Dear Anxiety
68 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 189 ratingsWorry, anger, stress, perfectionism, body image: if you feel it, we want to talk about it. This is a show for humans of all ages about the difficult emotions we all struggle with. We share research-based solutions for the greater mental wellness of your whole family. You’ll learn tools for improved mindfulness, communication, self-awareness, and we hope you’ll laugh with us along the way. Join hosts Ed Crasnick, a comedian and Emmy Award winning writer, and Renee Jain, positive psychology guru and the founder of GoZen!
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Episodes
Introducing 'Dear Anger': Ed and Renee are BACK!
September 07, 2021 16:00 - 2 minutes - 1.46 MBHello, Dear Anxiety fans! It's been a long time, but we're thrilled to announce that Ed and Renee are BACK. If you love Dear Anxiety, make sure you check out the all new Dear Anger podcast. Screaming and yelling, fighting and arguing, tantrums and hissy fits: anger finds its way into every home, classroom, and workplace. Ed and Renee are ready to talk about it, and their fans will find the same tools, research-based solutions, and laughs they learned to love in Dear Anxiety. Subscribe now, w...
Calming Coronavirus Anxiety: A Special Interview With Avital Schreiber Levy
March 24, 2020 18:00 - 56 minutes - 54.7 MBSevere changes are upon us due to coronavirus, and anxieties are running high. The Dear Anxiety team has assembled a short series of interviews to help us understand and cope with the fears and emotions tied to the pandemic and the changes it’s forcing. Support the show (https://gozen.com/dearanxiety/)
Calming Coronavirus Anxiety: A Special Interview With Dr. Laura Markham
March 19, 2020 15:00 - 26 minutes - 22 MBSevere changes are upon us due to coronavirus, and anxieties are running high. The Dear Anxiety team has assembled a short series of interviews to help us understand and cope with the fears and emotions tied to the pandemic and the changes it’s forcing. Support the show (https://gozen.com/dearanxiety/)
Calming Coronavirus Anxiety: A Special Interview With Natasha Daniels
March 16, 2020 16:00 - 12 minutes - 10.1 MBSevere changes are upon us due to coronavirus, and anxieties are running high. The Dear Anxiety team has assembled a short series of interviews to help us understand and cope with the fears and emotions tied to the pandemic and the changes it’s forcing. Support the show (https://gozen.com/dearanxiety/)
Calming Coronavirus Anxiety: A Special Interview With Dr. Shefali Tsabary
March 14, 2020 19:00 - 20 minutes - 28.5 MBSevere changes are upon us due to coronavirus, and anxieties are running high. The Dear Anxiety team has assembled a short series of interviews to help us understand and cope with the fears and emotions tied to the pandemic and the changes it's forcing. Support the show (https://gozen.com/dearanxiety/)
Coaching Kids Through Frustration
March 13, 2020 06:00 - 30 minutes - 32.3 MBKids don't often mask their emotions, and frustration is no exception. From throwing the puzzle across the room, to slamming school books closed, to sitting and pouting on the bench at the baseball game, kids (and some adults) are very comfortable showing us their low tolerance for frustration. So how do we help them through it? Ed and Renee have plenty of ideas about how we can boost our kids', and our own, willingness to push through difficult and frustrating tasks. Support the show
Authenticity in Yourself and in Your Friendships
March 06, 2020 07:00 - 38 minutes - 50.5 MBWhat does it mean to be authentic? Co-host Ed Crasnick concedes early on that he has no idea, and in doing so, proves that he himself is truly authentic. In this episode, Ed, together with Renee Jain, explore what it means to be authentic, to be genuinely comfortable with yourself and your abilities, and to be transparent and honest in our friendships and interactions. Support the show
Party Survival Guide
February 28, 2020 07:00 - 39 minutes - 37.8 MBFrom awkward conversations and embarrassing moments, to outright anxiety about where to stand or with whom to talk, succeeding at parties can be a challenge for everyone, and you know that Ed and Renee have never backed away from a healthy challenge! Packed with tools for starting and ending conversations, breaking into groups, and winning people over with your wit, this episode is your ultimate survival guide for parties, dances, and other social events. Support the show
Using Emotional Resilience Against Bullies
February 21, 2020 07:00 - 32 minutes - 35 MBFew campaigns rival the strength and popularity of anti-bullying efforts, and justifiably so. It's important to project our kids. But what if there was a different approach, or one of at least equal importance? "If we victim-proof kids, we bully-proof schools," says Brooks Gibbs, award winning resilience educator and author of Raise Them Strong. In this episode, Ed and Renee visit portions of a recent interview with Brooks, and talk through conflicts, apologies, emotional resilience, and "de...
