Excerpt from Women Who Worry Too Much

Worry is a catch-22 for many women. It leaves them feeling wound up, on edge, and filled with self-doubt. But at the same time, a part of them secretly believes that they need their worry to manage their lives and ward off disaster. They feel stuck in a never-ending double bind, caught between a rock and a hard place. For this reason, many women find worry to be the less of two evils.

By guest blogger Duane Brown, Ph.D., author of Flying Without Fear.

Recent airline accidents may have made boarding an airplane more of a challenge for people who are afraid to fly and may have persuaded others that flying should be avoided altogether. The purpose of this note is to examine reports about these accidents and offer advice to fearful fliers.

by guest blogger Margo C. Watt, Ph.D., co-author of Overcoming the Fear of Fear

Like death and taxes, everyone is familiar with fear and anxiety. Speaking in public, watching a scary movie, or meeting a bear in the woods; all can elicit physical sensations that accompany feelings of fear and anxiety – racing heartbeat, shortness of breath, sweating, and dizziness. Although we often use the words "fear" and "anxiety" interchangeably, they are not exactly the same thing. Fear, for example, is the emotion we feel when we encounter a clear and present danger such as meeting a bear in the woods. Anxiety, on the other hand, is what we feel when we anticipate a fearful situation or event in the future (anticipating the bear in the woods).

Adapted from The Binge Eating & Compulsive Overeating Workbook: An Integrated Approach to Overcoming Disordered Eating

Stress is a natural part of life. Yet it seems that between the economic recession, multiple health crises, and other seemingly endless things, individuals are experiencing heightened anxiety. People often deal with stress by trying to find methods that will lessen their intense emotions. However, a number of eating patterns that people develop to cope during this time actually worsen the stress.

Here are some common eating patterns that you may fall into when under stress:

Excerpt from Daily Meditations for Calming Your Anxious Mind by Jeffrey Brantley, MD, and Wendy Millstine, NC

.... Cultivating patience involves being tolerant of life’s temporary, unsolved predicaments and uncertainties while you wait for a solution or opportunity to emerge. Patience requires trust. You nurture your ability to trust that the natural flow of life has moments that cannot be controlled or easily fixed. Life has an uncanny way of working itself out, with or without you.