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The Overwhelmed Brain

Self-Empowerment for your Personal Evolution

Episode 0022: Charlie Hoehn: Anxiety! How I Cured It

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charlie hoehnYes, Charlie Hoehn cured himself of anxiety. I don’t interview the people that are half-way to a resolve, I go for the gold! And Charlie reveals all in this extremely important interview about how he not only lived with anxiety and panic attacks, but also how he cured himself of it. 

 

Charlie Hoehn is an author, marketing strategist, talked at a Tedx on free work, and wrote the book Play It Away: A Workaholic’s Cure for Anxiety. If you suffer from anxiety or panic attacks, maybe this is the episode that will change your life! After he wrote a blog article called How I Cured My Anxiety, he soon had over 100,000 hits, with 500 to 1000 visits daily.Wow, anxiety is a hot topic. Let’s explore this. Have a listen!

My favorite quote from this interview:

“The information you consume determines what you think and who you are”

What you’ll learn on this show:

  • The definition and symptoms of anxiety
  • One of the big reasons people feel anxiety
  • Charlie’s story of his anxiety
  • Signs that you’re having a panic attack
  • What we rely so heavily on, and how it plays into our anxiety
  • How the pressure to be witty and clever helps contribute to anxious feelings
  • How we use technology to drown out the loneliness
  • Everything he tried that subsequently failed, and why they failed
  • What he decided to focus on to start enjoying life again
  • One of the first biggest steps Charlie took in overcoming his anxiety
  • His cure for anxiety
  • Tricks he uses to stop anxious thoughts and feelings in their tracks 
  • A little known technique that you don’t often hear about that helps release chronic tension and adrenaline
  • We talk about sleep deprivation and taking naps
  • Yes, we talk about free work and improv, and how they both can play a huge part in curing yourself
  • What you put in your head has a big effect on your life

Recommended Resources:

Connect with Charlie!

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*Please note this page may contain affiliate links. All that means is that if you purchase from a website you clicked on, that site might send me a small percentage of the sale
  • Maritza Parra

    Great show! I used to think that anxiety attacks and panic attacks were bs… until I started having them!!! I got over them without meds and just taking extreme self-care. So much great info here, any tips to help people in this stress-filled world is welcome and so needed. Great job guys!

    • Thank you Maritza! So awesome you don’t experience that anymore – very cool!

      I appreciate that you took the time to comment here. I learned a lot from Charlie myself.

  • Hi Charlie!
    Wow, you have a very powerful story – thank you so much for sharing your experiences, as well as your advice and techniques for overcoming anxiety with us. I especially loved your guys’ discussion on how “anxiety is an obsession with the future, depression is an obsession with the past”. I remember struggling with this personally about 6 years ago or so – I was constantly living everywhere but in the present. After ready Tolle’s The Power Of Now, I gained a whole new appreciation for living in the moment and experiencing your ‘now’ always. Living your life moment to moment takes a ton of practice, but once you become aware of the positive effects it can have on your being, attitude, relationships – everything – you won’t want it any other way.

    Thank you Charlie and Paul!

    • You are amazing for baring your soul here. I truly enjoyed that book too. Thank you for your amazing comment Kate. Charlie gave me a whole new outlook on things. So much to take away here.

      I appreciate you taking the time to share your story!

  • I wanted to make sure I listened to this episode just because of the title of the new book. One of my favorite discussions from Overwhelmed Brain to date. Putting past (depression) & present (anxiety) into that context seems so completely accurate. Wow!

    I was brushing my Labrador while listening; and I couldn’t help but think while you & Charlie were chatting – Be more like my pup Play, Nap, Eat, Sleep, Lick the Ones you Love, or Taste test to see if you do – repeat
    Great Story

    • I love this Darlene! That’s exactly what was going through my mind, is how animals play. I had to look up Stuart Brown on youtube, and found his Ted Talk on playing. Very, very insightful stuff.

      I really appreciate you taking the time to comment. : )

  • Another amazing interview. I really enjoy all the subjects and guests that you bring on. The intros are getting funnier and the issues are getting more real. What a story by Charlie! Talk about an overwhelmed brain, panic attacks are no joke.

    • Thank you so much Alex. I’ve had maybe two panic attacks in my life, and one exploded (as I share in this and a previous episode). However, that sounds like nothing compared to what Charlie went through.

      I truly appreciate your support and feedback. : )

  • Celest Horton

    This is such a wonderful story and thank you so much for sharing. My 14-year old daughter is currently suffering from Anxiety and her biggest issue we have addressed is also not living in the present. She is so worried and consumed about “what could happen” that she isn’t taking time to enjoy life as it happens. Thankfully she is improving and getting her more involved in school sports has helped to occupy her mind so that there isn’t time or an option other than to live in the moment. It sure makes me happier as a mom to see her suffering less and enjoying her first year of High School. Thank you Charlie for sharing!

    • Wow, thank you for sharing that Celest! Being present, staying physical, and playing whenever possible will definitely help her for sure! So glad you and her are addressing it now instead of letting it get worse.

      I appreciate your comments very much!

  • Justin Williams

    Amazing story! And it’s awesome that you were able to overcome and come out the other side. I didn’t realize how debilitating anxiety can be. I have a new-found respect for this condition. I also didn’t realize that anxiety is about the future whereas depression is about the past. A really interesting distinction that puts things in more perspective. Thanks so much!

    • Great comment Justin! Thank you so much for that perspective. I think a lot of people don’t fully understand everything that anxious people go through. Charlie really laid it all out there. Amazing he got past it all.

  • top5percentincome

    Thank you for sharing your story Charlie! I know many who would benefit tremendously from it and can imagine the masses out there who would too. Sharing the symptoms is such a key for once we understand what we are dealing with, we can then apply the right approach. So powerful, thank you Charlie and Paul!

    • Thank you Dean! I agree. Charlie poured it all out there, and I think a lot of people are truly connecting with him and his story. Just amazing. Thanks for taking the time to comment.

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  • Sara Perdue

    Charlie did a fantastic job of describing the symptoms of anxiety. It is such a difficult thing to go through, and perhaps one of the most difficult aspects of anxiety is trying to impress on to others how it feels. I once dealt with anxiety myself, and like Charlie, what helped me was to stop taking myself so seriously. And, as suggested with Charlie’s book, play was part of this new approach. For me though, play turned out to be learning. I know this goes against his social deprivation theory, but when I am alone I do not feel deprived or lonely. I enjoy being around people, I just don’t need to to feel fulfilled.

    • Your comments are so important Sara. Going through it yourself, you found out what worked for you. I imagine someone with anxiety reading your comments could perhaps learn something new to use for themselves.

      Not everyone will benefit from other’ methods, but as we spread the word out into the world about what HAS helped, I’m sure we will eventually reach a critical mass where anyone can cure their anxiety. Just a matter of time I think.

      Thank you for sharing and commenting. : ) I’m so glad you mentioned what worked for you. And you’re right! Not everyone wants to be around others to feel better. We are hardwired the same, but not programmed the same. Great comment Sara.

  • ClearlyInfluential

    Wow – thanks for sharing, Charlie! So many people experience this issue daily. I’ve had panic attacks before – initiated by a long-lasting stressful situation. It is amazing that you were able to cure yourself. I like the idea of play and “catch” meetings. That is definitely something I can use in my life. I think I’ll come back to this episode again in the future. Thanks for all the great info!

    • I agree! I’m going to listen to it again myself. So much value in what he says, I have already noticed changes in the way I feel just by playing a little more. Thank you for your comment!

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