Anxiety Meds, Explained Clearly - Part 2

Anxiety can feel like an engine stuck at redline—your thoughts race, your chest tightens, and logic gets drowned out by adrenaline. We’re breaking down what actually helps. From fast-acting benzodiazepines for crisis moments to long-term SSRIs that lower your baseline anxiety, we talk about what these medications do in the brain, how they differ, and why the right plan can mean real sleep, clearer thinking, and the freedom to do things you’ve been avoiding.

We also get honest about risks and stigma. Dependence and withdrawal make benzos a short-term tool that needs guardrails and a thoughtful taper. SSRIs come with an adjustment period and possible side effects like emotional blunting or sexual changes. The key is personalization: track how you feel, meet your prescriber regularly, and adjust dosage or switch medications when needed. When medication reduces panic and calms your nervous system, therapy starts working better—exposure gets easier, mindfulness sticks, and daily life stops feeling like a series of alarms.

Tools matter too. We share simple, proven techniques you can use tonight: tactile grounding like finger-to-thumb tapping and rhythmic clapping, guided apps with noise colors to quiet rumination, and light-based practices that use visual fixation to downshift arousal—similar in principle to classic hypnosis methods. We cover when beta blockers shine for public speaking or high-stakes events, and how to decide if meds belong in your plan by asking whether anxiety is disrupting work, relationships, or sleep, and how often panic strikes.

If you’ve wondered “Will meds change who I am?” or “Does needing help mean I’m weak?” this conversation reframes relief as strategy, not surrender. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs clarity, and leave a quick review to help others find the show. Your question might shape our next episode.

Recorded 3-2-26

Episode 329

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Change your thinking, change your life!
Laugh hard, run fast, be kind.  
David R. Wright MA, LPC, CHT
The Motor City Hypnotist

Transcript

Cold Open & Part Two Setup

SPEAKER_01 0:01

In this episode of the Motor City Hypnotist Podcast, we are going part two for anti-anxiety medications. If you didn't listen to part one, you can jump back and listen to that one to catch up, or just go back to it after this episode. Either way, you get all the information. And today is part two because we're going to talk about some common questions and just kind of go into more detail about these medications, possible side effects, and things you should know and whether it should be something that you should ask your therapist or psychiatrist about. And as usual, we're giving away free stuff. Hang in there, folks. We'll be right back.

SPEAKER_06 0:35

This sounds like something for the authorities in Detroit. Well, joke's on you. I'm living to 102 men dying at the city of Detroit.

SPEAKER_02 0:43

Guys like this can't take over here out of Detroit.

SPEAKER_03 0:46

Spawn in the hellfire of the motel. Take him to Detroit.

SPEAKER_05 0:53

Detroit!

SPEAKER_06 0:57

Stationed in Drambuy. It's worse than Detroit. We did not have as a unit the confidence that we felt like we needed to beat Detroit. Let's go to Detroit.

SPEAKER_00 1:08

Now you're talking, brother.

SPEAKER_06 1:10

I don't think so. He plays for Detroit now.

SPEAKER_02 1:13

Do they have many farms in Detroit?

SPEAKER_06 1:15

Detroit. To Michigan.

SPEAKER_02 1:17

I go to school, I know where Detroit is.

SPEAKER_06 1:19

Get ready for the motor city hypnotist David R. Wright, originating from the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan. He has hypnotized thousands of people from all over the United States. David R. Wright has been featured on news outlets all across the country and is the clinical director of an outpatient mental health and hypnosis clinic located just south of Detroit, where he helps people daily using the power of hypnosis. Welcome to the Motor City Hypnotist, David O. Wright.

Studio Shoutouts & Tour Dates

SPEAKER_01 2:05

What is going on, my friends? This is David Wright, the Motor City Hypnotist. We are back with another episode of the Motor City Hypnotist Podcast. You better be. That is Matt Fox, the other voice you hear. Hey, buddy. We're here in the Placial Podcast Your Voice, Southfield Studios. Again, shout out to Podcast Your Voice. I do this every other, maybe every other, but whatever. Thank you. You want to do a podcast? There's something for everyone. I have there's podcasts for for if you can if you can think of it, there's a podcast for it. Like some some of the people on your roster. Yeah. Like the insulation guys. Yeah. They have a podcast on insulation.

SPEAKER_03 2:40

You know that's because that's their profession. Do you know that space between the eraser and the pencil? Yeah. There's a podcast for that somewhere. Probably. What's it called, Matt? I wouldn't be able to tell you. I don't know. I gotta look it up. What are you people? Um if there isn't, I guess I have to start one.

SPEAKER_00 2:57

Come on, guys. It's so simple.