Mistakes We Make While Making Mistakes
February 14, 2020 07:00 - 36 minutes - 40 MBBy now you've likely heard about the value of growth mindsets, and if you've head about growth mindsets, you've likely heard about the importance of mistakes. "Teach your child to celebrate their mistakes, then watch them learn and flourish!" Hold on a sec... Ed and Renee are here to pump the breaks on that runaway mistake-party. First of all, not all mistakes are the same. Second, too much focus on the mistakes themselves is the opposite of helpful! Check out this awesome episode for a quic...
Anxiety: The Good, The Bad, and The Awesome
February 07, 2020 07:00 - 37 minutes - 38.1 MBAnd, we're back! In this season 2 premier, Ed and Renee return to the root of the show, anxiety, with some strategies for identifying its good, its bad, and its awesome. If you're wondering what on earth could be good, let alone 'awesome,' about such a difficult emotion, you're just a click away from learning. Support the show
Holiday Mental Prep, and Season Finale
December 13, 2019 06:00 - 9 minutes - 10.8 MBTime flies when you're recording podcasts! Amazing to think that it's been a year since we launched Dear Anxiety. Even more amazing to think about the dozens of topics we've covered, the hundreds of thousands of downloads, and the wealth of heartfelt ratings, reviews, and emails we've received. Thank you, listeners, for making it all possible! Ed and Renee conclude season one by reflecting on the show, and sharing a few quick thoughts about their mental preparation for the fast-approaching h...
Growing Your Family's Gratitude
December 06, 2019 06:00 - 30 minutes - 32.7 MBWe all want to raise grateful kids: kids who say thank you at the dinner table, show appreciation for every convenience they have, and express gratitude for all the gifts they're given. But gratitude isn't just about the words we speak. It's about what happens in our bodies and minds when we truly reflect on all that's good in our lives. And what about our own gratitude? Ed and Renee are here with tools for helping everyone in your family grow their gratitude skills. Support the show
Helping Kids Survive the Popularity Pressure-Cooker
November 22, 2019 10:00 - 43 minutes - 49.2 MBWere you popular in school? Part of the "in" crowd? Or did you always feel like you were on the outside looking in? And what about our kids? Do you see them struggling with the same pressures of popularity made even worse in a digital age? Everyone understands the pains associated with "popularity," whether you always felt excluded, or you were at the top of the social ladder trying to maintain a status that you didn't fully understand. Listen in as Ed and Renee share their own emotional exp...
The Popularity Pressure-Cooker
November 22, 2019 10:00 - 43 minutes - 49.2 MBWere you popular in school? Part of the "in" crowd? Or did you always feel like you were on the outside looking in? And what about our kids? Do you see them struggling with the same pressures of popularity made even worse in a digital age? Everyone understands the pains associated with "popularity," whether you always felt excluded, or you were at the top of the social ladder trying to maintain a status that you didn't fully understand. Listen in as Ed and Renee share their own emotional exp...
Boredom: An Exploration of Kids' Need for Entertainment
November 15, 2019 10:00 - 33 minutes - 34.7 MB"School is so boring." "I don't have anything to do." "This car ride takes too long!" "I'm. So. BORED!" Everyone has heard these protests from their kids, and there's something about their words that pressures us into action, as if they were facing some physical danger. But what exactly is boredom, and why do we feel the need to fix it so urgently? Should we be fixing it at all? What are the reasons kids get bored in the first place? Hear all these questions asked and answered on this stimul...
