Anxiety can show up in a lot of different ways—from constant worry and racing thoughts to panic attacks, OCD, stress, avoidance, and that nagging feeling that something just isn’t right.

In this episode of The Self Help Briefing, Mike and Jen take a closer look at anxiety disorders and why working with a therapist who specializes in anxiety can make a difference. They also spotlight Calm Anxiety CBT Therapy Clinic and its work with clients in Chicago’s Andersonville community.

You’ll hear about several approaches commonly used in anxiety treatment, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), mindfulness-based strategies, and EMDR.

Mike and Jen also talk about what it can feel like to start therapy, the importance of finding a therapist who feels like a good fit, LGBTQ-affirming care, virtual therapy, and why you don’t have to wait until anxiety completely takes over your life before asking for help.

• Why anxiety disorders are so common
• Why some people wait to seek help
• The value of specialized anxiety treatment
• How CBT, ERP, ACT, EMDR, and mindfulness may be used in therapy
• Virtual and in-person therapy options
• Why LGBTQ-affirming mental health care matters
• What to expect when reaching out for therapy
• Calm Anxiety Clinic’s presence in Andersonville

I can ask for help before anxiety takes over my life. I can learn new skills to create a calmer existence.

Calm Anxiety CBT Therapy Clinic provides specialized anxiety treatment for people in Chicago and throughout Illinois. For those who prefer in-person care, the clinic offers services in the Andersonville area along with virtual therapy options.

Learn more about anxiety therapy in Andersonville: Calm Anxiety CBT Therapy Clinic — Andersonville

National Institute of Mental Health — Anxiety Disorders Learn more about anxiety disorders, symptoms, treatment, and current prevalence information.

NIMH: Anxiety Disorders

Information about Calm Anxiety CBT Therapy Clinic, its approach to anxiety treatment, services, and locations was developed from information provided by the clinic.

Calm Anxiety CBT Therapy Clinic FAQs

If you enjoyed today's conversation, be sure to follow The Self Help Briefing on your favorite podcast platform. And if you have a moment, we'd really appreciate a quick review. It helps other listeners discover the show.

You can visit the podcast at www.theselfhelpbriefing.com to check out our latest episodes or to make contact.

The Self Help Briefing may include affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, the podcast may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Recommendations are selected because we believe they may be useful or relevant to the topic being discussed.

The Self Help Briefing is provided for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing discussed on the podcast should be considered medical, psychological, mental health, legal, or other professional advice. If you have concerns about your physical or mental health, please consult an appropriately qualified professional.

The Self Help Briefing is a production of G Digital Studios. Episodes may be developed from sources available online. Episode artwork may be created using Adobe Firefly or other royalty-free sources. Articles, books, and other resources discussed in an episode are credited and linked in the show notes when applicable. Voiceovers are generated using synthesized audio.

Are you the person everyone counts on—the fixer, the organizer, the one who steps in because “if I don’t do it, it won’t get done”? Being responsible can be a strength, but chronic responsibility can leave you carrying responsibilities that were never really yours—and feeling exhausted by all of it.

In this episode of The Self Help Briefing, Mike and Jen explore chronic responsibility and why some people have such a hard time letting other people take the wheel. They talk about the belief that everything depends on you, how over-responsibility can show up at work and in relationships, and why stepping back can feel surprisingly uncomfortable.

In This Episode

• The “if I don’t do it, it won’t get done” mindset
• How chronic responsibility can develop over time
• The “Who Else Could Do This?” test
• Why letting something small go wrong can actually be useful
• Over-responsibility in romantic relationships
• Creating a recurring “not my job” boundary
• Asking what you fear will happen if you don’t step in
• How CBT can help challenge automatic beliefs about responsibility
• When chronic responsibility starts looking more like burnout

Today’s Affirmation

“I am allowed to let go of what isn’t mine to carry. I can trust others to step up, and I don’t have to hold everything together.”

