The Voice in Your Head Isn’t You – Episode 505

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Hello and welcome to Ted in Your Head, where we untangle the stuff going on inside your mind… help you let go of what you don’t need and expand the good stuff so you can enjoy your life and stay on the path to personal transformation.

If you’re like “Hmmm,  I like the sound of that!”  wait until the end of this blog and I’ll tell you how to get in touch with me to make those changes you’ve been wanting to make.

Today we’re talking about the VOICE IN YOUR HEAD.

Now here is a shameless plug: I devote a couple of chapters to this topic in my book “The Ultimate Guide to Letting Go of Negativity and Fear and Loving Life”. It’s available on Amazon.com so you can click here to get a copy. (Or two to give to a friend!)

Listen To This Episode Now >

Let me ask you something…

Have you ever had one of those days where the voice in your head just won’t stop?

You wake up… and it’s already talking.

“You didn’t sleep enough.”
“You’ve got too much to do.”
“You’re behind.”

“You have to, you’ve got to, you need to…”

And you’re like—geez, just let me get some coffee!

And it doesn’t stop there.

It follows you into the shower… into the car… into your conversations…

It even shows up right when you’re trying to relax.

You finally sit down to unwind and your brain goes,

“Shouldn’t you be working?
“Hey, let’s think about that that embarrassing thing you did in 2017?”

And then you start thinking some variation of “Oh I suck…what’s wrong with me?”


Here’s the strange part…

Most people assume that voice is them.

Like there’s just this tiny, overly dramatic narrator living inside your head, running the show.

 

But what if I told you…

That voice isn’t you?

Let’s start with a simple but powerful idea:

You are not the voice in your head—you are the one who hears it.

Now, that might sound a little abstract… but stay with me.

  • If you can hear something…
  • If you can notice it…
  • If you can step back and say,
    “Wow, that was a pretty negative thought…” or “Holy Shmoly I’m really beating myself up!”

Then there must be a part of you that’s separate from it.

So now you are the witness to the voice, you are the observer.

Think about it this way…

If you’re sitting in a movie theater, watching a film…

You might get caught up in the story.

You might laugh, cry, feel tension…

This is a type of hypnosis.

But at no point do you believe you are the movie or in the movie.

Here’s the thing: we can become hypnotized by that voice when it engages in habitual patterns of negative thinking.

Most people are sitting in the theater of their own mind…

And they’ve climbed into the screen.

They’re not just watching the thoughts…

They’ve become the main character in every dramatic storyline their brain produces.

And let’s be honest—your brain can be a bit of a drama queen or king.

  • It exaggerates.
  • It predicts worst-case scenarios.
  • It replays awkward moments like they’re Oscar-worthy scenes.
  • And it has a special talent for saying things to you…that you would never say to someone you care about.

Imagine walking up to a friend and saying:

“Hey, just wanted to remind you—you’re probably going to mess this up, and people might judge you.”

You’d never do that.

But that voice in your head?

For some people it says stuff like that all the time.

 

So here’s the problem:

When you believe that voice is you…

You believe everything it says.

And when you believe everything it says…

You feel it.

Stress. Anxiety. Self-doubt. Frustration.

Not because those thoughts are true…

But because they’re unquestioned.

Of all the people that we believe the most, we believe what we tell ourselves.

 

Now here’s where things can start to shift.

The moment you realize:

“Wait a minute… this is just a thought…”

You create space.

And that space is everything.

Because in that space…

You’re no longer trapped inside the thought.

You’re looking at it.

This is why mindfulness practices like mediation are impactful. They give you a chance to step back and see what is going on in your head.

Let’s make this practical:

The next time your brain says something like:

“I can’t handle this.”

Try to notice that thought. Instead of automatically believing it…

Try this:

“I’m having the thought that I can’t handle this.”

Or:

“I’m noticing a thought that says I can’t handle this.”

Now I know—it sounds simple. Maybe even a little awkward or weird at first.

But it works.

Because you’re no longer identifying with the thought…

You’re observing it.

And once you observe something…

You have a choice.

 

Here’s another thing most people don’t realize…

That voice in your head?

It’s not even original.

It’s like a greatest hits album of everything you’ve heard over the years.

Parents. Teachers. Authority figures. Past experiences.

Bits and pieces of old conditioning…

All stitched together into one ongoing commentary.

So when that voice says,
“You’re not good enough…”

You might want to ask:

“Whose voice is that, really?”

Because chances are…

You weren’t born thinking that.

 

And yet…

Because it’s familiar…

Because it’s been repeated so many times…

It feels true.

Your brain loves familiar and known patterns—even when they’re negative.

It would rather be predictably uncomfortable than unfamiliar and uncertain.

So it keeps playing the same thoughts…

Over and over again.

But here’s the good news:

Just because a thought is familiar…

Doesn’t mean it’s accurate doesn’t mean it’s true.

And just because you’ve thought something a thousand times…

Doesn’t mean you have to keep thinking it.

 

Now, let’s be clear about something…

The goal here is not to get rid of that voice completely. It will always be there in one form or another.

If anyone tells you they’ve completely silenced their inner dialogue…

They’re either enlightened… or they’re not paying attention. (Probably the latter!)

The goal is not silence.

The goal is relationship.

You want to change your relationship with that voice.

 

So instead of:

  • Arguing with it…
  • Fighting it…
  • Or blindly believing it…

You start to do something different.

You notice it.

You acknowledge it.

And sometimes…

You even laugh at it.

I’ll tell you a story:

There is a person out there that has hurt someone close to me. Not physically, but they are giving  this person a real hard time.

Recently this person I’m close to was telling me how difficult it is to deal this other person and how badly this person was behaving to them.

I started getting really angry.

I was like F them!

Afterword’s I was thinking in my mind:

“I’m gonna mess that person up, I’m going to find a way to a way to make their life a living a hell. I’m going to go on YouTube and find out how to do voodoo on them..!”

And then I’m like “Shut up Ted! You’ve never even met this person. It’s not your place to do anything, just fricking move one dude and let it go!”

 

It’s like when your brain says:

“This is going to be a disaster.”