Boredom: An Exciting Exploration
November 15, 2019 10:00 - 33 minutes - 34.7 MB"School is so boring." "I don't have anything to do." "This car ride takes too long!" "I'm. So. BORED!" Everyone has heard these protests from their kids, and there's something about their words that pressures us into action, as if they were facing some physical danger. But what exactly is boredom, and why do we feel the need to fix it so urgently? Should we be fixing it at all? What are the reasons kids get bored in the first place? Hear all these questions asked and answered on this stimul...
How to Handle "I'm so bored!"
November 15, 2019 10:00 - 33 minutes - 34.7 MB"School is so boring." "I don't have anything to do." "This car ride takes too long!" "I'm. So. BORED!" Everyone has heard these protests from their kids, and there's something about their words that pressures us into action, as if they were facing some physical danger. But what exactly is boredom, and why do we feel the need to fix it so urgently? Should we be fixing it at all? What are the reasons kids get bored in the first place? Hear all these questions asked and answered on this stimul...
Feeling the Physical Symptoms of Anxiety
November 08, 2019 10:00 - 31 minutes - 31.1 MBOne of the hardest things about coping with anxiety is feeling the physical manifestations in our bodies. Blushing. Sweating. Racing hearts. Shortness of breath. Shaking hands. For some, the symptoms are annoying and embarrassing. For others, they're scary, even mimicking the symptoms of a heart attack! Plus, those symptoms themselves can make our worry worse; we get anxiety about our anxious experience! In this episode, Ed and Renee talk us through our physical reactions to anxiety, and no ...
Turning the Tide on Sleep Deprivation
November 01, 2019 09:00 - 37 minutes - 38.1 MBMost adults know that they're supposed to get 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night. Despite that knowledge, many of us don't really come close hitting that target. And teens are even worse! When it comes to getting their recommended hours of sleep, 97% of them fall short. So, what is the real cost of sleep deprivation? How can we help our kids get the rest that's essential for their development, and how can we change our own sleep habits so that we can show up as our best selves? Ed and Renee h...
Challenges of Compassionate Parenting
October 18, 2019 09:00 - 31 minutes - 32.2 MBNothing worthwhile is ever easy, and parenting with compassion is no exception. Really, caring and compassion can be flat out exhausting, so much so that there has been actual research into the issue of compassion fatigue. Ed and Renee know you're here because you ARE a compassionate parent, so they spend this episode exploring why caring is tiring, how we can make space for ourselves to rejuvenate, and they give us examples of how we can show up as our best, most loving selves, even when we...
Finding Confidence, Authenticity, and Yourself
October 11, 2019 09:00 - 28 minutes - 29.4 MBIt would be hard to find a human who didn't want to be more confident, but despite the universal appeal, confidence means something a little different to everybody. Do you want more confidence on social situations? In relationships? Do you want to be more confident giving speeches? Or how about simply being more confidence in who you are as an authentic individual? Ed and Renee touch on all of these things while taking on confidence in this week's episode of Dear Anxiety. Support the show
Finding Confidence, Authenticity, and Yourself
October 11, 2019 09:00 - 28 minutes - 29.4 MBIt would be hard to find a human who didn't want to be more confident, but despite the universal appeal, confidence means something a little different to everybody. Do you want more confidence on social situations? In relationships? Do you want to be more confident giving speeches? Or how about simply being more confidence in who you are as an authentic individual? Ed and Renee touch on all of these things while taking on confidence in this week's episode of Dear Anxiety. Support the show (...
Homework Pressure, Stress, and Worry
October 04, 2019 09:00 - 39 minutes - 42.8 MB"I love homework," said nobody ever. After a long day of sitting quietly, following directions, trying to focus, and being otherwise un-childlike, our kids are expected to come home, sit down, and do more of the same. Yuck! Additionally, many put pressure on themselves to perform and show up perfectly, so just the act of studying or being assessed is stressful. In this listener-requested episode, Ed and Renee take on homework by sharing tools for finding motivation and discovering the "why" ...
Answering Questions on Acne, Embarrassment, Opening Up, and More!