📖 Book Recommendation

Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself by Nedra Glover Tawwab

A practical guide to identifying boundaries, communicating your needs, and learning that taking care of yourself doesn’t require taking responsibility for everyone else. See Amazon for pricing

Source Article

Are You Chronically Responsible? 7 Ways to Stop Carrying Everything Calm Anxiety CBT Therapy Clinic

If you enjoyed today's conversation, be sure to follow The Self Help Briefing on your favorite podcast platform. And if you have a moment, we'd really appreciate a quick review. It helps other listeners discover the show.

You can visit the podcast at www.theselfhelpbriefing.com to check out our latest episodes or to make contact.

The Self Help Briefing may include affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, the podcast may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Recommendations are selected because we believe they may be useful or relevant to the topic being discussed.

The Self Help Briefing is provided for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing discussed on the podcast should be considered medical, psychological, mental health, legal, or other professional advice. If you have concerns about your physical or mental health, please consult an appropriately qualified professional.

The Self Help Briefing is a production of G Digital Studios. Episodes may be developed from sources available online. Episode artwork may be created using Adobe Firefly or other royalty-free sources. Articles, books, and other resources discussed in an episode are credited and linked in the show notes when applicable. Voiceovers are generated using synthesized audio.

Could sleeping naked actually help you sleep better? Research suggests that nighttime body temperature plays an important role in sleep quality, and ditching your pajamas may have some surprising benefits for comfort, intimacy, and overall well-being.

In this episode of The Self Help Briefing, Mike makes a confession: he sleeps completely naked—and Jen has questions. From body temperature and sleep quality to intimacy, mood, and reproductive health, Mike and Jen explore some of the potential benefits of sleeping in the buff.

They also look at the science behind keeping cool while you sleep, why skin-to-skin contact may encourage bonding between partners, and why sleeping naked isn't necessarily for everyone.

And yes, after their recent conversation about morning wood, Jen has a few thoughts about Mike's preferred sleepwear—or lack thereof.

In This Episode

• Why body temperature matters during sleep
• Sleeping cooler and sleep quality
• Skin-to-skin contact, oxytocin, and intimacy
• Sleep quality and emotional well-being
• Why nighttime temperature may matter for male reproductive health
• How to experiment with sleeping naked if you're used to pajamas
• Mike's own experience sleeping in the buff

Today's Affirmation

“I give myself permission to rest, let go, and be completely comfortable in my own skin.”

Recommended Reading

Sleep Soundly Every Night, Feel Fantastic Every Day By Dr. Robert S. Rosenberg

A practical guide to understanding sleep problems and making changes that can help improve the quality of your sleep.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4httdSl

Sources & Related Reading

Journal of Physiological Anthropology Effects of Thermal Environment on Sleep and Circadian Rhythm https://jphysiolanthropol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1880-6805-31-14

Harvard Medical School – Division of Sleep Medicine Sleep and Mood https://sleep.hms.harvard.edu/education-training/public-education/sleep-and-health-education-program/sleep-health-education-87

FOREO – MYSA The Power of Skin-to-Skin Contact in Mental Health https://www.foreo.com/mysa/the-power-of-skin-to-skin-contact-in-mental-health

Related Reading

Guy Counseling Why Do Men Get Morning Wood? https://guycounseling.com/men-morning-wood/

If you enjoyed today's conversation, be sure to follow The Self Help Briefing on your favorite podcast platform. And if you have a moment, we'd really appreciate a quick review. It helps other listeners discover the show.

You can visit the podcast at www.theselfhelpbriefing.com to check out our latest episodes or to make contact.

The Self Help Briefing may include affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, the podcast may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Recommendations are selected because we believe they may be useful or relevant to the topic being discussed.

The Self Help Briefing is provided for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing discussed on the podcast should be considered medical, psychological, mental health, legal, or other professional advice. If you have concerns about your physical or mental health, please consult an appropriately qualified professional.

The Self Help Briefing is a production of G Digital Studios. Episodes may be developed from sources available online. Episode artwork may be created using Adobe Firefly or other royalty-free sources. Articles, books, and other resources discussed in an episode are credited and linked in the show notes when applicable. Voiceovers are generated using synthesized audio.