You can mentally respond:

“Wow… strong opinion. Thanks for sharing.”

 

Or when it says:

“Everyone is judging you.”

You can go:

“Really? Everyone? All of them got together and decided to judge me?”

 

A little humor creates distance.

And distance gives you power.

 

Because here’s the deeper truth…(pay attention here)

If that voice isn’t you…

Then who are you?

You are the awareness behind the thoughts.

The calm presence that can notice…

Without getting pulled in.

The part of you that can choose:

  • Where to focus.
  • What to believe.
  • How to respond.

And the more you connect with that part of yourself…

The less control that old mental chatter has over you.

 

Let’s do a simple exercise:

Let’s take a moment to experience this.

If you can, close your eyes…

Take a slow, deep breath in…

And as you exhale…

Just notice what’s happening in your mind.

What thoughts are there?

No need to change them.

No need to push them away.

Just observe.

Like you’re sitting in that theater…

Watching the movie…

But not stepping into the screen.

And gently remind yourself:

“I am not my thoughts… I am the one who notices them.”

Take another slow breath…

And when you’re ready, come back.

So, the next time that voice starts up…

(And it will…)

Pause for a moment.

Notice it.

And instead of automatically believing it…

Get curious about it.

Because the moment you stop identifying with that voice…

Is the moment you start taking control of your mind.

 

Thanks for listening to Ted in Your Head.

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with someone who might need a little distance from their own inner narrator.

And remember…

Just because a thought shows up…

Doesn’t mean you have to invite it in.

Just a friendly reminder that you can watch this on YouTube at Ted A Moreno Certified Hypnotherapist.

Or listen to this podcast on Spotify, Apple podcasts, Soundcloud or TedinYourHead.com.

And of course, if you need some support managing the Voice in Your Head, then what you need is Ted in Your Head. Reach out for a complimentary phone consultation at https://tedmoreno.com/contact-us/

“We must carefully cultivate the voice that speaks to us because an internal voice is the ultimate narrator of our charming and delightful personal story or the documentarian of our tragic and disgraceful plotlines.”

That’s a quote by Kilroy J. Oldster from his book titled The Dead Toad Scrolls.

I’ll talk to you next time.

Ted

Interview with Rita Bocuzzi, Wealth Strategist and Money Education Mentor – Episode 504

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Why do so many smart, capable people struggle with money?
Why is our relationship with money so stressful for so many of us?
 
Money isn’t just about numbers— it’s about what’s happening beneath the surface.
If you’re not where you want to be financially, it may not be your strategy—it may be your mindset.
 
Ted talks with Wealth Strategist and Money Education Mentor Rita Bocuzzi in this informative interview.
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Listen To This Episode Now >

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In this episode, Rita reveals:
  • what a “money mindset” really is—and how unseen patterns may be shaping your financial reality more than you think.
  • The biggest obstacle people face when trying to build wealth
  • Three simple but powerful shifts that can start changing your relationship with money immediately.
 
If thinking about money feels stressful—or you feel stuck when it comes to your finances—there may be more going on than meets the eye. Listen in and discover what could be holding you back… and how to move forward with greater clarity and confidence.
 
 
Four books Rita recommends:
 
The Retirement Miracle by Patrick Kelly
Atomic Habits by James Clear
 
 
If you are overwhelmed with stress and anxiety about money, and are looking for greater calm and clarity, reach out for a complimentary consultation at https://tedmoreno.com/contact

Tony Caracoza and Yooch Chong: Funeral Pre-Planning Advisors – Episode 503

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My last Ted in Your Head podcast was titled “What Happens After We Die?”
 
In this episode I have a conversation with two gentlemen whose job is to help you deal with what happens after you or your loved ones die.
 
Tony Caracoza is a Funeral Pre-Planning Advisor for Forest Lawn Memorial Park.
Forest Lawn has 6 locations and had been operating for over 100 years.
 
Yooch Chong is a Pre-Planner Advisor for Rose Hills Memorial Park.
Rose Hills is the largest cemetery in North America.
Listen to this podcast episode now:
 
In this episode Yooch and Tony talk about the importance of pre-planning and the practicality of handling arrangements before loss and grief.
Some of the points that Tony and Yooch make:
 
  • Planning ahead helps reduce stress during an already very emotional and grief-stricken time for your loved ones. Because you’re able to think much more clearly, important decisions are given more time for proper consideration during a pre-need appointment.
  • Making arrangements after the passing of a loved one will often cost more and people often spend more money than if they had planned before.
  • Without a pre-need plan, your family will be burdened with over a hundred decisions to make within the first 48 hours of a death at a time when they’re already grief-stricken.
  • Planning ahead also allows you to share your final wishes, helping protect your family from additional stress.
 
It’s a conversation nobody wants to have, but Tony and Yooch help us understand the importance of having it. 
 
Contact info:
 
Yooch Chong, Pre-Planning Service Advisor
Rose Hills Memorial Park
(562) 236-3625
 
Tony Caracoza
Planning Advisor
Forest Lawn Memorial-Parks
(323) 252-9664  

When Happens When You Die? – Episode 502

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Do we go into another body?

Do we turn into an insect or animal?

Do we go to heaven or hell?

Maybe nothing happens at all…we’re just, you know, dead.

In this episode of the Ted in Your Head podcast, Ted raises the age old question of what happens when we die.

This is a very uncomfortable topic for many.

But there might be a better question to ask: What happens while we live?

 

Listen to this podcast episode now:

 

What happens after we die?

Perhaps you’ve seen the Stephen Colbert videos where he asks celebrities what they think happens.

I don’t think celebrities have any more knowledge than the rest of us, but I found their answers representative of many of the most widely held beliefs about death.

One celebrity said that we transfer into another body.

Another said that we go to Heaven or Hell.

There were some more interesting answers:

  • Matt Damon said, “I think we go home.”
  • Ethan Hawke said, “I don’t think we die because we don’t have a concept of divine time.”
  • Daniel Craig said, “Nothing, we become stars.”
  • Prince Harry said, “I think we become animals.”
  • Robert DeNiro said, “It’s harder to get a job.”