SPEAKER_01 2:59

Maybe you need a refresher course. It's all ball bearings nowadays. Right. So yeah, I forgot where we're at, Matt. I just got sidetracked. Yeah, yeah. Oh, yeah, yeah. So we're talking about podcaster voice. And if you do a podcast, if you're on anything, you can walk in, sit down, record, and leave. It's easy. They cover everything as far as the back end and getting it uploaded and published and all of that. You don't have to do a thing except talk. Love it. Yeah, absolutely. Podcastyourvoice.com. Yes. Yes. Absolutely. Check it out.

SPEAKER_03 3:31

Very well. Mr. Jamie Flanagan is the pioneer behind this idea of a podcast studio. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 3:38

And it's it's fantastic. Like I said, it's palatial. It is palatial. Check it out. If you're interested in doing a podcast, reach out. They'll take care of you. Perfect. Let me tell you folks, first of all, where you can find me. My website is motorcityhypnotist.com. It is time for prom and grad season where we're just a couple weeks away. I'm gone three weekends in a row and I in in March, or I'm sorry, in April in Iowa. Iowa. Iowa smoked Iowa three times in in April. Wow. Saturday, Saturday, Saturday. That's that's good for you. So yeah, it it's you know, it's a bit of a drive, but I I I think I've told you I've I've decided not to fly for some of these gigs because it's just the hassle of packing like a sound system and checking that and going to oversized baggage, it's just and plus I just don't trust them with my equipment. Oh, woe is you, buddy. I'm just saying, you know, but anyway, but but the other thing is driving, you can just take your time. You know, there's no rush, you don't have to be there, and you have to have to catch a flight, you don't have to pack, you know. I mean, you just stress less stress, less stress, absolutely, and I can get a couple books in on the way. See, yeah, Harry Potter just become no. I'm I'm actually revisiting my Stephen King from the beginning. Wow, I've read every Stephen King book and I'm going through now again. Okay, so I'm up to Pet Cemetery right now.

SPEAKER_03 4:54

That's Pet Cemetery was after the Bachman books, if I'm not mistaken.

SPEAKER_01 4:58

Yes, because Christine was right before, and chronologically, Christine was the one right before Bachman. Christine wasn't Bachman, though.

SPEAKER_03 5:07

I don't think no, Christine was not.

SPEAKER_01 5:09

It was the long walk, running man, running man. Oh, running man was right before, and it's funny, you cannot find rage. It's not available. No, it's not because of uh because of the subject matter.

SPEAKER_03 5:19

Correct. It's it it's it's tough to read it based on the history that we have lived now.

Listener Freebies & Reviews

Winner Of The Week: JetBlue The Dog

SPEAKER_01 5:26

Yes, absolutely. Yes, it's it's very it could be very disturbing. So so that one's not in print even. So god god love you can get a hold of it. I I mean it's it's not like it's it involves school shootings, is what the story is. God love a master lock, just saying, right, yeah. So so yeah, I'm I'm revisiting that, so it'll give me time to catch up on yeah, um get through my Stephen King catalog. Yeah, awesome. So my social media, Facebook and YouTube are both Motor City Hypnotist, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat are all Motor City Hypno H Y P N O. We don't digress that much, and as we've done every episode going back to number one, text the word hypnosis to 800. I'm sorry, 313-800-8510. That's 313-800-8510 within a few moments or receive a text with a downloadable PDF. It's a hypnosis guide I've written. You'll also get a link to my Google page, which will give you the link to leave a review, which would be greatly appreciated. And wherever you're listening, whatever platform you're on, connect, subscribe, link, whatever it is, and just leave a review. It'd be very helpful and much appreciated. Thank you. All righty, here we go. It's time.

SPEAKER_00 6:44

That's how winning is done.

SPEAKER_02 6:47

It's in there. My my pages are out of order. Sorry, I gotta I gotta do a little back checking here.

SPEAKER_03 6:52

So the our our winners of the week, they typically we we will focus on good news things that have happened over the past year or two years. Every so often we get something that's newer, and I'm not sure if that's gonna happen tonight, but if you don't, who would be your pick for winner of the week for this week? For this week. It's a it's a it's a tough question because there's a lot going on right now.

SPEAKER_01 7:21

I the first thing that comes to my mind is is JV being back with the tigers. Well, I like that one. I do like that. I mean, spring training starting, yeah, pitchers and catchers are reported.

SPEAKER_03 7:33

Uh uh, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 7:34

So who who would you pick?

SPEAKER_03 7:35

Just one blue. I'll say guess who? Lindsay Vaughn. The reason why is that she is going through a really difficult no, don't shut me up. She's going through a really difficult recovery. Yeah, absolutely with her leg. But she is maintaining, she is staying strong. When she got the day after she she fell in the Olympics, her puppy passed away.

