Join Dr. Jodi Richardson in this powerful and deeply moving episode as she welcomes acclaimed author and psychotherapist Dr. Stephanie Dowrick to discuss her transformative new book, “Your Name is Not Anxious.”

In this raw and vulnerable conversation, Dr. Dowrick invites listeners to reconsider their relationship with anxiety, describing it as a “coloniser” that takes over your identity and a “liar” that distorts your perception of reality. Together, they explore how negative self-talk erodes our wellbeing and how breaking the cycle begins with a simple but profound question: “Would you speak to your best friend the way you speak to yourself?”

The conversation takes a personal turn as both women share their own journeys with anxiety – Stephanie opening up about her earlier struggles with OCD and current chronic pain from stress fractures in her spine, while Jodi speaks candidly about her experience with medication.

Drawing from her book, Dr. Dowrick offers practical wisdom for reclaiming power from the “robbery” of anxiety and depression through small, hopeful steps toward re-empowerment. She emphasises the importance of:

• Asking for help when needed
• Using body-soothing techniques to reduce cortisol levels
• Implementing guided meditation and self-hypnosis (techniques expanded upon in her book)
• Learning from situations where you already cope well

This episode doesn’t just theorise about anxiety – it offers a compassionate roadmap for those struggling to separate themselves from their anxious thoughts and rediscover their true identity beyond the limiting label of “anxious.”

A must-listen for anyone seeking to understand and transform their relationship with anxiety through self-compassion, insight, and hope.

Content warning: This episode contains discussions of death

More about Dr. Stephanie Dowrick:

https://www.stephaniedowrick.com/

Order her book – ‘Your Name Is Not Anxious’: https://a.co/d/7fscwy0

Connect with me:

https://linktr.ee/drjodirichardson?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAabqDVAw_zhoG3IXGRhgjn-J14BFJy50ztJbCHywMfZobVH12nX1USMbisI_aem_QViUbKkXHlwbD3y4kGcvGQ

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