September 27, 2019 09:00 - 46 minutes - 45.9 MBWe loving getting your letters and messages, and we've dedicated this entire episode to reading and responding to our favorites. There are letters from parents with struggling children, encouraging success stories from listeners who are making positive changes, and new strategies and interventions for dealing with the mental wellness challenges we face every day. Support the show
Supporting Loved Ones Through Anxiety
September 20, 2019 09:00 - 31 minutes - 32.8 MBEven if you're a person who experiences worry, even if you're all too familiar with the mental turmoil and physical pain of anxiety, most of us don't know how to help others who are dealing with similar challenges. Even worse, we find that anxiety in others starts to cause anxiety in ourselves. In this episode, Ed and Renee walk us through ways to calm and comfort our anxious family members and friends without escalating their experience or trying to match their emotions ourselves. Support ...
Teaming Up Against Separation Anxiety
September 13, 2019 09:00 - 28 minutes - 31 MBMaybe it's that time of year, when your kids are heading back to school, or maybe going for the first time. Maybe it's a first stay with a babysitter. Maybe it's a first sleepover. Whatever the case, it can be hard for a child to leave a parent. And really, just as hard for a parent to leave a child. At some point, we all experience some anxiety over being apart. It's a normal, biological response to separation from a protector or dependent. But we all need to endure those separations, and E...
Ready, Mindset, Go!
August 30, 2019 09:00 - 38 minutes - 52.8 MBAll the answers to your mental wellness challenges are right here in this very episode! Included is a simple set of instructions that will change your life: "You just have to look at the bright side and think more positively." Ugh, if only anything was that simple. In this episode, Ed and Renee talk through the complexities of three different types of mindsets: optimistic mindset, growth mindset, and stress mindset. You'll learn how they affect our behavior, and how they affect what happens ...
Owning Your Originality
August 23, 2019 09:00 - 37 minutes - 51.8 MBAt some point in time, everyone feels the pain of not fitting in. It hurts to feel like there is nobody else around who is just like us. But really, why shouldn't we be unique? Why shouldn't we be one of a kind? Why shouldn't we embrace our superpower of being original? In this episode, Renee explains what it means to be original, to listen to your inner voice, and follow your heart, but it all begins with some emotional storytelling and confessions by Ed. Support the show
Renee Jain Interviews Dr. Justin Coulson
August 16, 2019 09:00 - 1 hour - 88.9 MBThis week, we're happy share Renee's interview with Dr. Justin Coulson. Dr. Coulson is a respected and popular parenting expert, and is sought after for his advice on family life, relationships, well-being, and resilience. Support the show
Post-Traumatic Growth
August 09, 2019 09:00 - 35 minutes - 48.9 MBAre you not sure what post-traumatic growth means? That's okay, Ed doesn't know either. But, as he's fond of saying, thank goodness Renee is here. She describes the importance of finding value after challenging experiences, explains the contrast to post-traumatic stress, and together, Ed and Renee demonstrate some of the skills involved in helping kids find the positive hidden in the negative, while balancing the importance of allowing them space to feel their hurt. Support the show
Post-Traumatic Growth
August 09, 2019 09:00 - 35 minutes - 48.9 MBAre you not sure what post-traumatic growth means? That's okay, Ed doesn't know either. But, as he's fond of saying, thank goodness Renee is here. She describes the importance of finding value after challenging experiences, explains the contrast to post-traumatic stress, and together, Ed and Renee demonstrate some of the skills involved in helping kids find the positive hidden in the negative, while balancing the importance of allowing them space to feel their hurt. Support the show
The Pursuit of Meaning
August 02, 2019 09:00 - 45 minutes - 62.3 MBHave you been searching for the meaning of life? Relax, you've finally found it! Well, you've found a podcast about meaning, at least. There are a lot of myths about meaning in life. Is it tied to work? Family? Helping others? Or is it something else entirely? Believe it or not, there have been studies done about what gives life the most meaning, and Ed and Renee are here to share some of that information, give you some tips for helping your kids find meaning, and maybe they'll help you find...