SPEAKER_01 7:59

Oh, are you kidding?

SPEAKER_03 8:00

No, I'm not.

SPEAKER_01 8:01

Man, that's terrible.

SPEAKER_03 8:02

But her puppy was, you know, was working through and dealing with a lot of illnesses, and she was doing everything she could to keep him around as much as long as but you know, she has just continued to fight the good fight, she's healing, she's like, Hey, don't worry about me, I will be fine. Just pray for me, and I'm gonna continue to keep it on, yeah. Right, yeah, so that that would be my winner. But who is the winner of the week?

SPEAKER_01 8:26

Okay, uh, it's a little golden doodle, it's another animal story. Oh boy, here we go. A little golden doodle has a brighter future ahead of him after abusive treatment by his owner, saw her arrested, and an officer leap at the chance to adopt. The story must unfortunately include some rather ugly details before one can salute officer Skeeter Black. Skeeter, Skeeter Black, we had his name.

SPEAKER_00 8:55

We had what kind of stupid wiener name is that?

SPEAKER_03 9:00

We had Coolio last episode. We have Skeeter now.

SPEAKER_01 9:04

Skeeter Black. All right, bring it. It begins on February 2nd at Harry Reid International Airport in Vegas. This year. Been through there many times. Yes, I have, but go on. Just last month. Where jet blue staff were attempting to inform the dog's owner she would not be permitted to board as the paperwork for the animal claimed to be a service animal hadn't been completed. Oh the owner tied her dog to a metal baggage measurement rack and left, prompting the jet blue staff to call the police. My goodness. Officers later confronted the woman who had proceeded through security checkpoint to her departure hall at gate D1. Without the dog. Yes. Holy shit. Yes, that is terrible. Yeah, isn't it? A police recounting of the incident claimed she stated the airline would not allow her to fly with the dog while adding it had a tracking device, implying it was acceptable to leave the animal behind and it would return to her. Oh the police, the police disagreed and detained her on misdemeanor animal abuse charges. Clearly, yeah. However, a violent attempt at resisting arrest saw her removed from the airport.

SPEAKER_03 10:16

Oh my goodness gracious.

SPEAKER_01 10:18

Animal Protective Services took custody of the dog, the police statement read, after the mandatory 10-day hold period had passed, and the owner never returned.

unknown 10:27

Oh my gosh.

SPEAKER_01 10:28

Retriever Rescue of Las Vegas stepped in. The dog was affectionately renamed JetBlue. And 10 days after the 10-day hold, Officer Skeeter Black, who had what kind of stupid wiener name is that? Who had confronted JetBlue's former owner, arrived with his family to fill out the adoption paperwork. That's great. Bon voyage JetBlue, and welcome to a new life where you'll be loved beyond words by Officer Black and his family. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 10:59

That's the story. I'm still laughing about it. It has a tracking device and it will it'll return to her to her. That that's not how that works.

SPEAKER_01 11:08

I just couldn't imagine. I'm just I'm I'm just my when I read this, I the reason one of one of the reasons I wanted to use it was I was just so aghast and like you just leave your dog.

SPEAKER_03 11:20

Right. This is the type of person that that would own a motor home, see the word autopilot, flip it on, and get up out of the driver's seat to go get out of the bathroom in the back. That's not how this works. Just uh it's it's just infuriating. Yeah, but brain like a chicken. Well, I'm I'm glad I'm glad Jet Blue has now Jet Blue is now a home with Skeeter Black. With Skeeter Black and his family.

SPEAKER_01 11:46

Yeah, Skeeter Blacks.

SPEAKER_03 11:47

Gosh, that's that's fantastic. Thank you for sharing.

SPEAKER_01 11:50

He's got a good name with the blacks.

SPEAKER_00 11:51

Yeah, look at his stupid win. Your name is Jack.

SPEAKER_03 11:54

My name is Jet Blue Black. That is our winner of the week.

SPEAKER_00 12:07

That's how winning is done.

Returning To Anxiety Meds

SPEAKER_01 12:10

Yes, it is. So I I I'm glad JetBlue got us home. That's I I'm still just very, very fired up on this story. It's just really so back to it. So I'm feeling very anxious after reading this story. And you know what? Let's talk about anxiety medications because that's what this episode is about. It's part two. If you didn't listen to part one, you can jump back and listen to it later, or or just listen to it after this. Doesn't matter. Take a deep breath. Yeah, it's all good. Just relax. I don't know what we're yelling about.

SPEAKER_00 12:45

Oh man. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 12:46

So we we got a drink here.

SPEAKER_00 12:48

We're not getting any coffee makes me a mic nervous when I drink it.