Perhaps the most realistic answer, and one that we can probably all agree on, was the response from Keanu Reeves who said,
“I know that the ones who love us will miss us.”

I thought that it was interesting that this was the only answer that speaks to this life, as opposed to the afterlife.

So, what happens after we die?

Sometimes people come to me wanting to do a past life regression.

This is where I put a client in hypnosis and allow them to tap into their subconscious mind so that they can access memories of previous lives they may have lived. Thirty to thirty-five percent of the world’s population believe in reincarnation. Only 1 in 5 Americans do.

According to a Gallup International Poll in 2022, in the United States, 55% believe in both heaven and hell while 29% believe in neither.

According to that same poll, globally across 61 countries, 59% of respondents believe in heaven while 53% believe in hell.

So, while 70% to 80% of Americans believe in some sort of afterlife, 13% to 17% believe that nothing happens at all. You’re just dead.

About 24% of Americans say that they have no idea what happens after death.

I’ve worked with a few people that find that even thinking about this makes them very uncomfortable. Are you feeling that way?

What happens after we die?

I’m part of that 24%: I have no idea. I personally have no belief about that and I think anything’s possible.

Maybe when we die, we wake up to find we’ve been dreaming this life.

Nobody knows. You might have a belief, but nobody knows. Period.

I’ve done a couple of podcasts about the subject of death. In 2025 I did Episode 473 “Thoughts about Life and Death” and in 2024 I did Episode 462: “Remember What You Don’t Want to Think About: Memento Mori”. That’s Latin for “remember that you have to die”

I think sometime between when I was 50 and 60 years old, I started thinking “Shit! I’m getting up there!” Can you relate?

What happens after we die? Maybe a better question is

“What happens while we live?”

I’ve been to several funerals lately. It seems that the older you get the more people that you know die. Kind of makes sense, right?

But one thing I can say for certain about all those funerals and memorial services is this: people came out to speak with respect and love about those that passed. Those that were gone, were missed.

Of all the people that Stephen Colbert asked, “What happens after we die?”, I think the only answer that can be said to be true is “the ones who love us will miss us.”

Hopefully, right?

I’m not too concerned about what happens after we die.

But I think it might be better to be more concerned with what happens while we live.

Let’s focus on this side of the grave and do what we can to be missed by those that loved us, knew us, and benefited from the fact that we did live.

Thank you for reading this.

Just a reminder that you can listen to this podcast on Spotify, Apple podcasts, Soundcloud or TedinYourHead.com. You can also watch this podcast on YouTube.

Want to catch up on previous episodes? Click Here >

Is fear of death keeping you from living? Reach out for a complimentary consultation at https://tedmoreno.com/contact

Can Hypnosis Help Your Gut Issues? – Episode 501

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Approximately 61% to 66% of American adults experience recurring gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms like bloating, abdominal pain, and reflux, according to studies from the National Institutes of Health.

What many people don’t realize is that negative emotions such as anxiety, worry, anger and stress can aggravate symptoms of gut issues.

This is due to what is called the gut-brain axis. This is the human body’s two-way communication network between the gut and the brain.

Can hypnosis help your gut issues?  Yes!

In this episode of the Ted in Your Head podcast, Ted discusses the use of hypnotherapy for easing symptoms of gut issues such as IBS, SIBO, GERD and Crohn’s Disease.

If you are struggling with gut issues, you owe it to yourself to check out this episode.

Listen to this podcast episode now:

 

Very early in my career as a hypnotherapist, I received an email from a woman who was wondering if hypnosis could help her IBS.

I didn’t know what IBS was, so I looked it up.

IBS is Irritable Bowel Syndrome, which is a chronic functional disorder of the large intestine, characterized by abdominal pain, bloating, and altered bowel habits (diarrhea, constipation, or both).

About 10% to 15% of the US population is affected by IBS, according to the American College of Gastroenterology. (2024)

Anyway, at that point in my career, I wasn’t sure of how effective hypnotherapy could be for this condition, but with the naïve belief of a beginner, I told this woman that I would try to help her.

She described to me how she had great anxiety about urgently and unpredictably having to use the restroom and how important it was to get to one quickly.

One of the characteristics of people with IBS is “safety planning”. They develop a mental map of public restroom locations such as restaurants and gas stations. The potential for embarrassment is always on their minds, creating a high level of anxiety.

For this client, the fear was very real and quite limiting. She described it as a “dark cloud”.

I worked with this client for four sessions, suggesting that she had control over her body and helping her to bring down her anxiety.

She responded very well and shortly after our sessions, I received the first card in the mail from a client. She thanked me for “lifting the cloud of IBS from her life”.

I relate this story to you not to toot my own horn, but to demonstrate that even as a novice hypnotherapist, I was able to help this woman using the relaxed state of hypnosis.

Eventually, I learned about the gut-brain axis. This is the human body’s two way communication network between the gut and the brain.

You may have heard that the gut is often referred to as the “Second Brain” or the enteric nervous system, ENS.

The gut contains over 500 million neurons and is highly sensitive to stress, anxiety, and anger.

This is how anxiety and digestion are connected. For example, when you are in a high state of anxiety, worry or fear, your body is experiencing the fight flight response.

This negatively impacts your digestion because resources, such as blood, are diverted away from digestion.

See, in fight flight, your body is preparing to fight or run away. Now, you may not consciously be preparing to fight or run away if something is making you anxious, but your body is.

So, what happens is that digestion slows down, the ability of your stomach to empty itself becomes compromised, and food just sits there, not only allowing bad bacteria to thrive, but causing constipation and or diarrhea.

That’s when you have the symptoms of a gut that is out of balance. These symptoms include nausea, heartburn, stomach aches, cramps and bloating.

Chronic anxiety can also aggravate:

  • SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth)
  • GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease)
  • Crohn’s Disease which is a chronic, autoimmune inflammatory bowel disease.

This is why these types of conditions respond very well to hypnotherapy.

While you are in a relaxing state of hypnosis, your body gets a chance to let go of stress, anxiety, pressure, and tension. The idea is to get your body into rest and digest, where your nervous system is calm and your body is relaxed. This calms the nerves in the GI tract and increases the motility, or cleaning movement, or your gut.

