225: What if Death isn’t Scary? A Conversation with Hospice Nurse Julie McFadden

If the word ‘death’ makes your chest tighten, or if you’ve spent months body scanning and wondering ‘what if this is it,’ what if I told you that death isn’t the scary, painful monster we’ve been taught to fear?In today’s episode, I am having a conversation that is not meant to scare you. In fact, it’s meant to do the exact opposite. For some who are struggling with health anxiety, panic disorder, or agoraphobia, the fear of death is the "silent engine" running in the background. It’s the intrusive thought that stops you in our tracks and the reason you feel the need to control every sensation in our bodies.I am joined by the incredible Julie McFadden, a hospice nurse and New York Times bestselling author known to millions as Hospice Nurse Julie. Julie has spent years at the bedside of the dying, and she brings a perspective that is grounded, compassionate, and believe it or not, deeply comforting. We aren't here to be morbid; we are here to take the "grip" out of the fear so you can start living your life again.--------------------------------------------------------HERE'S WHAT TO SAY TO YOUR BRAIN WHEN YOU'RE SPIRALING: https://ahealthypush.myflodesk.com/calmpanicTAKE MY FREE QUIZ AND FIND OUT WHAT'S CAUSING YOU TO STAY STUCK: https://www.ahealthypush.com/blocking-quizA HEALTHY PUSH INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/ahealthypush/GET THIS EPISODE'S SHOW NOTES: https://www.ahealthypush.com/post/what-about-death

Is it possible to be "fully recovered" and still have anxious thoughts, or are we all just making it up as we go?Welcome to the very first episode of Recovered & Rambling! This is a new monthly feature where I sit down with my right-hand person and friend, Brittany, for a completely unscripted, unfiltered conversation. Think of it as a "vibe check" on life, recovery, and the random stuff that keeps us laughing.In this episode, we’re bridging the gap between my decade of recovery and Brittany’s more recent journey. We dive into the awkwardness of therapy "first dates," the reality of having no control as a mom, and why we’re both currently obsessed with the psychological warfare on The Traitors.HERE'S WHAT TO SAY TO YOUR BRAIN WHEN YOU'RE SPIRALING: https://ahealthypush.myflodesk.com/calmpanicTAKE MY FREE QUIZ AND FIND OUT WHAT'S CAUSING YOU TO STAY STUCK: https://www.ahealthypush.com/blocking-quizA HEALTHY PUSH INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/ahealthypush/GET THIS EPISODE'S SHOW NOTES: https://www.ahealthypush.com/post/rambling1

Have you ever been gripped by the fear that you wont make it to a bathroom in time?In this episode, we’re diving deep into a topic that many people struggle with, but almost nobody talks about: toilet anxiety. Specifically, the distressing fear of pooping your pants in public or while "trapped" in situations like traffic or meetings.If you’ve ever felt like your life revolves around the nearest restroom, I want you to know right now: you are not weird, you are not broken, and you are definitely not alone. I struggled with this for years, and I know the absolute torture of feeling like you can't trust your own body. Today, I’m sharing my personal journey, the science behind the gut-brain connection, and how you can finally break the cycle of hypervigilance and reclaim your freedom.CHECK OUT MY MINI-COURSE - FREEDOM FROM TOILET ANXIETY: https://www.ahealthypush.com/toilet-anxietyTAKE MY FREE QUIZ AND FIND OUT WHAT'S CAUSING YOU TO STAY STUCK: https://www.ahealthypush.com/blocking-quizA HEALTHY PUSH INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/ahealthypush/GET THIS EPISODE'S SHOW NOTES: https://www.ahealthypush.com/post/toilet-anxiety

Have you ever felt like you’re a nervous wreck for absolutely no reason at all? Maybe you’re just sitting on the couch, watching a show, or grabbing a coffee, and suddenly your heart is racing and your brain is screaming "danger!" even though everything is fine. If you feel like your anxiety is "24/7" or you’re trapped by agoraphobia, this episode is for you.Mari is back on the podcast today, and we are diving into some of your most "in the thick of it" questions. These aren't entry-level questions! These are for those of you who have been struggling for a while and are ready to understand why your recovery feels stalled and how to finally start moving forward.GET MY FREE GUIDE - WHAT TO SAY TO YOUR BRAIN WHEN YOU'RE SPIRALING: https://ahealthypush.myflodesk.com/calmpanicTAKE MY FREE QUIZ AND FIND OUT WHAT'S CAUSING YOU TO STAY STUCK: https://www.ahealthypush.com/blocking-quizA HEALTHY PUSH INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/ahealthypush/GET THIS EPISODE'S SHOW NOTES: https://www.ahealthypush.com/post/q-and-a-with-mari

What do you do when the world feels like it’s on fire, and your nervous system is simply running out of capacity to hold it all?Today, I’m stepping away from the usual "teaching" and "fixing" to have a very honest, human-to-human check-in. If you are sensitive, empathetic, and anxiety-leaning, you’ve likely been feeling the weight of the world's chaos, uncertainty, and pain. It is heavy, it is exhausting, and quite frankly, it makes sense that you’re struggling.I want to remind you that your dysregulation isn't a sign of weakness, it’s biology. In this episode, I share the personal practices I am leaning on right now to stay grounded when everything feels out of control.JOIN PANIC TO PEACE HERE: https://www.ahealthypush.com/live-panic-to-peaceTAKE MY FREE QUIZ AND FIND OUT WHAT'S CAUSING YOU TO STAY STUCK: https://www.ahealthypush.com/blocking-quizA HEALTHY PUSH INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/ahealthypush/GET THIS EPISODE'S SHOW NOTES: https://www.ahealthypush.com/post/support-in-hard-times

