Episode #80: When the Grip of Anxiety Takes Hold

Guest: Executive Director Tom Duff, LCSW

The thought of getting out of bed requires more energy than usual. You feel physically ill – your mind races, wondering if it could be Covid or the flu. Your heart beats faster than usual at the thought of the presentation you are making in three hours. What if I forget what I’m supposed to say, you wonder. Or worse, what if I become the laughing stock of the company? You decide it’s best to avoid any possibility of embarrassment, even though you have made presentations a zillion times. So you stay in bed. All day.

This is what it can be like for people with debilitating anxiety. So why do some people seem to be gripped by its hold more than others? Executive Director Tom Duff, LCSW explains how everyone is different when it comes to handling anxiety. For some, it’s a matter of telling themselves that everything will be okay. For others, it’s an emotionally-draining struggle to cope and deal with, and, at times, it can become debilitating. The good news is that anxiety can be treated with counseling and specific types of therapy. Tune in to this week’s Mental Health Matters podcast to hear what you can do to handle anxiety, especially when it feels as if its grip is permanent.