It’s very common, when I’m working with a client in hypnosis, to hear their stomach start making gurgling noises which is usually a sign of digestion starting to move again.

This work with digestive issues using hypnosis is now called Gut Directed Hypnotherapy.

There are multiple well-controlled studies, such as those conducted by Monash University in Australia, that show that gut directed hypnotherapy can improve symptoms in people with IBS by 70 to 80 percent.

There are many other approaches to managing these types of gut issues.

Medication is often prescribed as well as dietary recommendations such as a low FODMAP diet which is a diet that eliminates foods that cause bloating such as dairy, wheat products and garlic and onions.

Avoiding stomach irritants such as caffeine and alcohol is also recommended.

Other approaches include relaxation techniques such as yoga and meditation. And of course, regular exercise is a must to help lower stress.

So in closing, hypnotherapy can be a highly effective tool for managing gut issues such as IBS. However, if you are experiencing these types of digestive issues, it is important to consult with your doctor to rule out any issues that might require medication or medical attention.

A great resource are the folks at Modrn Med.  Check it out.

When I worked with that first IBS client many years ago, I was surprised at the positive results we got. But now that I understand how anxiety impacts the gut, I know that just helping her relax and be less anxious made a huge difference for her.

Here is a quote for you by Friedrich Nietzsche:

“Life is a well of joy; but for those out of whom an upset stomach speaks, which is the father of melancholy, all wells are poisoned.”

Remember that you can watch this podcast on YouTube

If you are struggling with stomach issues and you want to talk and see if we can work together, go to TedMoreno.com/contact to request a complimentary half hour consultation to see if hypnotherapy is right for you. If it is, we’ll make it happen.

So take good care of your gut, and thanks for listening or watching.

How I Found My Path – Episode 500

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It seems that more and more people are not content just to have a “job”.

In previous generations, you were lucky just having a job, whether you liked it or not.

However, today, with so many more choices to make a living, a path of enjoyable and meaningful work is something that we can strive for.

In this episode, Ted talks about the difficulties he experienced on his journey to becoming a hypnotherapist, the commitment he had to make to see it through, and the shift in thinking that made the difference between struggle and ease.

If you’re struggling to find your path, perhaps this episode with give you some hope and inspiration.


Listen to this podcast episode now:

 

Last week I sent an email to my list of clients talking about how my life changed the day I enrolled in the Hypnosis Motivation Institute, where I received my training and where I am a senior staff instructor.

(By the way, if you want to get on my email list go to https://tedmoreno.com, and scroll down to “Sign Up for My Newsletter”. In return I’ll give you my “Peaceful Place” relaxation mp3.)

In response to that email, I received several responses from people who had found their path or were still struggling to find it. It seems that a lot of people related to my brief story of how I started my career as a hypnotherapist.

I think the reason for that is that there are many out there who are looking for their own meaningful path. I’ve had clients who are close to retirement tell me, “I’m trying to figure out what I want to do when I grow up!”

I’m lucky, I found my path and although nothing is ever perfect, it’s a lot better than I thought it could be.

So today, I want to tell you the story of how I found my path. My hope is that if you are still looking for work that is meaningful and fulfilling, it might inspire you to not give up.

I grew up in East Los Angeles as the oldest of eight kids. Dad owned two businesses and Mom stayed home.

I saw my dad working all the time, money was always tight, and my mom and dad argued a lot.

Owning a business did not look fun to me. There was nothing I saw out there that I wanted to do as a career or job.

After graduating from high school, I went to a small college in LA and majored in music, because it was the only thing I cared about.

In 1980 I moved to Tucson and attended the University of Arizona. I tried to continue as a music major, but it wasn’t going to happen for me. I had little discipline and no foundation in music theory or practice.

I was broke and needed to get a job, so I dropped out of college and started working. I was tired of being broke all the time.

I had a series of jobs, none that I would consider a career, and I didn’t really like any of them.

In 1990, I met a woman, fell in love and in a very short time, watched my relationship fall apart in a most devastating way.

I was so distraught that I put myself in therapy and joined some groups to help me deal with what I was feeling. After a series of failed relationships, the big question I had was “What’s wrong with me?”

I started taking a good long look at myself. I realized that my self-esteem wasn’t where it needed to be. I saw that I used relationships as a drug to cover up my low self-worth.

I had no goals, no vision, and no real ambition. That bothered me.

This most difficult period of my life turned out to be a gift. I started working on myself, reading books, doing affirmations, attending seminars and taking a deep interest in my own personal self-development.

In 2000 I made the difficult decision to move back to Los Angeles.

I loved the desert where I lived, but nothing was happening for me in Tucson.

My parents were getting older, I missed my brothers and sister, and I felt that I really needed to be closer to my extended family of aunts, uncles and cousins in LA.

Before I moved back, a friend of mine from high school offered me a job at an organization that he was directing.

I’m grateful to that person for giving me the opportunity to move back and have a job, but again, it was just for the paycheck and I wanted more.

Not more money necessarily, but more meaning. I needed to do something that mattered.

My biggest fear was getting stuck in a job that I wasn’t happy with and not being able to leave because of financial obligations.

First world problems, right?

In my parents’ generation, you were just lucky to have work; liking it wasn’t a consideration. But it was for me, and that wasn’t something I could ignore.

By 2003 I was getting desperate. I was engaged to be married but I was very unhappy with my job. I didn’t know what I was going to do or how I was going to support a family and I was starting to feel like a real loser with no prospects for a career that I cared about.

Then, fate intervened. My co-workers and I were sent offsite to attend a one-day seminar.  I think it was called “How to Be a Better Communicator”.

The woman facilitating the seminar mentioned that she was a hypnotherapist, so during the break, I went and spoke with her.

She told me that she had received her training at the Hypnosis Motivation Institute and that  I should go there and check it out.

Now, here’s something ironic: I had heard of HMI. I had seen the ads in the paper. But I felt that Tarzana, about 50 miles from where I lived, was too far to drive.

However, the next day, I did drive there and I did check it out. I saw an opportunity for me to do something that mattered. I knew that this was something that I could do.

