Pandemics are bad, as a rule. But there are silver linings, too. In this episode, I will look at some of the positive things that are coming out of coronavirus so that we can fight that negative bias that anxiety brings to our lives.

Worfolk Anxiety Podcast

COVID-19: Positive points

If you spend too much time worrying about coronavirus, this is the episode for you. I will discuss the one question you can ask yourself to help you break out of spending hours trawling through COVID-19 news reports.

COVID-19: Breaking the worry cycle

In many parts of the world, supermarkets have struggled to keep up with demand. Toilet paper is a rare commodity during coronavirus. But is this a sign of people being selfish and showing the worst in humanity? I don't think so. In this episode, I will discuss the reasons for increased food consumption, as well as some psychological needs, and why empty shelves may be a sign that people are being considerate and taking the threat of self-isolation seriously.

COVID-19: Why are people panic buying?

Many people with anxiety are angry at themselves for worrying. We have all of these COVID-19 worries, and then we beat ourselves up for spending so much time obsessing over it. In this episode, I will discuss the idea of the nurturing coach (or nurturing parent) and how we can develop a more positive relationship with our anxiety.

COVID-19: Mindset

Taking a quick break from the psychology of COVID-19, we will look at how to stay safe during coronavirus. This episode is designed for anyone who wants to know the common safety techniques without having to trawl through the mainstream media to find them. Remember, though, that the best place for guidance is government advice.

COVID-19: How to stay safe

A lot of the anxiety around COVID-19 comes from predictable worries. Will I get ill? How will I cope if my family gets sick? What is happening about my job? Will the healthcare system be able to cope? In this episode, I will discuss some of the common worries and remind everyone that anxiety is a bias towards seeing the negative.

COVID-19: Common worries

COVID-19 is the most wide-spread and worrying pandemic we have seen in a while. But it is far from the only epidemic to spring up this century. In this episode, I want to normalise the idea of pandemics. Yes, they are bad. But the world has seen them before and we have survived. We are treading on known ground.

COVID-19: Normalising pandemics

Constantly reading the news on COVID-19 can trigger a lot of anxiety. But just telling someone "read the news less" is like saying to someone "just don't worry about it." That's not how anxiety works. In this episode, we will break down why we read the news so much, the meta-beliefs that underpin this behaviour, and a practical way to make a change so that you spend less time-consuming coronavirus news.

COVID-19: How to read the news less

It is a challenging time for anyone with health anxiety. Coronavirus/COVID-19 is running rampant across the world. How do we manage our anxiety and mental health throughout this period? In this episode, I will look at why COVID-19 is causing so much anxiety. And, more importantly, why those worries will reduce over time, even if the virus is here to stay for the foreseeable future.

COVID-19: Why is it so scary?

Many people struggle with using public transport. It might be getting the bus, train or underground: whatever it is, it is common to worry about panic attacks, being trapped and having to interact with strangers. In this episode, Chris discusses some coping strategies that can be useful, techniques for making it easier on yourself and long-term treatments including exposure and therapy.

Fear of public transport

Metacognitive therapy (MCT) is a relatively new form of therapy that looks at thinking about thinking. It's super useful. But what exactly does it all mean? In this episode, Chris explains the basics of MCT and how it can be applicable to reducing your anxiety.

What is metacognitive therapy?

What do you do in the moment when you are having a panic attack? It's hard to do anything when you feel like you are going to die. In this episode, Chris shares five practical ideas that you can use when you are having a panic attack to help bring it to an end.

How to stop a panic attack

Today was supposed to be a "go out and exercise" day. But it's cold. And raining. And this bed is warm. And I don't want to go out and exercise. Ever had this conversation with yourself? If you are anything like me, you have probably had the debate repeatedly. The barrier: there is no reason for me to go out and exercise. Sure, there is a long-term benefit, but I don't feel that immediately. So, how do we motivate ourselves do the things we don't want to do? One solution is temptation bundling. In this episode, we will discuss what it is and how to use it.

Increase your motivation with temptation bundling

When you just need to get through something, distraction can be a powerful tool for taking your thoughts away from your anxiety. However, it is only effective when used correctly. In this episode, we will discuss the differences between effective and ineffective distraction, and look at the different options available.

How to distract yourself from anxiety

If you find flying an awful experience, you are not alone. For many people, it is the bane of their summer holiday. In this episode, we will look at strategies to reduce the anxiety surrounding flying. These include cognitive interventions, exposure therapy, using distraction properly, taking medication and joining a fear of flying course.

How to conquer your fear of flying

The Worfolk Anxiety Podcast is designed to help you to control anxiety, live better and achieve more. Hosted by Chris Worfolk, each episode is designed to give you one skill, piece of knowledge of actionable step on handling anxiety.

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Worfolk Anxiety Podcast

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