SPEAKER_03 12:52

So yeah, last episode we really kind of got into the the actual medications and some of the side effects. No, we're gonna get into the side effects tonight. Yeah, on this episode, right? Yeah, but we just kind of went into the history of anti-anxiety medication in the last episode. Now we're gonna talk about the side effects. Yes, we're gonna get into that. Yes. And I and I understand anal leakage is not one of them, but go on.

History: Barbiturates To Benzos To SSRIs

SPEAKER_01 13:15

I'm uh so so we're gonna revisit a little bit of history because there's a little bit more detail. So, again, before we mentioned in the last episode, before modern psychiatry and medications were developed, anxiety was was treated with alcohol, opioids, and her herbal sedatives, which again at the time probably was all they had, but probably not. The other thing they did in the early 1900s, they would use barbituates, which are sedatives, to address anxiety. But yeah, barbituates are very addictive and very risky. You think? Yeah, absolutely. I had no idea. Then in the 50s and 60s was the breakthrough, the development or the discovery of benzodiazepines. So Valium when do you think Valium was was approved for use, Matt? Just just as a guess. As a guess, I'd have to say 1986. 1963. Really? I think it was that early. Wow. I I was surprised by that too. Yeah, I thought it was later. Yeah, but yeah, Valium was approved in 1963. Why? Because it worked and it worked fast. Then later in the 80s became came the SSRI antidepressants like Prozac, which were original originally developed for depression, but also very effective to treat anxiety.

SPEAKER_03 14:32

Is that where Valium became more prevalent of uh being used?

SPEAKER_01 14:36

Yes, yeah. Late 60s, 70s were like big. Like, like if it it's kind of and I know this is anecdotal and I won't be able to point any specifics, but even like TV shows and movies, you know, the you have a housewife like I need my Valium, you know, it's it's just it was just a common thing. That was the that was the thing in the 60s and 70s for anxiety. I thought I thought it was bonbons, but yeah, it could be bonbons, you never know.

SPEAKER_05 15:04

I ain't listening to you no more.

SPEAKER_01 15:07

So again, we talked about types Xanax, Adivan, clonopin are all benzodiazepines. And then we're gonna hold on. Oh, here we go. We're gonna get there. So back to it. We talked about the medications, the history, the way they work. So here's questions. People have questions, and especially when I talk to clients when I bring up medications for anxiety, and they start with the questions that everybody would ask are they addictive? Yeah, will they change my personality? Same question that happens when we talked about antidepressants. Do they mean I'm weak? A lot of people have this innate resistance to medication because they feel like they can't handle it themselves, that they'd have to take medication makes them weak somehow.

SPEAKER_03 15:58

As an individual who is susceptible to you know, medication, you know, medication works really well on me. Where I would be asking the question, is it going to change who I am? Because I know that my body chemistry, my brain chemistry is highly susceptible to whatever it's supposed to do. So we have to talk about dosages and all that stuff, right? Absolutely. So everyone is different and they should be asking these questions. Will it make me feel less manly? No.

Common Fears About Medication

SPEAKER_01 16:28

Well, but the perception is well, the perception is is is that that you can't handle well, it's it's it's the whole mental health stigma, and and this is especially true for men. And I'm I'm generalizing here, but this holds true. Yeah, after 32 years of doing this, men are much more resistant to therapy and to taking medications and to addressing mental health needs. I feel like it's a weakness, they feel like it's a failure to admit that you have an issue. Taking Zegrit at night really bothered me at the beginning until I'm like, Oh, I feel better. Uh yeah, absolutely. So when we talk about anxiety, people have this just this people who've never dealt with this when when you say somebody has anxiety, they're like, just don't you're you're worried too much, just relax. Yeah, and it's kind of very dismissive because here's the thing anxiety isn't just worry, it's your brain in a fight or flight mode constantly, it's just firing on shoulders, yeah. It's just staying in that mode, which means you have this constant surge of adrenaline happening because of this this brain reaction. And we talked about it last episode the amygdala's hypersensitivity, abdullah, yeah. These medications target these symptoms, which is why they're so effective. So let's talk about the category simplified, the fat the fast-acting medications, something that that if you're in the midst of a panic attack or an anxiety attack, these are the things that will help the most quickly. Okay. Xanax and Atavan. Okay. Yeah. That those are the most commonly used. They're best for acute panic and short-term crisis, but not ideal for long-term use. So just keep that in mind. We're gonna come back to that. Okay. So long-term stabilizers, things that could be taken for a longer period of time. We go into the SSRIs, antidepressants, Zoloft and Lexapro, best for daily anxiety, recurring panic, and social anxiety. Yeah, but those take you know four to six weeks to kick in fully. Sure. We talked about the propanolol last episode. Did we do the propanolol? We mentioned it. Okay. That's physical symptom control. And again, that that addresses the the the racing heart and the and the physical symptoms. Got it. Yes. So that one would be kind of like if you have something you have to do that you know is going to be anxiety provoking, like you have to do a you have to speak in front of a company, or you have you have something that a presentation that you have to do in front of thousands of people. Or for you, it might be I have to go to this I have to go to this party and I'm just very anxious about this. I gotta go to a wedding and it's mine.