I enrolled and started my training.

Here’s the most important thing I want to share with you: I didn’t have a “Plan B”.

There were no other choices for me. I was 43 years old. I was so desperate, and so ready to make something happen that I made a commitment to finish the program and start a career as a hypnotherapist in private practice. There really was no other option for me.

The first thing I did was to go to the hypnotherapist that I met at the seminar and start getting hypnotherapy sessions to give me determination, persistence and the belief that I could pull this off.

One of the suggestions that she gave me back in 2003 while I was in hypnosis was that maybe I would teach there someday.

Today, I’ve been a senior staff instructor there for 10 years now.

In closing, I want to say that the purpose of this post is not to toot my own horn.

I’ve been lucky. I found my path and it has been a “path with a heart”, as the writer Carlos Castaneda calls it.

  • But I had to be patient.
  • I had to resist the temptation to beat myself up.
  • I had to keep looking.
  • I had to make a commitment.

 It’s so fulfilling to have people tell me, “You’ve changed my life.”

I always reply, “No YOU did it!”

It’s so gratifying to sit in front of my clients and give them my full attention and listening. To create the trust that allows them to tell me their deepest fears along with their greatest desires.

There was a time when I was much younger man, in my 20s, when what drove me was making a ton of money. That never worked for me. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

However, when I decided that I wanted to be of service, that’s when things started happening for me.

If you are looking for your path, don’t give up. Keep looking. Keep exploring. Some paths will have dead ends and you’ll walk away from some paths with only lessons from your failures but that’s ok.

If you’re listening to this, then I’m assuming that you’re like me: wanting to do something that matters.

Seek to make a difference. Seek to serve. Within you lies a contribution that only you can make. Whatever that contribution is, the world needs it more badly than ever.

Keep knocking on the door, keep asking, keep seeking with hope and faith that you’ll find what you’re looking for.

I’ll leave you with a quote from William Hutchison Murray who was a Scottish Mountaineer and writer. This is an awesome quote.

“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.”

 

Thanks for reading.

Just a reminder that you can listen to this podcast on Spotify, Apple podcasts, Soundcloud or TedinYourHead.com. You can also watch this podcast on YouTube.

Want to catch up on previous episodes? Click Here >

And of course, if you want to talk, go to TedMoreno.com/contact and we’ll make it happen.

Take care,

Ted

How to Start Your Day in an Excellent Way – Episode 499

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Research has shown that having a consistent morning routine is essential to a happy, healthy and successful life.

But what if you’re not a “morning person”?

It doesn’t have to be hard or involve getting up super early.

Psychologists have identified a few important activities that can help start your day with the right mindset and intention.

Doing just one or two of these things can make a difference.

In this episode of the Ted in Your Head podcast, Ted shares just a few simple but impactful habits that you can develop with ease.

Learn to start the day in a most excellent way and check out this episode.

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Listen to this podcast episode now:

 

I like getting up early in the morning, you might call me a “morning person.”

I understand that not everyone’s like me. I usually don’t see my first hypnotherapy client until 9 or 10 am. I know that some people must be at work much earlier.

I also get that the idea of “starting your day in an excellent way” might make some people grumpy, especially those that aren’t “morning people.”

I recently read a few articles online that discussed studies that show that our chronotype, which is our preference to rise early or sleep late, is partly determined by our genes. (So don’t feel too bad if getting up is a chore.)

However, whether you’re a night owl or an early bird, psychologists have identified morning activities that can not only increase the chances of having a good day, but a successful life as well.

The idea here is to establish a morning routine that becomes a daily habit. This has been shown to reduce stress, improve energy levels and increase productivity.

A morning ritual is simply something you do first thing in the morning that empowers you, that puts you in a good headspace, and leaves you feeling energized but calm and ready to take on the day.

If you’ve tried cultivating a morning routine, you know it’s not easy, especially if you have to be up at the crack of dawn or earlier to make it to work or take the kids to school or daycare.

But if you feel that a morning routine would be helpful for you, start with one or two of these things that you feel are realistic for you, then add more if you can. May you can only do two or three things; if so, that’s better than nothing. Take it step by step and be patient and gentle with yourself.

It can be as short and simple as 15 minutes of meditation or prayer. It can be a yoga workout or a walk on the treadmill or outside. It could be doing a little journaling. But it must work for you, or you won’t do it.

So, here’s some ideas for starting your day. Pick one or two that you think will work for you and try them out. Give yourself some time to work this out. Write down what sounds good to you. Then, start with something, even if it’s just one thing, every morning. You don’t have to do the same thing each day, you can alternate.

Let’s start with something obvious but not really part of a morning routine: a good day starts the night before.

Staying up too late, drinking or eating too late, and not having a consistent bedtime make it difficult to have an intentional morning.

I would suggest two things to make it easier to have a good morning:

  1. Try to get to bed at the same time every night
  2. In the evening, take some time to plan for the next morning. In other words, what time you want to wake up and what do you do.
  • Next, you really need to establish the habit of getting up at the same time, even on weekends. This will train your body to wake up and get out of bed more easily. This takes time but if you’re serious about starting the day in a good way, then getting up intentionally is fundamental.
  • After you wake up and before you even get out of bed, focus your mind on something positive. It might be a thought or prayer of gratitude or some positive affirmations such as “It’s going to be a good day” or “I am blessed and highly favored.”

For about the first half hour after you wake up, you are in a state of hypnosis. That means that your mind is open and suggestible, so what you think and do first thing in the morning not only gets impressed upon your subconscious mind but has a powerful impact on your day.

  • Drink Water to rehydrate. Make it a big glass. I put a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar as well as some powdered minerals and electrolytes. Dehydration can cause fatigue and affect your brain function.
  • Start the day with intention and mindfulness. Avoid picking up the phone to check news or social media, which can stress you out, piss you off and put your brain on the distraction highway.

Instead, review or visualize your goals, say or write your positive affirmations, meditate or pray. Take a few minutes to direct your mind towards that which you desire. It can be helpful to set an intention for the day such as fun, happiness, creativity, success or gratitude. Say it out loud with passion and enthusiasm.

