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. The show 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.
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.
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. He 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 also provides practical advice on lifestyle changes or practices that may help improve well-being and mental health.
Mental health remains an important concern: 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 a podcast help with anxiety?
A mental health podcast aimed at helping listeners overcome anxiety may be beneficial. While there isn’t a single resource that works equally well for everybody, many podcasts can offer insight, strategies, and techniques for managing mental health issues like anxiety. One good example is The Anxiety Guy podcast, a lengthy series about managing stress and anxiety before symptoms become overwhelming.
There are hundreds of podcast episodes covering dozens of topics related to anxiety, and, likely, anyone struggling with anxiety, stress, fear, worry, or panic will find something useful to them. However, it is important to remember that an anxiety podcast does not replace professional medical advice or the guidance of a therapist, even if the podcast features qualified health and wellness experts. Always follow the recommendations of professionals when treating any medical or mental health condition.
Who is the best person to talk to about anxiety?
The right person to discuss anxiety with is likely a therapist or other mental health provider. Anxiety and mental health are inseparable concepts; good overall mental health practices likely mean lower anxiety symptoms. Mental health professionals are trained to assess and evaluate the unique features of anxiety and recommend treatments that are tuned to each individual. While some can overcome common anxiety symptoms without help, the process is likely much easier with the help of a professional.
Which podcast can help increase confidence and lower social anxiety?
Several podcasts focus on confidence and social anxiety, such as Shrink for the Shy Guy, hosted by clinical psychologist Dr. Aziz Gazipura, a social anxiety and confidence expert. Episodes focus on overcoming fear in various social situations, including meeting someone new, networking, dating, public speaking, and business meetings, among others. The podcast communicates evidence-based techniques and strategies people can use to improve confidence and lower social anxiety. Mental health remains the primary focus, and the podcast is likely to be helpful to those with mild to severe social anxiety.
Which treatment approach is most effective for anxiety?
Many treatment approaches can help you manage your anxiety, but two of the most effective are cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and medication. CBT is a psychotherapeutic technique that focuses on teaching a person how to consciously control their anxiety, develop coping skills, turn those skills into second-nature habits, and face their fears. Medication, typically antidepressant medication, has also been shown to lower the symptoms of anxiety, but it is likely that medications and psychotherapy work most effectively when used together.
Supportive treatments are also commonly used to help heal anxiety, such as helping the person maintain adequate self-care. Self-care is a necessary part of anxiety management. It includes many positive behaviors, but three are considered especially important: diet, sleep, and exercise. Getting adequate sleep and eating a healthy diet are known to safeguard against deteriorating mental health, and exercise may be one of the most effective strategies to reduce anxiety symptoms.
How can I overcome shyness and social anxiety?
Overcoming shyness and social anxiety may be important to personal growth and development. Social anxiety can impact a person’s career, dating life, and social network. It is normal to feel some anxiety in new social situations or while doing other socially demanding tasks, like public speaking. Social anxiety that becomes debilitating or impacts how a person lives their life may be indicative of social anxiety disorder, a mental health condition characterized by an extreme fear of social situations, often to the point of inducing a panic attack.
If social anxiety is so severe that it interferes with everyday life, it is likely most beneficial to overcome it with the help of a therapist or other professional. A therapist can help by using evidence-based techniques like cognitive behavioral therapy to help manage anxiety directly. They can also recommend coping strategies, like mindfulness meditation, to make socializing easier. Finally, a therapist is qualified to distinguish other anxiety concerns, like generalized anxiety disorder, that may contribute to your social anxiety.
How do you control nervousness related to public speaking?
Nervousness while speaking publicly is normal; many people feel jittery before speaking in front of a crowd, even if they are experienced. However, if you are overcome by nervousness, or if your feelings keep you from speaking in public even though you want to, you may need to use additional techniques to calm yourself before speaking to a group.
Here are some common strategies for managing feelings of anxiety when speaking publicly:
- Be sure to prepare adequately. Know your material well in advance, and prepare notecards, presentations, and other materials early. If possible, do a dry run in the space you will be speaking before listeners arrive.
- Consider which of your fears are realistic. If you’re worried that everyone in the audience will boo you out of the room if you mispronounce a single word, that’s probably not realistically likely. However, if you’re worried that you won’t have enough time to complete your presentation - which is a realistic fear - you may want to double-check the length of your speech.
- Remember that making mistakes and having flaws can make you relatable and vulnerable, as can showing your passion for your topic. That may make it easier for the audience to connect to you and respond positively to your presentation.
- Find a friendly face in the audience to look at or feel the sensation of your feet on the stage as you start your presentation. Grounding yourself helps you remain present, which further bolsters vulnerability and sincerity.
- Tap into your passion to give generously in your presentation. Show the people attending what you are trying to give them and what they stand to gain by attending your talk. Your passion will likely help you engage the audience and take your mind off your fears and negative thinking.
How do you communicate effectively while speaking publicly?
In addition to good stress management, effective public speaking requires organization, preparation, and audience engagement. Practical skills are required, like speaking loudly and clearly, as well as mental skills, like pacing your presentation or moving past mistakes. Some helpful tips for effective public speaking are listed below:
- Practice, practice, practice. Not only does adequate practice reduce anxiety, but it can also improve your presentation's flow and cohesion.
- Organize your material well in advance and have an easier way to obtain notes, supplemental resources, and presentation materials.
- Don’t read a speech verbatim if it can be avoided. Try to speak from an outline so you can shift your focus to the audience while speaking. This requires knowing the material you are presenting well enough to work from bullet points rather than a pre-written speech.
- Start with an attention-grabbing introduction, such as an interesting statistic, relevant anecdote, or poignant quote. Conclude your speech with a statement of the key points you want your audience to take away.
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