Finding The Best Anxiety Podcast To Help Manage Anxiety Symptoms
While it’s considered normal to experience occasional anxiety from time to time, high, persistent levels of it may be a sign of an anxiety disorder or other mental health condition. Anxiety disorders are some of the most common mental illnesses today, affecting almost 20% of the population. Though they’re considered to be highly treatable in general, only 36.9% of people will receive treatment—likely because of stigma, treatment availability, and a lack of information on mental health.
If left unaddressed, anxiety symptoms may get worse over time and can interfere with your daily life, responsibilities, and relationships. It’s typically recommended that you seek professional evaluation and support if you’re experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition like anxiety. However, there are also various tactics you can try to help reduce symptoms in conjunction with the treatment methods your doctor or therapist recommends.
Choosing a podcast for anxiety
Some podcasters are licensed therapists, while others are life coaches or content creators in this field. Many offer suggestions on coping techniques, while others focus on interviewing people who have experienced mental illnesses so they can discuss their personal tips and stories. Some of these weekly podcasts specialize in discussing specific anxiety disorders, such as separation anxiety disorder or social anxiety disorder, while others are broader and more general.
Reading the podcast description and reviews and viewing the podcast host’s credentials may help you find the best anxiety podcast for you. You might also ask your therapist or friends and family for their recommendations. If you listen to an episode or two of a podcast and don’t find it helpful, you can always try another.
12 podcasts to help you cope with anxiety and other mental health concerns
Below, we’ve highlighted a dozen of the best podcasts that cover anxiety-related topics—from educational material and exercises to real-life stories from those who live with an anxiety disorder. See below for the title and a brief description of each. You can generally find them for free wherever you get your podcasts: Spotify, the Apple Podcast app, etc.
Hosted by hypnotherapist, anxiety coach, and author Chloe Brotheridge, The Calmer You podcast provides advice on overcoming anxiety, building resilience, and becoming more mindful in your daily life. In the show, Chloe Brotheridge covers a wide range of topics for a broad audience, from new parents who are experiencing anxiety to those who fear public speaking, are experiencing work burnout, or have co-occurring conditions like attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Made in collaboration with LAist Studios and Diane Guerrero, Yeah No, I’m Not Okay was created for BIPOC communities—who tend to be disproportionately affected by mental health challenges due to lived experiences with racism and other systemic issues. This podcast’s mission is to remove the stigma around mental health concerns and create a safe place for people of color to openly discuss mental health and wellness.
This podcast, hosted by Shann Vander Leek and Ananga Sivyer, provides tools and strategies to help those living with chronic stress, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and/or panic attacks. The Anxiety Slayer’s content focuses on conversations and interviews with psychology experts as well as reviews of practical tips that those experiencing symptoms can use in everyday life, such as meditation, breathwork, and relaxation techniques. Many of these techniques can help with panic attacks, general anxiety, depression, stress, burnout, and more.
Hosted by marriage and family therapist Kimberley Quinlan, the Your Anxiety Toolkit podcast provides strategies for managing symptoms of anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), depression, panic disorder, and other mental health concerns. The episodes focus on giving both information and science-based strategies for coping with the effects of these mental health concerns.
Not Another Anxiety Show is hosted by registered nurse and certified health and wellness coach Kelli Walker, who formerly lived with agoraphobia. This show aims to humanize the experience of anxiety by approaching it with such positivity and compassion, and it offers practical tools for the everyday management of this type of mental health condition as well.
BetterHelp's own podcast, Getting Better, is hosted by licensed therapists Micheline Maalouf and Nadia Addesi. It features interviews with well-known guests about their mental health journeys, including Ian Somerhalder, Chris Bosh, and Meghan Trainor. Listeners can take both inspiration and advice from these personal stories.
7. Celeste the Therapist
The Celeste the Therapist podcast is hosted by Celeste Viciere, therapist and author. Her show focuses on breaking stigmas about mental health, particularly in BIPOC communities. She advises learning how to break the cycle of negative thought patterns that can lead to or exacerbate symptoms of mental health conditions like depression and anxiety.
8. The Anxiety Guy
The Anxiety Guy podcast is hosted by former tennis player Dennis Simsek, who was diagnosed with panic disorder and was able to address it through exposure therapy. In this podcast, Simsek explores anxiety and other mental health conditions and how they can impact one’s life. The Anxiety Guy discusses his own experience with mental illness and provides advice for overcoming or coping with symptoms.
9. Meditation Minis
For those times when you’re busy but need a moment of peace and relaxation, the Meditation Minis podcast may be able to help. These guided meditations average around 10 minutes long and each one has a different focus, from handling stress to coping with depression to unwinding in the evenings. At the time of this writing, it’s in the top 0.05% of downloaded podcasts, suggesting that many people around the world may find it useful and effective.
10. Mindful Minute Podcast
The Mindful Minute podcast is hosted by Meryl Arnett, whose mission is to make meditation and mindfulness practices available to more people. Each episode consists of a brief meditation that anyone can do without prior experience or training in the hopes that a broader audience of individuals will be able to benefit from incorporating this practice into their daily routines.
Research suggests that mindfulness, an ancient spiritual practice that originated in Asia, may help reduce anxiety symptoms. That means this podcast and other resources could be worth exploring for those who are interested in benefiting from this type of practice.
11. Thrive Spice
The Thrive Spice podcast is hosted by Vanessa Tsang Shiliwala, who interviews activists, political leaders, and entrepreneurs to learn about how they set boundaries, find balance, and safeguard their mental health. She specializes in addressing topics that relate to the mental health of Asian Americans in particular and covers themes such as coping mechanisms, handling burnout, work-life balance, neurodiversity, and self-care.
