In this “Calm and Creative Podcast” episode, host Volta welcomes Meredith Arthur, a guiding voice for those with anxiety disorders. This episode is dedicated to discussing the intertwining of anxiety, mental health, and creativity.
Key takeaways:
Meredith Arthur’s Insights:
Meredith shares her journey of discovering her generalized anxiety disorder at 39, highlighting the physical manifestations like nausea and migraines.
She talks about the creation of Beautiful Voyager, a platform for overthinkers, people pleasers, and perfectionists, which, in essence, caters to those with anxiety disorders.
Emphasizes the importance of self-discovery post-diagnosis and encourages an experimental approach to handling one’s mental health.
Therapy and Anxiety:
Meredith discusses her experience with therapy, noting how conventional methods didn’t significantly aid her.
She stresses that generalized anxiety disorder needs more than just talk therapy, suggesting that overthinkers might not benefit from traditional therapy approaches.
Creativity and Mental Health:
The conversation shifts to the power of creativity in healing and understanding mental health issues.
Meredith advocates for embracing one’s gawkiness in the creative process and the importance of non-judgmental self-exploration.
Meredith’s New Book:
She mentions working on a new book, aiming to provide a comprehensive toolkit for people newly diagnosed with anxiety disorders or undergoing a significant mental shift.
How We Feel App:
Meredith introduces the “How We Feel” app, a free tool to improve emotional literacy and help people articulate and understand their emotions better.
Personal Coping Strategies:
She shares personal strategies like changing physical temperatures and setting boundaries in thinking patterns as methods to manage anxiety and stress.
Advice for Creatives with Anxiety:
Emphasizes the significance of being experimental and non-judgmental in creative pursuits.
Suggests finding personal coping mechanisms and understanding that what works for one may not work for another.
