But For Real Episode 8: Deep Dive on our Fave Besties, ✨ ANXIETY & STRESS ✨
In this week’s episode, Val and Em take a deep dive into two topics that are relatable for pretty much everyone in today’s society – anxiety and stress 😅
From basic definitions, to stats, to practical tips for how to actually manage anxiety and stress, this episode is a must listen.
And, as always, we get into so much more – including some of Val’s lore 🤪
This episode covers:
Tea & Crumpets
Emerson can’t stop talking about Men Who Hate Women by Laura Bates. It’s not a shocker that misogyny runs rampant in our world, and in this book, Laura dives into the “manosphere” and other extremist ideologies. Regardless of your gender identity, this is a must read.
Val’s obsession this week is Buy Now, the Shopping Conspiracy, a documentary on Netflix. In our last episode, we talked about all things hyperconsumerism, and this doc takes a deep dive. Val also shares some thoughts on her journey of unlearning hyperconsumerism, including suggestions for how you can shop more sustainably and ethically, too.
The Lore
Many moons ago, Val worked at a treatment center that shared property with a working cattle ranch. Her first office there was a converted garage…but let’s say, it wasn’t well converted. 😅
There were many memorable moments there, but two of the most memorable include a time where within a week, nearly all of the clients in a particular group shaved their heads, and another time where Val tried to kill a spider discreetly while a group member was sharing something vulnerable, and instead released a swarm of baby spiders.
The DSM: Navigating Stress and Anxiety
Stress and anxiety are both looming forces that impact all of our lives in varying degrees at one time or another.
In the episode, Val differentiates the definitions of stress and anxiety. Stress is any response to external pressures or demands, AKA what we might call “stressors. Anxiety is a persistent, excessive level of fear, worry, or unease, that goes beyond just “feeling stressed.” Anxiety can also occur without an external stressor – isn’t that fun? 🤪
Emerson dives into statistics and insights from the APA’s 2023 Stress in America Report, particularly related to Gen-Z and millennials. Both groups report stress levels that are higher than older generations. While some stressors vary between the two groups, both report climate change as a major stressor.
So…what do we do about all of this stress and anxiety?
Val and Em both share practical strategies for more effectively coping, including basic self-care, building community, somatic approaches, cognitive behavioral techniques, and one of our fave therapy modalities at The Gaia Center – Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
Now That’s What I Call…OKAAAAY
Emerson’s pick this week was American Teenager by Ethel Cain. The song comes from her album Preacher’s Daughter and encompasses anti-war sentiment, culture surrounding gun violence – and it was included in President Obama’s favorite songs list of 2022!
Val’s pick this week was The Parting Glass by the Wailin’ Jennys and by Hozier – a traditional Scottish song, often used for goodbyes, funerals, New Years parties…you get the idea.
It’s a gut-wrencher and left Em too stunned to speak. 🥲
Wait, What?
This week, Emerson fills us in on what “unaliving” means. It’s a term coined by Gen-Z that refers to someone dying, whether by suicide or at the hands of someone else. It was first coined as a way to skirt around social media algorithms that often suppress content related to sensitive topics. However, it has also become a more approachable way to refer to these things, particularly suicide.
Fire Dumpster Phoenix
Em’s hopeful find for the week was an article about how two grandparents Grandparents planted over 5,000 Christmas trees a decade ago to help fund their grandkids collegiate careers!
Shawn and Bruce Carpenter from Bean Blossom Indiana, planted over 5k trees with the hopes that by the time they grew from 6-10 feet, they would have enough trees to sell and help provide funding for their 8 grandkids to be able to go to college. They started selling 1,000 trees on November 30th at their Bittersweet Farms in rural Indiana. What a labor of love!
Val’s find for the week was a story about actually a POSITIVE rat experiment from neuroscientist Dr. Kelly Lambert at Richmond University, reported by @thatgoodnewsgirl on Instagram.
Dr. Lambert advocates for housing laboratory animals like pets, including more natural high enrichment habitats – YAY!
She created special rat-operated vehicles, complete with steering mechanisms and tiny pedals. The rats took to driving surprisingly quickly! The experiment was completely non-invasive, measuring hormone levels in the rat droppings throughout each session to determine their emotional responses.
The study found that learning to drive made the rats more emotionally resilient and lowered stress levels— just like how we often feel more confident after mastering a new skill!
When given the option between walking directly to their treat or driving a longer way to get to it, the rats often chose to take the scenic route just for fun! AND researchers found that simply anticipating their next driving lesson made the rats happier, with many of them eagerly jumping into their cars before the training even began.
Just more proof that anticipatory savoring works, so go book something you can look forward to!
If you want to learn more about any (or all) of these topics, click the podcast player at the top of this post or the YouTube video down below to listen to the full episode and dive in with us.
Resources + Stuff Mentioned in This Episode:
Men Who Hate Women by Laura Bates
Buy Now, the Shopping Conspiracy (on Netflix)
Statistics and insights from the APA’s 2023 Stress in America Report:
@thatgoodnewsgirl on IG
Connect with Us:
Send a story or ask for advice: butforrealpod@gmail.com
But For Real on IG: @butforrealpod
The Gaia Center on IG: @thegaiacenter
Val on IG: @valkaymartin
The Gaia Center website: www.gaiacenter.co
DISCLAIMER: But For Real Podcast is not a substitute for individualized mental health treatment or healthcare. This podcast is solely for entertainment and educational purposes. If you are in crisis, please utilize crisis support services, such as the Crisis Text Line (Text START to 741741 in the US) or the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: (Call 988 in the US), or visit www.findahelpline.com for international resources.
