26. Challenging Intrusive Thoughts | Dr. Andy Fraass

Emily chats with Dr. Andy Fraass, who opens up about support for anxiety that comes from his wife and daughters, improved sleep hygiene, and challenging intrusive thoughts.

Andy opened up previously, in episode 25, about social anxiety, learning he couldn’t trust his own self-perception, and the impacts of academia on family life.

This episode covers:

-  Self-educating about indigenous cultures, science fantasy, and achieving the bucket list goals of professorship and family.

-  Family support systems

-  Meditation and improved sleep hygiene

-  Methods of overcoming negative thought patterns

-  The role parenting can play in encouraging self-care and self-management of symptoms

-  The importance of supervisors being forgiving and understanding with students

-  The surprising value in group therapy for those with social anxiety

If you find this episode valuable, and have some spare change, please consider supporting the podcast!

Resources:

• App: Calm – for improving health and happiness, and for sleep stories
• Andy’s blog about anxiety in academia

Full transcript of the podcast is available here, with many thanks to Dan Ranson. If you find these transcripts useful, please consider supporting accessibility! 

Mental health support: please contact your GP or use the appropriate support for your country at https://checkpointorg.com/global/

Interested in being interviewed? We’d love to hear from you. Please submit this brief form.

Recorded: 19/11/2021.

Sound: Mindset by Ketsa