Have you ever felt like you've talked about your anxiety until you're blue in the face, yet the panic still feels "stuck" in your body?In this episode, I'm joined by Lilly Risch, an expert EMDR therapist and consultant. We’re moving beyond traditional talk therapy to explore Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)—a body-based modality specifically designed to target the root of panic and anxiety disorders."EMDR is a really powerful way to look at symptoms and help people make progress a lot quicker than traditional talk therapy... because our brains and our nervous systems are complex." — Lilly Risch------------------------------------------------------------------JOIN PANIC TO PEACE HERE: https://www.ahealthypush.com/live-panic-to-peaceTAKE MY FREE QUIZ AND FIND OUT WHAT'S CAUSING YOU TO STAY STUCK: https://www.ahealthypush.com/blocking-quizA HEALTHY PUSH INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/ahealthypush/GET THIS EPISODE'S SHOW NOTES: https://www.ahealthypush.com/post/emdr-therapy

​Is your search for a "reason" behind your panic actually the thing keeping you stuck?When panic feels random and unpredictable, our natural human instinct is to figure out why. We scan our lives for patterns... asking what we ate, where we were, or what we were thinking, convinced that if we can just solve the mystery of the trigger, we can finally make the panic stop. In this episode, I explain why this constant monitoring is actually a trap that keeps your nervous system on high alert.Recovery isn't about building a "panic-proof" life or eliminating every trigger; it’s about changing your internal response to discomfort. I want to help you reframe the panic not as a reaction to a dangerous world, but as a misfiring of a protective system that is simply trying a little too hard to keep you safe.GET ON THE PANIC TO PEACE WAITING LIST HERE: https://www.ahealthypush.com/live-panic-to-peaceTAKE MY FREE QUIZ AND FIND OUT WHAT'S CAUSING YOU TO STAY STUCK: https://www.ahealthypush.com/blocking-quizA HEALTHY PUSH INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/ahealthypush/GET THIS EPISODE'S SHOW NOTES: https://www.ahealthypush.com/post/what-triggers-panic

What do you do when your world becomes so small that even the second floor of your own home feels like a place you need to escape?In this episode, I’m sitting down with Megan, a graduate of my Panic to Peace program, to talk about the raw reality of agoraphobia. Megan shares the "underwater" feeling of her first traumatic panic attack during an MRI and how her life eventually shrank until she was white-knuckling her way through every single day just to show up for her two daughters.Megan’s story is a beautiful look at the shift that happens when you stop fighting the feelings and start changing the way you talk to yourself. We talk about how she went from being housebound to navigating a four-day hospital stay with her child with a newfound sense of calm. If you feel stuck in the "noise" of anxiety, this conversation will show you exactly how Megan turned the volume down and reclaimed her life.SIGN UP FOR DRIVE WITH PEACE & CONFIDENCE HERE: https://www.ahealthypush.com/drive-with-peaceTAKE MY FREE QUIZ AND FIND OUT WHAT'S CAUSING YOU TO STAY STUCK: https://www.ahealthypush.com/blocking-quizA HEALTHY PUSH INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/ahealthypush/GET THIS EPISODE'S SHOW NOTES: https://www.ahealthypush.com/post/anxiety-success-megan

Agoraphobia doesn’t always look like being housebound (pst, it often doesn't).In this episode, I’m breaking down 4 common (and often overlooked) signs of agoraphobia, especially for people who are still “doing life..." going to work, running errands, traveling, or showing up for others, but feel like their world is quietly shrinking on the inside.I share from both my personal experience of living with panic disorder and agoraphobia for 15 years and the patterns I see every day in my work with clients and students.If you’ve ever thought, “This can’t be agoraphobia because I still do things,” this episode is for you.SIGN UP FOR DRIVE WITH PEACE & CONFIDENCE HERE: https://www.ahealthypush.com/drive-with-peaceCHECK OUT PANIC TO PEACE HERE: https://www.ahealthypush.com/live-panic-to-peaceA HEALTHY PUSH INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/ahealthypush/GET THIS EPISODE'S SHOW NOTES: https://www.ahealthypush.com/post/4-signs-of-agoraphobia

Is your anxiety suddenly through the roof, are you easily irritated, or do you feel a persistent sense of "something is off" and you just don't know why?I sat down with the amazing Dr. Noor Al-Humaidhi, a physician specializing in menopause, who brings both professional expertise and deeply personal experience to the table. This conversation is an absolute must-listen if you're in your mid-30s, 40s, or 50s. You are not crazy, and you are so much less alone than you think!CHECK OUT MY COURSES HERE: https://www.ahealthypush.com/anxiety-classesTAKE MY FREE QUIZ AND FIND OUT WHAT'S CAUSING YOU TO STAY STUCK: https://www.ahealthypush.com/blocking-quizA HEALTHY PUSH INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/ahealthypush/GET THIS EPISODE'S SHOW NOTES: https://www.ahealthypush.com/post/panic-with-perimenopause