ask us questions, share your wins, or get more information about Josh, Drew, and the Disordered podcast? Visit us on the web at https://disordered.fm ---- Disclaimer: Disordered is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. Listening to Disordered does not create a therapeutic relationship between you and the hosts of the podcast. Information here is provided for psychoeducational purposes. As always, when you have questions about your own well-being, please consult your mental health and/or medical care providers. If you are having a mental health crisis, always reach out immediately for in-person help.
May 26, 2023 · 42 min
Intrusive Thoughts ... Just Thoughts? (Episode 011)
This week on Disordered, Josh and Drew discuss scary, unwanted, recurring, intrusive thoughts that can frighten us and trigger high levels of anxiety and discomfort. The guys talk about the many different themes that intrusive thoughts cover including thoughts about harm, sexuality and sexual orientation, relationships, health, death, and existential issues. While intrusive thoughts are usually associated with OCD, they are generally present for almost anyone that struggles with any anxiety disorder. This episode also examines the idea that "thoughts are just thoughts", which is true, but doesn't really accurately validate the intense anxiety and threat response that so many unwanted intrusive thoughts can trigger. Josh and Drew also discuss the idea that you cannot decide to not have thoughts, and that having disturbing or scary thoughts does not mean you are broken or a horrible person, even when the thoughts themselves are telling you that. ----- Want to ask us questions, share your wins, or get more information about Josh, Drew, and the Disordered podcast? Visit us on the web at https://disordered.fm ---- Disclaimer: Disordered is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. Listening to Disordered does not create a therapeutic relationship between you and the hosts of the podcast. Information here is provided for psychoeducational purposes. As always, when you have questions about your own well-being, please consult your mental health and/or medical care providers. If you are having a mental health crisis, always reach out immediately for in-person help.
May 19, 2023 · 39 min
Anxiety Recovery: The Attitude Shift (Episode 010)
This week on Disordered, Josh and Drew talk about the all-important attitude shift that has to happen as part of recovery from an anxiety disorder. Recovery is spearheaded by behavioral change but that behavioral change also has to foster an attitudinal shift that moves you from trying to eliminate your anxiety to a consistent intentional tolerance of discomfort that will teach you that you can handle anxiety and don't have to fear it any longer. That's a key step toward decreasing your anxiety levels over time and a shift in attitude is important in this respect. You'll also hear both Josh and Drew have realizations about the missing attitudinal shift that kept both of them stuck in the early stages of recovery. The guys both come to the conclusion that the "relapses" they experienced were based primarily on relying on technique without allowing that important shift in attitude. If you're feeling like you're constantly being pulled back to "square one" this might resonate with you. ----- Want to ask us questions, share your wins, or get more information about Josh, Drew, and the Disordered podcast? Visit us on the web at https://disordered.fm ---- Disclaimer: Disordered is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. Listening to Disordered does not create a therapeutic relationship between you and the hosts of the podcast. Information here is provided for psychoeducational purposes. As always, when you have questions about your own well-being, please consult your mental health and/or medical care providers. If you are having a mental health crisis, always reach out immediately for in-person help.
May 12, 2023 · 39 min
Anxiety Recovery: Who Gets The Credit? (Episode 009)
In this episode of Disordered, Josh and Drew discuss why recovery is so dependent on learning that when you handle anxiety, fear, and uncertainty, YOU GET THE CREDIT FOR DOING THAT. Recovery hinges on seeing, then dropping all the safety devices and rituals so you can see through actual experience that YOU handled the discomfort without needing anything or anyone to save you. The guys talk about the idea of unconditional OK-ness, and learning that in all the time that you've been searching for tools and techniques and methods for managing your anxiety, it's always just been you getting the job done. All those other things deserve no credit because in the end, you are all you need and you are capable even without all the magic things that you think protect you. ----- Want to ask us questions, share your wins, or get more information about Josh, Drew, and the Disordered podcast? Visit us on the web at https://disordered.fm ---- Disclaimer: Disordered is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. Listening to Disordered does not create a therapeutic relationship between you and the hosts of the podcast. Information here is provided for psychoeducational purposes. As always, when you have questions about your own well-being, please consult your mental health and/or medical care providers. If you are having a mental health crisis, always reach out immediately for in-person help.