SPEAKER_00 19:11

What am I gonna do?

Fast-Acting Vs Long-Term Options

SPEAKER_01 19:12

So here are the benefits, and and a lot of people are resistant to taking medication, and I get it, but but if we talk about the benefits, one fewer panic attacks, better sleep, clearer thinking, sure, improved therapy outcomes, a reduction in avoidance behaviors, again, just trying to ignore it or deal with it or just not address it at all. I was gonna I wanted you to clarify avoidance behaviors, yes. So that avoidance behaviors are really just kind of ignoring symptoms, ignoring things, and just hoping for the best. Okay. So so you don't really address it, you just kind of avoid it. So uh real life analogy would be you know, a couple gets into a fight about a specific topic and it never gets resolved and they never speak of it again, but it's still out there.

SPEAKER_03 20:02

Oh, wow. There's no you're avoiding it.

SPEAKER_01 20:05

You you just you're just avoiding it, you don't want to deal with it. So if I ignore it, it'll just go away. There's no closure, there's no resolution, it just hangs out there. Yeah, and and it just it doesn't resolve anything.

SPEAKER_03 20:14

And three years from now, he brings it back up.

SPEAKER_01 20:16

Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Yeah. Yeah. I get you. So a lot of times, and and people have said that I I have clients who have said this this I this medication has allowed me to function like a normal human being. Now, I I never use the term normal in therapy. I I I just don't I don't think normal is a is a I don't think normal exists. That's it, that's a stigma. It's a stigma when it comes to I I I I rather use the term typical.

SPEAKER_03 20:44

How about maintain?

SPEAKER_01 20:46

I mean, that could work, but yeah. Yeah. Maintain daily activity. Yeah. Normal. But but for many people, these medications help them to be able to function. They help them be able to go to work and do their jobs and and and and just live their lives. Sure. So uh there are concerns with medications, and there should be. You should ask questions, and and that's all valid, but let me address some concerns. So here's the risks and and things about benzodiazepines. There's a dependence risk. And and if if you withdraw without tapering, it can be dangerous. Tapering meaning weaning off. Like weaning off, yes, reducing the dosage less and less. And and don't don't taper or or wean off on your own. Get a doctor's instructions for this.

SPEAKER_03 21:34

You gotta get the sign-off on that because then insurance would be like, we didn't approve that. Yeah, go on.

Benefits: Sleep, Clarity, Progress

SPEAKER_01 21:40

So because benzodiazepines work in the brain, stopping them suddenly can cause oh, withdrawals. Withdrawal symptoms and then and the physiological symptoms as well. It's not just brain symptoms. Right. The not the the vomiting, the nausea, the the the There's just a feeling of just blood. Just this feeling of just not. And then again, your your brain, if you just stop, it seemed like now your brain was was controlled. And I don't say that in a bad sense, but now you've just let it let's now it's free to just do its old thing again. Sure. So that can be over with. You let the rat out of the gas. Exactly. Yeah. And then of course with with the SSRIs, which are antidepressants, again, the the risks or the side effects or sexual side effects, the emotional flattening, which we talked about last episode. Emotional blunting. There's an adjustment period. Yes. So here's the thing: not everyone experiences side effects, and it's it's individual to everyone. That's why it's important to monitor your medication and how it's working, and if you're having side effects, which is why if you're taking medication, you should be seeing a psychiatrist at least every other month, at minimum. Yeah. To check in, to make sure everything's good.

SPEAKER_03 22:55

Seeing a therapist, you know, a psychiatrist, it's like going to the chiropractor. Yeah. You you see them regularly for a number of months in a row. And then as things start to get better and you become more typical in your daily life, that's when it's every other month. And then it goes to every quarter. And then next thing you know, you're you're catching up every year, right? Yeah, maybe there, but there is a process. Yes, and absolutely. And I said it last episode, there is a commitment to that. You know, you have to stay committed to your overall progress to getting to the point where you can function, wake up and be like, I'm in the best place ever. It's a commitment, it really is.

Risks, Dependence, And Tapering

SPEAKER_01 23:37

It is, and and yes, it it it may, for lack of a better term, you are going to feel different because it's it's affecting the way your brain is working in a positive manner, yes. You know, which is the end all be all, right? Yep. Okay, so then so so people ask me, should I take medication? And I I never say yes, you should or no, you shouldn't. That that's an individual decision. But here's some questions to ask Does anxiety interfere with work or relationships? That's a fair question. And if you have panic attacks, how frequent are they? Are they daily? Do you have one once a year? That makes a big difference. If you're doing therapy and you feel like you're not making progress and you're still having high anxiety and panic attacks, then medication might be something that could be useful for you.

