In this episode I speak with Joshua Fletcher (@anxietyjosh on IG), who is a psychotherapist specialising in anxiety disorders. I wanted to understand why grief can often be a catalyst for anxiety and how we can learn to retrain our brain to manage it more effectively.

Josh opens up about the experience of losing his brother to cancer as a teenager and how the unprocessed grief led him to a mental breakdown. However, he now commits his career to providing psychoeducation and spreading awareness about the topic. He is a best-selling author of two anxiety self-help books, as well as hosting The Panic Pod podcast.

We also discuss:

• Ruminating thoughts
• Why we shouldn't search for 'coping mechanisms' as we CAN cope
• How we need to retrain our brain to break our anxious habits
• Alcohol & anxiety
• Making peace with your anxiety and letting it be with you, rather than fighting it
• Complicated grief
• Gambling and addiction
• When to seek help

We hope that this episode helps you to feel less alone in your journey.

Don't forget to follow me at @tamsinmillard

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-so-linear.

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Mary Hoang is a psychologist who thinks creatively about what makes humans lead more meaningful lives. She is founder of the mental health organisation 'The Indigo Project' and is tearing down the walls of traditional psychology.

After her fathers death in 2017, Mary turned to art and writing to explore how the darker aspects of life hold the keys to insight and purpose. Losing him was her life changing moment, which she so beautifully documents in her book ‘Darkness is Golden’ and explores alongside us how we can deal with life’s messiness.

We talk about:

• Mary's background and why she set up a progressive therapy practice
• Why we have to give uncomfortable feelings space, rather than supressing them
• Losing her Father and how it shifted her lens on life
• Grief & funerals in Asian culture
• Death mediation
• The concept of the 'Inner child' and how we must learn to meet our needs
• How all types of grief are valid, such as loss of career, relationship or health etc
• The monsters in our haunted house
• Mary's experience of breaking down whilst writing the book
• Managing anxiety

If you are interested in reading more about her work, you can find her organisation here: www.theindigoproject.com.au and her instagram @maryhoangindigo

You can order her book 'Darkness is Golden via Amazon or Booktopia.

Thanks and don't forget to subscribe to Not So Linear to get the latest episodes!

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-so-linear.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hey everyone!

I'm back from a little break in podcasting and returning with a new sort episode type called 'Tam Talks', which is full of my little ramblings and thoughts! I talk about:

• Lockdown lifting in Sydney
• Taking your time to get back in to socialising
• Australia's crazy border rules
• Feeling excluded as a temporary visa holder
• Focusing on gratitude and what I do have
• Trying to live in the moment
• Patreon

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/not-so-linear.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.