12. The Anxiety Coaches
The Anxiety Coaches podcast, which has had over 13 million downloads, is hosted by nutritionist and coach Gina Ryan. As someone who formerly experienced anxiety herself, Ryan intends to provide informative and empowering conversations that explore anxiety, PTSD, panic disorder, and stress. Each episode of The Anxiety Coaches also provides practical advice on lifestyle changes or practices that may help improve well-being and mental health.
Seeking support for anxiety
If you believe you may be experiencing symptoms of an anxiety disorder, it’s typically recommended that you meet with a qualified mental health professional for evaluation and treatment advice—especially if your symptoms are severe or interfering with your daily functioning. While the best podcast may be able to provide helpful tips and strategies, it’s not a replacement for professional care.
Research suggests that online therapy can generally offer comparable results to in-person sessions. This means those who are interested in seeking the support of a therapist for anxiety can usually choose between in-person or online treatment according to their preferences. Individuals who find it difficult to travel to and from appointments or who simply prefer to connect with a therapist from the comfort of home might consider a virtual therapy platform like BetterHelp. It allows you to get matched with a licensed therapist who you can meet with via phone, video call, and/or in-app messaging.
Takeaway
Note that listening to one of the top anxiety podcasts is not a replacement for professional treatment for a mental health condition like an anxiety disorder, but some can provide helpful tips and inspiration. If you’re experiencing symptoms of a mental health disorder, addressing them with a healthcare professional is typically a recommended next step.
Can podcasts from anxiety coaches like The Anxiety Guy help with anxiety disorders?
Mental health podcasts like the Anxiety Guy Podcast, Therapy for Black Girls by Dr. Joy Harden-Bradford, and others can be helpful for people with anxiety. These types of shows typically offer advice and share inspiring stories of other people who have experienced anxiety symptoms. The most useful anxiety podcasts are often those that are created by mental health professionals or organizations. It can take some time to find the best anxiety podcast or best anxiety podcasts for you, but the practical tools and compassionate mental health message they often provide can be worth the search.
That said, remember that symptoms of an anxiety disorder will typically not resolve without professional treatment, so meeting with a care provider can be important if you’re experiencing them. A podcast should not replace professional medical advice or mental health advice from a licensed therapist or other healthcare professional.
Who is the best person to talk to about mental health anxiety?
If you’re experiencing anxiety symptoms or other mental health concerns, it’s generally recommended that you meet with a licensed healthcare professional for mental health or medical advice. A doctor can refer you to a therapist or psychiatrist, or you can locate one of these mental health professionals on your own.
Which podcast can help increase confidence and lower social anxiety?
Mental health remains a common topic for podcasts today. Some of the top anxiety podcasts in the mental health space that cover social anxiety specifically include Awkwardly Social, Social Anxiety Solutions, The Anxiety Toolkit Podcast, and Social Anxiety Remedy. The Anxiety Coaches Podcast brings mental health challenges related to social anxiety into the realm of discussion on their podcast episodes sometimes too.
Each anxiety podcast listed here is a practical and relaxed series that finds a unique way to create a community-oriented environment to discuss anxiety and share personal stories from individuals who have lived with social anxiety disorder. They also give practical advice for reducing negative self-talk, developing coping strategies, and improving social confidence, all with the goal of helping listeners heal anxiety.
Remember, however, that a mental health podcast—even if it’s one of the best podcasts made by an anxiety coach, health and wellness experts, or a licensed psychologist—is not a replacement for professional medical advice or mental health advice tailored to your individual needs. This is particularly true if you’re showing signs of a mental illness like a diagnosable anxiety disorder.
Which treatment approach is most effective for anxiety and panic attacks?
The first-line treatment for mental health conditions that fall under the anxiety disorders category— including generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, and panic disorder, which causes panic attacks—is usually some form of talk therapy led by a licensed professional. Cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy are common approaches for anxiety and other mental health conditions. These modalities may help address negative thinking and other anxiety symptoms, support a person in developing healthy coping strategies and self-care habits, and promote personal development and personal growth more broadly. In addition, some people may be prescribed medication to aid in their anxiety management and anxiety recovery.
How can I overcome shyness and social anxiety?
Diagnosable social anxiety disorder typically won’t resolve without professional treatment, which usually consists of talk therapy, sometimes in combination with medication. If you’re aiming to address nonclinical shyness and nervousness in social situations, a mental health professional can still be helpful. Or, you could consider working with an anxiety coach or a social skills coach to help you sharpen your abilities and reduce your nervousness.
How do you control nervousness related to public speaking?
Meeting with an anxiety coach, a public speaking coach, or a therapist is one way you may be able to reduce anxiety around public speaking. Any of these types of professionals may be able to give you coping mechanisms for signs of nervousness and help you sharpen your skills in this area.
How do you communicate effectively while speaking publicly?
Speaking clearly and not too quickly can be key when giving a public talk or presentation. Coming prepared can also be crucial, both in terms of what you’re going to say and in terms of making sure the mic stand is your height, the projector is working, and any other environmental factors are ready to go.
What to do when your spouse is gone?
Some people find themselves feeling lonely or lost when their spouse or partner is away. It can be helpful to use this as an opportunity to lean into your own hobbies and interests and practice coping mechanisms for lonely feelings. Reaching out to other friends, getting on a healthy exercise routine, and participating in activities your partner doesn’t normally enjoy can all be fruitful ways to spend this time.
How do you cope when your spouse is away?
If you’re feeling lonely when your spouse is away, it can help to reach out to friends or family members. Spending some time with yourself to rest, journal, or engage in an enjoyable hobby could also be a good use of your time.
What happens if your spouse is missing?
Sometimes, one spouse goes missing and becomes hard to reach during divorce proceedings. What to do next may depend on the laws in your specific area, but it’s often required that you make a good-faith effort to find them before a judge will let you proceed with the case.
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