SPEAKER_03 24:26

It it's a regulation tactic, it's a it's a tool to help you regulate.

SPEAKER_01 24:31

Okay. Another another thing that that people that they can't sleep, their mind won't shut off. I always use this this analogy, the runaway train. It just gets going and you can't shut it down. Let me ask you a question.

SPEAKER_03 24:44

Yeah, for folks that have the ringing in their ears, tinnitus. Is it is it all about tinnitus? Could be, yeah. If if there's a ringing, yes. If there and it's a consistent, yes, yeah, you know, and how okay. I I just had to ask because a lot of folks are like, I can't, I can't just have this ringing in my ears. It might be tinnitus, but when it comes to that, the brain not shutting off, that's that's your your brain is focusing on nothing except the sound, and it's trying to pull the sound out of nothingness, and that's where the ringing in the ears comes from. Yeah, yeah.

Side Effects And Monitoring

SPEAKER_01 25:17

So I mean, typically, again, I it it's different for everybody, but but in essence, it's the same kind of symptomology. You're laying awake, you're worried about things, you're thinking about this, you're thinking about that. And when I work with clients, we work a lot on mindfulness techniques, and I know we've probably talked about them here. Okay. So there are a couple of things, and uh mindfulness really means focusing on the here and now in when when you put it in practical terms, like say somebody's worried about money. Okay, we'll just bring that up as a general one because that's that's a worry for many people. Very when you're lying in bed at 10:30, 11 p.m., and you're worried about it, you're thinking about it, your mind is running away. Oh, this could happen. What if this happens? What if I lose my house? What if I lose my car? How am I gonna pay these bills? Can you do anything at 10:30 or 11 o'clock on a Tuesday night? A typical person would say no. Right. And that's kind of the and that's kind of where mindfulness comes in. It's like the realization that I'm worried about all these things, but there's nothing I can do about it right at this moment. It's a tomorrow problem. Right at this moment, I have no control over anything. It's a tomorrow problem. Yes. And so so mindfulness is really kind of just focusing on the here and now. And again, it's focusing on physical touch and sound. So again, they're their techniques, and I know those of you on audio can't see me, but finger touching, like touching, alternating your fingers to your thumb and using both hands because that engages both hemispheres of your brain. Sure. Another one is just an alternate clapping method where you just kind of clap your hands in front of you and just let them sway. Yeah, it kind of gives you that rhythmic feel. You get a sound, you get a feel, and you get something to focus on. It's like the steel balls hitting one another. Yes, exactly, exactly like that. Or there are tons of different apps out right now. The Calm app.

SPEAKER_03 27:13

There, I I just I just gonna have to look at look at the app the apps that are out there, you've got green noise, white noise, blue noise, and it all depends on your your your mind frame, what you're looking to calm down to. Correct. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 27:25

I also just found another relaxation app. It's called Luminate, L-U-M-E-N-A-T-E. This one's a little bit different because it does have that that guided meditation, but what it does is your flashlight on your phone as kind of a a strobe. Really? Yes, that's what so you hold your phone, you start the program. Oh, shoot. All of a sudden we're in a club. Um so you start the program and it starts you through this guided meditation, and then it just says, close your eyes, sit back, and just hold your phone about three feet from your face. Really? And the lights will will alternate, they'll flash and then they'll fade in and out, and they'll do this like a pulsing effect. Or so the whole idea here is engaging, it's engaging your fission your your vision. You're it's engaging engaging your eyes, which connects directly to your brain. Okay, and and the theory is that this light therapy engages that parts of your brain to help you relax.

Should You Take Meds? Decision Guide

SPEAKER_03 28:23

That that reminds me of a television show. It was on Fox, and it was about it was weird science things that would happen. And it was the the father of error, not Aragorn, the um God Bormer Bishop. It was the uh the head character's name was Dr. Bishop. Ah darn it, it's gonna that's gonna bother me now, anyways. Oh, fringe, fringe, thank you, fringe science, yes, yes, yes, and there was an episode with the lights would flicker, they would go red, red, red, blue, blue, green, and they would flicker back and forth, and that was a fee, uh like a hypnosis effect, uh-huh. And they wouldn't remember what they had just done because they committed something, but yeah, that whole strobing effect decided the same thing.