We’re all struggling to manage our phone use. I check only for any urgent texts from my kids at college, or my extended family, then I put it down. If you can win this struggle, you’ll feel a lot more focused and in control for the rest of the day.

  • Expose yourself to natural light. Open the blinds or curtains or go outside. Let natural light into your brain to tell it that it’s time to wake up. This will also help regulate what is known as your circadian rhythm, which is your 24 hour body clock.
  • Now you want to move your body. It could be as simple as a bit of stretching and breathing, or you might do a few yoga poses. If you can get outside and take a walk or jog or ride a bike even for a few minutes, you’ll find that this can be a very wonderful part of your day. If you have time, work out or get to the gym as many days a week as you can or alternate with other movement activities

You will feel a difference in your life if you can just do the 6 things we talked about:

  1. Getting up at the time you intended
  2. Focus your mind on something positive
  3. Drink water
  4. Do a mindfulness practice such as prayer, meditation or affirmations
  5. Get some natural light
  6. Move your body

Let me add just a few more:

  • Morning nutrition. There is a lot of debate about eating breakfast. I believe that morning nutrition is important for restoring low blood sugar after 8-12 hours of sleep and providing essential energy for the brain and body to function optimally.

For some, it might be a protein shake, or, if you are expending a lot of calories at your job, you might need a full-on breakfast. Skipping breakfast occasionally like on a fast day can be helpful. Everybody is different but if you have a habit of skipping breakfast I suggest you try eating as soon as you can, with a breakfast of higher protein and lower carbs.

Many clients that come to my hypnotherapy office with anxiety find that eating in the morning helps prevent low blood sugar which can trigger anxiety, induce brain fog, and curtail cognition and productivity. Experiment to see what works for you.

 

  • Do something you enjoy doing such as listening to music, reading, or journaling.
  • Or, do the magic that you do.  If you are a writer, write. If you are a painter, paint. If you are a musician, make music. If you’re a singer, sing. If you are a dancer, dance. If you are a photographer, take some photos. You get the idea, do your passion first thing if you can.

 

So there you go, just a few of the best things that you can do to start your day in an excellent way.

However, if you want to do a deeper dive into cool stuff to do in the mornings, I released a podcast two years ago titled “Creating a Morning Ritual: 25 Awesome Things to Do” for those of you that are a bit more ambitious and that have a little more time in the mornings.

Thanks for reading this!

Want to catch up on previous episodes? Click Here >

Just a reminder that you can watch me in action on YouTube or listen to my podcast on Spotify, Apple podcasts, or Soundcloud.

I invite you to book a complimentary consultation today if you need support with getting up earlier or finding the motivation to start your morning ritual.

To request your complimentary consultation, go to tedmoreno.com/contact and I’ll get back to you within 48 hours.

Here’s a quote for you from a song by one of my favorite artists, Cat Stevens. The lyrics are from a traditional Christian hymn by Eleanor Farjeon first published in 1931.

Morning has broken like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for them springing fresh from the world.

I wish you many beautiful mornings,

Ted

66 Years Old: 12 Things I’ve Learned – Episode 498

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Six years ago Ted released Part 1 and Part 2 of the Ted in Your Head podcast episodes “Turning 60, What I’ve Learned.”

Apparently, he’s still learning!

Now, 6 years later, here is “66 Years Old: 12 Things I’ve Learned.”

Maybe you’ve learned these things too. If so, reminders are always good.

If not, these 12 things might be helpful.

Whether you’re 26 or 96, you’re sure to get something valuable from this episode.

 

 

Listen to this podcast episode now:

Greetings and thank you for reading this blog post of the Ted in Your Head Podcast!

I did a two podcasts in 2020 titled “Turning 60, What I’ve Learned” part one and part two.

That was six years ago. Guess what? I’m happy to say that I’m still learning.

I feel lucky that I’ve had the opportunity to be a hypnotherapist in private practice now going on for 23 years.

In my journey of using the power of hypnosis and hypnotherapy to help people change, I’ve learned  powerful strategies and modalities that I’ve applied to my own personal self-development. I’ve met and learned from people that are incredible agents of change. I’m not sure I would’ve done that if I had a different career.

I’m certainly not the smartest or wisest person out there, but I’ve learned some valuable lessons that I feel have served me. I’d like to share them here with you.

  1. Health is Wealth – my own health problems forced me to develop healthy habits such as daily walking, stretching and meditation to name a few. If you take care of your body, it will take care of you as you grow older. Just as important is taking care of your mind and your mental health. Keep on eye on your health with yearly checkups and physical exams. Do what you can to maintain a peaceful and calm mind. Let me know if I can help you with that.
  2. Cultivate Good Habits – your daily/weekly habits, will determine your future state of mind and body. The influential English poet and playwright John Dryden, said, “We first make our habits, and then our habits make us”. My morning walk is one of the best habits that I have and helps me start the day with fresh air, movement and beauty.
  3. Keep it Simple. Remember the KISS formula: “Keep it simple Sweetheart!”

David Henry Thoreau advised simplifying to avoid having life “frittered away by detail”. Socrates linked happiness to enjoying less rather than seeking more. Avoid the addiction to more stuff or might catch the disease of “affluenza”. Life is inherently simple, but we make it complicated, resulting in overwhelm and stress. Don’t major in minor things. This is hard though because it’s a complex world. That is why it’s some important to hold the intention of simplicity.

  1. Stopping. Resting. There is power in these things. Let go of the idea that just sitting on your front porch watching the world go by is a waste of time. It’s not. Cultivate the ability to just be. Take 5 minutes and go walk or sit outside. Go, go, go can make you gone, gone, gone before your time.
  2. Have an Attitude of Gratitude. One of the things that you can do while you are just being, is being grateful. An attitude of gratitude is good for your body, good for your soul, and good for your life. As soon as I wake up, I try to make my first thought one of gratitude for the gift of another day.
  3. Cultivate Relationships. The quality of your life will largely be determined by the quality of your relationships. Whether family, or friend, or business, human relationships are fundamental to survival, emotional health, and personal growth. We want to make this fundamental aspect of our humanity as strong and as good as possible.