Being a Realistic Optimist
July 26, 2019 09:00 - 32 minutes - 44.5 MBMost of us know people who always believe, no matter the circumstances, that things will turn out just peachy! At the same time, we know people who breath constant doom and gloom and believe that the decks are always stacked against success. Of course, the truth usually lies somewhere between. Join Ed and Renee as they demonstrate tools for finding the balance between both extremes, and teach us all how to be realistic optimists. Support the show (https://gozen.com/dearanxiety/)
Being a Realistic Optimist
July 26, 2019 09:00 - 32 minutes - 44.5 MBMost of us know people who always believe, no matter the circumstances, that things will turn out just peachy! At the same time, we know people who breath constant doom and gloom and believe that the decks are always stacked against success. Of course, the truth usually lies somewhere between. Join Ed and Renee as they demonstrate tools for finding the balance between both extremes, and teach us all how to be realistic optimists. Support the show
Belonging, Fitting In, and Acceptance
July 19, 2019 09:00 - 33 minutes - 46.6 MBScience shows us that when we feel a sense of rejection, when we feel like we don't fit in, it activates the same part of our brain as physical pain. That means that when we lack a sense of belonging, it literally hurts. No wonder we all work so hard to fit in! But is "fitting in" what's best for us? It turns out that can hurt, too. In this episode, we discover the differences between belonging and fitting in, and we learn the meaning of real acceptance. Support the show
Belonging, Fitting In, and Acceptance
July 19, 2019 09:00 - 33 minutes - 46.6 MBScience shows us that when we feel a sense of rejection, when we feel like we don't fit in, it activates the same part of our brain as physical pain. That means that when we lack a sense of belonging, it literally hurts. No wonder we all work so hard to fit in! But is "fitting in" what's best for us? It turns out that can hurt, too. In this episode, we discover the differences between belonging and fitting in, and we learn the meaning of real acceptance. Support the show
Stuck in the What-If Loop
July 12, 2019 09:00 - 36 minutes - 50.5 MBHumans have a unique ability to time travel in our minds. We revisit the past so we can learn from it. We try to predict the future so that we can be prepared. But sometimes, when we look into the future, we see too much uncertainty, and the result is a truckload of worry and anxiety. "What if it rains during the party? What if the food doesn't turn out? What if nobody shows up? What if nobody has fun? What if none of these people are really my friends?" Ed and Renee are master what-iffers, ...
Further Procrastination Exploration
June 28, 2019 09:00 - 28 minutes - 38.8 MBSome topics are too large to cover just once. In this episode, Ed and Renee dive back into what researchers call "intentional delay." They discuss when procrastination is good, when procrastination is bad, and when it's downright ugly. And for those of us still trying to fight our procrastinating demons, it turns out that forgiveness and self-compassion has a huge role to play in how we get stuff done in the future. Support the show
Escaping The Over-Scheduling Trap
June 21, 2019 09:00 - 40 minutes - 55.7 MBRemember long summer days as a child, when, in the best way, you had nothing to do for days, you invented games with friends, explored neighborhoods, and just got lost in the luxury of free time? Well, that sure went away fast. With our stressful lives, who has time to relax like that anymore? Not many of us, and even worse, not many of our kids know that freedom, either. These days busy schedules rule, but at what cost? Listen in as Renee and Ed discuss the high price of the over-scheduling...
Spotting Thought Holes
June 14, 2019 09:00 - 36 minutes - 49.5 MBOur thoughts are notoriously inaccurate. We exaggerate. We misinterpret. We process selectively. So how can we tell the difference between the truth and lies? Renee thinks that understanding cognitive distortions, or "thought holes," is the single most important mental wellness tool a person can have. In this episode, she and Ed help us identify different kinds of thought holes, show us how we can get ourselves unstuck from them, and they host a game show with fabulous prizes. Support the ...
Self Love is All You Need
June 07, 2019 09:00 - 35 minutes - 32.9 MBWhy is it so hard to be loved? We're not talking about being loved by other people; we all have people who love us. Why is it so hard to be loved by ourselves? Why is it easier to beat ourselves up than it is to have some compassion for ourselves? Why is it easier to say "I need to be better" than it is to say "I love who I am right now"? It's a love fest for Ed and Renee, as they discuss some scientific reasons for showing ourselves more love, reasons we're so self critical, and offer some...
