The Connection Between Anxiety, Grief, and Parenting: Embracing the Journey of Letting Go
Anxiety RxShow Notes
Hey there! I'm Dr. Russ, and in this episode of The AnxietyRX Podcast, we're diving deep into some real, raw emotions.
Molly Carroll, a psychotherapist, joins me to talk about anxiety, grief, and the rollercoaster of parenting. I'll share my personal journey with anxiety, and Molly opens up about the emotional turmoil of sending her kid off to college—it's a wild ride, trust me.
We'll chat about self-compassion, the power of community, and how to find balance between thinking and feeling.
It's a heartfelt conversation that'll help you navigate life's ups and downs with more ease.
Thank you for listening and you can find me on IG: @theanxietymd if you have any questions.
PS. If you would like to join the MBRX family of 3700+ anxiety WARRIORS who are shifting from coping with their anxiety to actually HEALING it, click the link below: https://www.theanxietymd.com/MBRX
______________________________
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 - Introduction
01:49 - The Wounded Healer
02:54 - The Somatic Experience of Grief
05:15- Community and Connection
09:05 - Coping Strategies and Shadow Work
10:55 - Feeling and Processing Grief
14:50 - The Sensation of Grief
17:20 - Reflecting on Separation at 18
19:47 - Healing the Wounded Child
20:38 - Coping Mechanisms and Cognitive Explanations
22:14 - Acclimatizing to Anxiety
23:04 - Cognition and Emotional Healing
25:53 - Survival Physiology and Healing
26:47 - Breath and Body Connection
31:48 - Compassion in Relationships
33:04 - Presence, Awareness, Compassion
37:45 - Integrating Trauma and Self
40:34 - Present Moment Awareness
41:12 - Tears of Joy vs. Tears of Sorrow
42:36 - Vulnerability and Coping Mechanisms in Men
44:05 - Raising Emotionally Aware Children
46:06 - The Role of Trauma in Healing
48:47 - Authenticity vs. Reactivity
49:52 - Addressing Root Causes of Anxiety
53:05 - Faith and Trust in Healing
56:54 - Daily Healing Practices
01:00:17 - Creating Chaos
01:01:12 - Contractions of Creation
More from Anxiety Rx
What if worrying is just your mind’s way of trying to stop you from worrying? In this episode, I pull apart the myth that positive thinking can cure anxiety. The alarm in the body and the worries in the mind feed each other in a loop that never ends. Childhood separation leaves a mark when you aren’t seen, heard, or protected, and that’s where the alarm takes root. Growing up with a father who had schizophrenia, I learned to escape into worry as my coping strategy. The real healing began when I turned toward the younger version of myself and felt what I’d spent years running from.
What if the real scam isn’t the robocall, but the idea that your worth is measured in dollars? In this episode, the lie that money can replace human connection takes center stage. A medical system built on billing codes pushed me to trade care for speed, and that disconnection fueled my own anxiety. Scams, ads, and constant grabs for attention keep the nervous system on high alert. The “monetization fairy” gets called out for what it is, and simple practices bring us back to intrinsic value and genuine human connection.
What if being “too sensitive” isn’t a flaw but the hidden root of your anxiety?
Ever pushed yourself to eat clean and work out, hoping it would calm your anxiety, only to feel even worse? Here’s why it happens…
What if burnout isn’t failure, but your body’s protective shutdown? In this episode, I open up about burning out as a doctor and why it went far beyond just being tired. Burnout showed up as a split between my mind pushing forward and the younger part of me saying, “I can’t do this anymore.” The mask of “Dr. Russell Kennedy” gave me income, status, and validation, but it also crushed my sense of self.