The British clinical psychologist Sue Johnson said: “To be human is to need others, and this is no flaw or weakness”

“Interdependence is and ought to be as much the ideal of man as self-sufficiency. Man is a social being.” — Mahatma Gandhi, the Indian lawyer who led India to independence from British rule said that.

Take care of your relationships with others. Nurture them. Reach out by text or phone or email. My Aunt Laurie who lives in Oregon sends a card and a little letter everything month to me and a host of others. She’s got to be in her late 70’s or early 80’s. I really look forward to getting her letter.

  1. Give Appreciation Whenever You Can. Give appreciation to the people in your lives. Give appreciation to the person helping you on the phone. Give it to the person at the checkout counter. Just say “I appreciate you!” People will do far more for recognition and appreciation than they will do for money. It feels good and it’s good for you to be appreciative.
  2. Be Kind. Kindness is in such short supply these days. We have ability to be anything we want, let’s first and foremost be kind.

 “Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind.” That’s the 19th century author Henry James.

“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”  –  Aesop, the legendary Ancient Greek storyteller said that.

It’s not so hard to be kind. As I look back, I celebrate and remember all those who were kind to me even when they didn’t need to be. I will never forget those people.

  1. Be of Service to Others. The purpose of human life is to serve and to show compassion and the will to help others. My life changed when I stopped thinking about what I could get and started thinking about what I could give. Think of service to others as the “rent” paid for living on Earth. Service is a method to discover oneself by losing selfishness and it’s a way to turn love into action.
  2. You Get to Get Old. (Check out the podcast episode I did on this 6 years ago.)

No one is promised tomorrow and all things come to an end. I lost my brother very unexpectedly, just a few days shy of his 58th birthday. I lost a good friend last month 2 weeks before her 53rd birthday. Growing old is a privilege not given to everyone. Make the mind shift if you need to that everyday above ground is a gift and an opportunity to be present to the wonder and joy of life.

I hope you enjoyed this podcast.

Want to catch up on previous episodes? Click Here >

I want to remind that  you can listen to this podcast on Spotify, Apple podcasts, Soundcloud or TedinYourHead.com. You can also watch this podcast on YouTube.

I’m here to serve you. You can reach out to me for a complimentary consultation, over the phone, over Zoom or in person. Just go to https://tedmoreno.com/contact-us/, send me an email, and I’ll get back to you within 48 hours and probably sooner. We’ll talk about what’s going, how hypnotherapy can help you make the changes you want, and if you are ready, we’ll get you in for your first session.

“Every action you take is a vote for the person you wish to become”. James Clear (author best known for writing “Atomic Habits”)

Thank you and I appreciate you!

Ted

Ted A. Moreno

Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist

How to Stop Catastrophizing and Cope – Episode 497

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Catastrophizing is a mental habit where your thoughts immediately jump to the worst-possible outcome.

Instead of using your wonderful imagination to create what you want, you use it to magnify danger in your mind until it feels real and like it’s really going to happen.

This can become a very bad habit and can be quite disruptive to your peace of mind and ability to feel in control.

It’s also not a good strategy for attracting into our lives the things we do want.

How do we stop the tendency to look into the future and see bad things happening (even though they’re unlikely to happen)?

In this episode Ted offers some concrete, actionable ways to interrupt these patterns and reduce the emotional impact of fearful thinking.

If you are scaring yourself with visions of a frightful future, you owe it to yourself to check out this episode.

 

 

 

Listen to this podcast episode now:

Have you ever had the experience of being up in your head and imagining that something terrible will happen and then nothing terrible happens?

Or it turns out to be not a big deal?

Or nothing happens at all?

This is called catastrophizing also known as cognitive distortion.

Catastrophizing is a mental habit where your thoughts immediately jump to the worst-possible outcome — even when there’s little or no evidence for it.

It’s the use of your wonderful imagination to play in your mind some scenario of impending doom and catastrophe even though you may know that it’s not going to happen or that it’s highly unlikely to happen.

This isn’t just normal worry; it’s a pattern of inflating or magnifying danger in your mind until it feels real and like it’s really going to happen.

Remember that your brain treats imagined future threats just like real ones, and this can trigger anxiety and stress responses.

This habit can create fertile ground in your mind for anxiety by turning even small concerns into emotionally overwhelming fears.

Our nervous system interprets imagined threats as actual danger, so just thinking these thoughts can activate these stress hormones.

It often happens automatically — before you even realize it’s started.

How does Catastrophizing Shows Up in Real Life?

  • Let’s say that you are going to do a presentation for work or school. You immediately start thinking that you’ll fail at a presentation.
  • Imagining relationship disaster from an ambiguous text message.
  • Realizing that you forgot to pay your car payment so your mind immediately starts thinking OMG they are going to repossess my car!

Then your mind goes to

  • “Why am I so irresponsible?”
  • “Why can’t I be on top of this?
  • ‘What’s wrong with me?”
  • “I’m going to end up poor and broke.

It the “two arrow theory”:  the first arrow you shoot yourself with is the bad feeling about making a mistake and the second arrow is what you make that mean.

Other patterns include:

  • Jumping from “this is uncomfortable” to “this will ruin everything.”
  • Minimizing evidence that it’s not a big deal and magnifying negatives.
  • Believing that if something bad could happen, it’s likely to — even when facts don’t support that.
    (this is a perfect example of cognitive distortion.)

Your brain has evolved to prioritize and detect danger but this makes it prone to assume the worst — especially when there’s uncertainty. This leads to:

  • Overestimating the probability of negative outcomes
  • Feeling stress from events that haven’t happened
  • Trying to control the unknown by imagining it, or anticipatory anxiety, otherwise known as anticipation bias.

This can become a very bad habit. Catastrophizing is a habit rooted in fear — the mind is   trying to protect you, but over does it. This can be quite disruptive to your peace of mind and ability to feel in control.

Furthermore, catastrophizing focuses your mind on what you don’t want. What you focus on tends to grow in your life. This is not a good strategy for attracting into our lives the things we do want.

How do we stop catastrophizing and shift into coping and dealing with what’s going on in our lives? Well, I’ll tell you.