Renee Jain Interviews Dr. Tamar Chansky
May 31, 2019 09:00 - 54 minutes - 49.7 MBIt's a week off for your hosts, Ed Crasnick and Renee Jain, but Dear Anxiety must go on! We're happy to share with our listeners this interview with Dr. Tamar Chansky, a psychologist dedicated to helping children, teens, and adults overcome anxiety. Dr. Chansky discusses hallmark signs of anxiety, tips for role playing with your child (a Dear Anxiety favorite), and some games to help your child understand what their worry is telling them. Support the show
Tolerating Frustration
May 24, 2019 09:00 - 45 minutes - 41.4 MBFrustration is bad, right? We certainly treat it that way. When our kids get frustrated, we want them to stop. Immediately! Their frustration even frustrates us. As for ourselves, sometimes feeling frustrated fuels even more frustration. Well, if you've ever heard Dear Anxiety before, you probably know that "frustration is bad" isn't the whole truth. Renee and Ed explain what exactly frustration is, why we feel it, and how the feeling of frustration is really just the tip of an emotional ice...
Putting Sleep Anxiety (and Your Kids) to Bed
May 17, 2019 09:00 - 38 minutes - 35.3 MBNearly everyone, kids included, struggles with sleep. In fact, the problem is so rampant, the Centers for Disease Control called insufficient sleep a public health epidemic. Anxiety kicks in, thoughts begin to race, fears run wild, and all we can do is stare at the ceiling. In this episode Renee recounts her battles with sleep, Ed ponders whether he's slept enough to be considered human, and together they share nine tools, strategies, and bits of wisdom to help you and your child when it com...
Social Anxiety - Truths, Myths, and How To Work Against It
May 10, 2019 09:00 - 42 minutes - 39.3 MBYour child seems afraid of being around other kids, and it hurts to see them struggle so much with friends. Why are they behaving this way? Are they just shy? Insecure? Or could this be social anxiety? What does that even mean? The first step in discussing social anxiety is to discuss what social anxiety is not. Social anxiety is not being an introvert. Social anxiety is not being shy. Social anxiety is not feeling a little nervous. If it's not those things, then what is it? Ed and Renee dis...
Passing Through the Not-So-Great State of Loneliness
May 03, 2019 09:00 - 43 minutes - 39.7 MBHow would you describe loneliness? Is it isolation? Disconnection? A feeling of not belonging? Whatever words you choose, we can all agree it hurts, and it hurts so much, it actually rises to the level of a public health issue. That's right, it has real, physical consequences! Researchers have come to some stunning conclusions, stating loneliness may be the health equivalent of smoking 15 cigarettes a day, and that it's more dangerous for your body than obesity. In this episode, Ed and Renee...
Passing Through the Not-So-Great State of Loneliness
May 03, 2019 09:00 - 43 minutes - 39.7 MBHow would you describe loneliness? Is it isolation? Disconnection? A feeling of not belonging? Whatever words you choose, we can all agree it hurts, and it hurts so much, it actually rises to the level of a public health issue. That's right, it has real, physical consequences! Researchers have come to some stunning conclusions, stating loneliness may be the health equivalent of smoking 15 cigarettes a day, and that it's more dangerous for your body than obesity. In this episode, Ed and Renee...
The Pain of Social Comparison
April 26, 2019 09:00 - 40 minutes - 36.8 MBWe've all heard that "comparison is the thief of joy." Still, we can't help but measure ourselves against others. We compare our jobs and salaries, clothes and appearances, relationships and families. Our kids to it, too, measuring popularity, grades, looks, athleticism, social media numbers. Social comparison isn't bad when we let it inspire us, when we recognize and respect the achievements of others. However, too often the comparisons make us feel inadequate, like failures, or just plain ...
The Pain of Social Comparison
April 26, 2019 09:00 - 40 minutes - 36.8 MBWe've all heard that "comparison is the thief of joy." Still, we can't help but measure ourselves against others. We compare our jobs and salaries, clothes and appearances, relationships and families. Our kids to it, too, measuring popularity, grades, looks, athleticism, social media numbers. Social comparison isn't bad when we let it inspire us, when we recognize and respect the achievements of others. However, too often the comparisons make us feel inadequate, like failures, or just plain ...