SPEAKER_01 29:05

And and this is this is great, Matt, that you brought that up because a lot of times when we do hypnosis, the one of the key components of hypnosis, or one of the ways you can do it, is an eye lock. It's it's it's locking your eye in an object, staring at that object. Okay, sometimes it can be a light, sometimes it can be something moving. I I it people laugh and say, Oh, do you use a pocket watch? And you could, you could, you really could, because that's that's simply an eye fixation object. That's all that is.

SPEAKER_03 29:32

Yeah, yeah. That that that I'm sorry, you brought up the strobe light on your phone, it just reminded me of fringe. Yes, and thank you for bringing me all the way around all the way back.

SPEAKER_01 29:41

So we got it. So here's the thing if if you're experiencing anxiety, you don't you don't have to suffer with that. That there are ways that we can address it. One, I would recommend definitely seeing a therapist, talking to your doctor. Anti-anxiety medication might be something that could benefit you, sure. And yes, you have to be careful, it's all about just just following your doctor's orders and and what they're recommending, but it can definitely be something that can be helpful. Now it's a it's not a magic fix, but if I were to say to you, okay, so let's say you start on medication, start on anti-anxiety medication. Now you're able to sleep seven to eight hours a night. Now you're able to get things done without worry getting in the way. You're able to go out and and grocery shop or go to the mall if you need to. So so an anxiety affects all of the things that you do in life. So if you're able to just even drop that, just uh just some, it's gonna free you up. You're gonna be more productive, which which in turn will hopefully make you more happy.

Mindfulness And Calming Techniques

SPEAKER_03 30:47

So you you've you've taken many flights in your lifetime, right? And how many folks have you seen? You could just tell. Oh, yeah, that they're just freaking out. They're freaking out and they're so anxious, they can't stop walking around. Then they get on the plane, and then they are antsy, and then next thing you know, the phalange's on fire or something, right? Yeah, so it's just there everyone has you has to work through these.

SPEAKER_01 31:10

I've seen a lot of people for fear of flying. Yeah, I have two clients right now. Every time they plan a trip, they come and see me. Because they they they just want to get that that refresher or that reinforcement that, yeah, I don't need to worry. Yeah, you know, and again, we can use logic, and but but but see the the human brain has a way of just kicking logic out the door, sure, because you can say, you know what? You're a thousand times more likely to get killed in your car than in a plane. Sure. Maybe more. I don't even know what the odds are. It's a statistic, it's a statistic, but but I understand I understand the fear. Yes, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 31:46

If it's your time to go, yeah, it's your time to go.

SPEAKER_01 31:48

But but again, fear of flying is is a major phobia for a lot of people.

SPEAKER_03 31:52

Yes, absolutely. Crowds, concerts, you know, if these are things that you enjoy doing, but you have a phobia, you have to work and you see somebody.

SPEAKER_01 32:01

So and a phobia is a severe anxiety. Like, like I I'll I'll be I'll be totally honest, Matt. I have a phobia of spiders. Okay. I know in general they're harmless. Okay. I mean, yeah, you you could probably possibly run into a black widow or brown recluse somewhere, but but that's not likely. Not in Michigan, no. But just even seeing one, I have this just this in this instant like just reaction in my in my chest. It's like I I and again, it's anxiety. I know what it is. It it's it's it's just this knee-jerk panic reaction. So I know it. So if you have a phobia, I understand it.

SPEAKER_03 32:41

Yeah, yeah. I I I had a phobia with spiders at one point in time. Then I came to the realization, you know what? I'm bigger than they are. They can they can run faster than me, which is great because I I'll chase them. So it's not running at me, right? Yeah, but yeah, everyone has a phobia. I I used to be scared of the dark. Hell, I was afraid of freaking Superman at one point in time. Superman, yeah, all people, yeah. Superman, because I had this green poster in my bedroom, yeah, and the way the sun came through the shades, it just put this made him look just absolutely evil. And I was just bizarre, Superman. Probably, that's probably where it came from. And I'll throw one more at you. Yeah, I was afraid of King Kong. I had a phobia of so that one that one makes a little more sense. I was afraid of King Kong, not gorillas or what have you, but I was afraid of King Kong because my father let me watch the movie King Kong with Kurt Russell way back in the day, right? Yeah, and then we had to go to bed. Uh-huh. And that evening I just would not go to sleep. Um daddy, you know, I would had to have been three, three and a half years old. Daddy, and he comes into the bedroom, and on his way, he grabs a can of Lysol. This is how I got monster spray.

SPEAKER_02 34:01

Yeah, it was designable. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_03 34:03

He put this paper bag around it and wrote King Kong spray on it. Yep. He said, Okay, Matthew, if you think you see King Kong, spray this and he'll go away. And we're talking old school Lysol in the white and gold can. Yeah, aerosol. It was all yeah. So my father goes back to bed. Not two minutes later, he's in bed with my mom, and they hear yeah. I was just gonna say, yeah, yep. I slept like a freaking baby that night because of the fumes flying around that bedroom.

