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Every Monday on The Verywell Mind Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Amy Morin, LCSW, interviews authors, experts, entrepreneurs, athletes, musicians, and other inspirational people about the strategies that help them think, feel, and do their best in life.
Meet Wendy Suzuki
Wendy Suzuki is a Professor of Neural Science and Psychology in the Center for Neural Science at New York University.
Her books include “Healthy Brain, Happy Life” and “Good Anxiety.”
She invests much of her time studying brain plasticity—how the brain is able to grow and adapt over the lifespan. She is known for her extensive work studying areas of the brain that are critical to our ability to develop and retain long-term memories.
Why Wendy Suzuki Is Mentally Strong
It used to be thought that the brain stopped producing new neurons after a certain age. But research like Wendy’s has helped change this idea. She’s shown that the brain can continue to grow and adapt over time.
One of her major areas of research involves exercise and the impact this has on the brain. That led to her first book. But she’s also conducted a lot of research on anxiety and how we can use it as a way to empower ourselves.
Although she’s an expert in the field, she doesn’t shy away from talking about her own experiences. She shares the strategies that have helped her work through grief and how she manages her own anxiety.
What You’ll Hear on the Show
- Why anxiety is such a powerful emotion
- How we can start harnessing that power to help us
- The difference between clinical anxiety and everyday anxiety
- How to identify the coping skills you currently use to deal with anxiety
- Why comfort foods and alcohol make anxiety worse
- Why deep breathing exercises are so good for anxiety
- The top breathing exercise Wendy recommends
- How exercise and strength training combat anxiety
- Why you should go get a massage
- The benefits of being in nature
- How giving away money can shift your mindset
- What Wendy’s loss taught her about emotional pain
- How the negative contrast effect can make us happier even when bad things happen
- How to manage pandemic anxiety
- How your pet can help you deal with anxious feelings
What You’ll Learn About Mental Health and Mental Strength
Anxiety feels uncomfortable. And for the most part, we don’t want to experience it.
Your anxiety alarm bell might be a bit faulty, however. It might ring loudly even when you’re not in any actual danger.
But we should have some anxiety. After all, it is meant to keep us safe. Anxiety might warn you of danger or steer you toward better decisions.
Quotes From Wendy
- “Those comfort foods can be immediately comforting. But in the long run they can shift your emotional balance to actually make those feelings of anxiety worse over the long term.”
- “I needed gifts to come out of pain and anxiety.”
- “That unconditional love that you get from your pets is a wonderful, quick fix to decrease your anxiety and get that kind of endorphin high.”
More About the Podcast
The Verywell Mind Podcast is available across all streaming platforms. If you like the show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.
Fortunately, there are steps you can take to manage anxiety in a healthy way. As Wendy says, you can learn to harness it in a way that it becomes more of a benefit, rather than a hindrance.
Wendy Suzuki, PhD
Anxiety isn’t the same as deep grief that comes with a death of somebody that you love, but there is pain that comes with anxiety. And I ask myself what wisdom, what gifts could come from that pain?
Reviews and ratings are a great way to encourage other people to listen and help them prioritize their mental health too.
If You Liked This Episode, You Might Also Like These Episodes
Links and Resources
Visit Wendy Suzuki’s website
Check out Wendy’s books
Follow Wendy Suzuki on Instagram
Friday Fix: How Radical Acceptance Can Reduce Your Suffering
How to Unwind Your Anxiety With Neuroscientist Jud Brewer
Friday Fix: How to Reduce Uncomfortable Feelings So You Can Think Clearly