SPEAKER_01 34:38

Do you know what? Yeah, when I when we were 11, my dad took took my my brother and I to see Jaws. Oh boy, oh yeah. Oh yeah. I thought that was that was many sleepless nights after that.

SPEAKER_03 34:49

I thought Jaws was gonna come out of the uh bathroom, uh out of the bathtub. Yeah, absolutely.

SPEAKER_05 34:53

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_03 34:53

But yeah, everyone has phobias. And your yours might not be as here's the thing everybody has some level of anxiety.

Apps, Light Therapy, And Hypnosis

SPEAKER_01 35:02

Sure, it's it's a natural human reaction. The problem happens when it becomes debilitating and it prevents you from doing things that you would like to do in life. Yeah, if it prevents you from going out, if it prevents you from traveling, that that's a problem. Thank God I'm not afraid of a microphone. Yeah, me too.

SPEAKER_03 35:18

Yeah, yeah, because I uh would never no okay. So, do you get butterflies in your stomach when you're gonna go up on stage and perform?

SPEAKER_01 35:25

No, I well, I I wouldn't call it butterflies. I I I have this other challenge where I get almost too hyped up. Oh, okay, and I'm just like, okay, yeah, dial it down. I just need to dial it down because I I don't want to just be like, you know, you know what I mean.

SPEAKER_03 35:43

See, I would I would kind of experience that at at weddings and events, you know. I would get those butterflies, I would always become a little okay, a little nervous, a little anxious, and then I would use that energy to perform. Yeah, but I can understand where you're like a little too over stimulated to feel like yeah, too fired up, yes. And then you just come off as hey, what's going on?

SPEAKER_05 36:02

Hey, hey.

SPEAKER_03 36:07

No, I I I I'm with you. And yes, there there are ways to work through these items and seeing a therapist, having a psychiatrist on your side to walk you through these progressive steps to get to the point where you can be and feel, as you said earlier, typical.

SPEAKER_01 36:23

Yes, absolutely. Not the not the other word, correct? Yes. So, yes, check with your therapist, get a therapist, talk to your doctor, talk to a psychiatrist. These medications are there to help. Yes, they can be abused, you have to be careful with them, but again, they're there for a reason. And I've always said this medications exist to help people. Now I I acknowledge pharmaceutical companies are wanting to make money. I understand. You don't say, I get that. So that's why it's it's important to do your research, listen to your doctor. If you trust them, they have your best interest in heart. Fair. Yeah. So that is our episode on anxiety medication.

SPEAKER_03 37:06

Man, that was uh that was thank you for that. You know, we we had to balance out the first the last four episodes, or I'm sorry. Yeah, four. The last four and then four on depression, yeah. And then we just did two on two on anxiety medication. So it makes sense to balance that out.

SPEAKER_05 37:20

So thank you for that.

SPEAKER_01 37:21

So before we go, somebody needs a home. Who is it? Talia. Talia. Talia is born in 2017. Okay, so she's what, seven? Yeah, mixed breed, almost spade female, she's 60 pounds, dog friendly with proper introduction. Okay, cat friendly unknown, kids over eight. Okay, there's Talia. Oh look at those ears. I know, isn't that great? Oh, she's a she's a pretty puppy. She is. Talia needs a home. Detroit dogrescue.com slash adopt. Please take her home. Plus, she's she's you know, I I I almost it almost bothers me more when I see dogs go to go to a shelter when they're older. Well, yeah. Because if if they're puppies or just a year old, yeah, maybe you get it over your head, you know you can't handle it. But if you're living, if you're in a home for six, seven years, and then you just get that those those are the ones that really bother me.

Phobias, Fear Of Flying, And Exposure

SPEAKER_03 38:21

But the fact that they that she's dog friendly with proper introduction, it doesn't mean that she has an aversion to other dogs. It's like, okay, how are we going to get along? There are ways to to mend to blend them together to gradually introduce them. To be eight years old, this this puppy is set in their ways, and they they can still be taught new tricks. Sure. Trust me, they can. Yeah, but you just have to have the patience for it. And that's where Talia is really going to benefit if she finds a home that has patience. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 38:51

So Talia needs a home. Detroit Detroit Dog Rescue.com slash adopt. All righty, folks, that's our show. Join us next Monday night. We will be here on Facebook Live. You can join us, be a part of the show, check in, ask questions, make comments, whatever you want. Please. Motor City Hypnotist Facebook page or the podcast your voice Facebook page. We we've we broadcast on both of them at the same time. So uh you can go to either page, join in the conversation, and be a part of the podcast. Please, please do. In the meantime, change your thinking, change your life, laugh hard, run fast, be kind. We'll see you next time.