Here are some concrete, actionable ways to interrupt these patterns and reduce the emotional impact:

  1. Get some perspective and notice when it’s happening

The first step is recognition: become aware of the thought pattern as it starts. Once you notice it’s catastrophizing instead of reality-based thinking, you can slow it down.

We all make mistakes, sometimes things don’t work out, bad things happen and it’s not always a catastrophe. It just means that you’re human.

  1. Question the Thought

Ask yourself:

  • “How do I know this will happen?”
  • “Do I have evidence for this worst-case scenario?”
  • “Is there another plausible outcome?”

In this way you avoid falling in to what I call the “What If Pit”.

“What if this happens, what if that happens!”

Once you fall into the “What If Pit”, it’s hard to get out.

That’s when you start scaring the poop out of yourself. I call that Scatpooy.

Don’t do that!

You can also say to yourself “Stop!” or “Knock it off!” “What are you doing?”

  1. Ground Yourself in the Present

Ground yourself in the present — feel your body, breathe, and return attention to what’s actually happening right now — not to imagined threats. This stops your mind from spiraling out of control and into the What If Pit.

You can say to yourself:

“Even though I’m imagining this scary thing, right now, right here, it’s not happening now and everything is ok. “

Then you can take steps to handle the situation or do damage control. For instance, if you forgot your car payment, you call them. If you make a mistake, you take steps to fix it.

  1. Change Internal Language

The words you use with yourself matter. Shift from “This catastrophe is coming” to “I don’t know what will happen, but I can handle what’s real right now.” This reframes thoughts from fear to possibility.

Now, instead of falling into the “What If Pit”, you can get on the “What If Escalator”.

That’s when you start asking yourself

  • “What if everything will be, ok?”
  • “What if it all works out?”
  • “What if my situation resolves in the best possible way?”

Now you are using your powerful imagination to focus on what you want.

Then you can follow this up with some positive affirmations:

  • I can deal with this.
  • I can figure this out.
  • I have what it takes to respond effectively to this challenge.
  • I trust my abilities, my resourcefulness and my capabilities.

Do affirmations first thing in the morning and last thing at night.

Keep in mind that Mindset and Habit Change Over Time

This is not something you fix instantly. You need to practice and develop a new habit. You build the “reality mindset” by repeatedly interrupting catastrophizing and replacing it with grounded, evidence-based thinking.

Over time:

  • Your awareness becomes sharper
  • Your reactions become calmer
  • You stop giving emotional weight to imagined worst outcomes

I want to emphasize that thoughts are not facts — awareness is power. Just because your brain imagines something catastrophic doesn’t make it likely or real — and recognizing that is the first step toward emotional freedom.

Uncertainty does not equal danger, and you don’t need certainty to be ok.

This is something that you can practice and get good at.

Here’s a simple, practical step-by-step routine you can use daily (or whenever you catch a spiral starting). Remember that I teach gentle awareness, not fighting your mind.

Step 1: Catch the Catastrophe Early. Notice it

As soon as you feel anxiety spike, pause and ask:

“Am I predicting a worst-case future right now?”

“Am I predicting disaster?”

“Am I catastrophizing?”

You’re not trying to stop the thought — just label it:

  • “This is catastrophizing.”
  • “This is my mind jumping ahead.”
  • This is a thought, not a fact.

Naming it creates distance. You’re no longer inside the thought — you’re observing it.

Step 2: Slow the Body First

Catastrophizing lives in the nervous system, it’s not logical.

Do this:

  • Take 5 slow breaths
  • Exhale slightly longer than you inhale
  • Feel your feet, chair, or hands

Use deep breathing (like box breathing: inhale 4, hold 4, exhale 4, hold 8) or the 3-3-3 rule (identify 3 things you see, 3 you hear, 3 body parts to move) to ground yourself in the present.

Say silently: “Right now, I am safe.”

This step matters more than people think. A calm body = a calmer mind.

Step 3: Reality Check the Thought

Write this down or say it mentally:

  1. What am I afraid will happen?
    (Be specific. Vague fears are harder to challenge.)
  2. What evidence do I have that this will definitely happen?
    (Usually: very little.)
  3. What are 2–3 other realistic outcomes?
    Include neutral or mildly positive ones — not just “everything’s fine.”

Example:

  • Catastrophic thought: “This mistake will ruin everything.”
  • Alternatives:
  • “It might be uncomfortable but manageable.”
  • “It could be a non-issue.”
  • “I’ve handled similar things before.”

 

Step 4: Shift from Prediction to Coping

Instead of asking “What if it goes wrong?”, ask:

“If this did happen, how would I handle it?”

This reminds your brain:

  • You’re capable
  • You’re resourceful
  • You’re not helpless

Even a simple answer like “I’d ask for help” or “I’d deal with it step by step” is enough.

Step 5: Return to the Present Moment

Catastrophizing lives in the future.

Ground yourself by naming:

  • 3 things you can see
  • 3 things you can hear
  • 3 thing you can feel in your body

Then gently redirects attention to what you were doing before the spiral.

Of course, it goes without saying that basic self-care and mindfulness practices can help you feel centered and grounded and allow you to let go of negative thoughts instead of attaching to them.

 Daily Journaling Prompt

Once a day (not during a panic), write:

  • “A common catastrophe my mind creates is…”
  • “What usually actually happens instead?”
  • “What I want to practice believing is…”

This builds awareness before anxiety hits.

 Important Mindset Reminder

You’re not trying to:

  • Eliminate negative thoughts
  • Force positivity
  • Win an argument with your mind

You are practicing:

  • Not taking every thought seriously
  • Staying grounded in reality
  • Responding instead of reacting

Catastrophizing weakens through repetition and kindness, not pressure.

Let me remind you that

  • Thoughts are not always facts
  • Uncertainty does not always mean danger
  • You don’t need certainty to be okay
  • Practice means you get good at stopping catastrophizing.

There you go, I hope you find this helpful.

Want to catch up on previous episodes? Click Here >

You can watch this on YouTube @TedAMoreno

You can follow me on social media on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.

If you want support to stop catastrophizing, go to http://tedmoreno/com/contact-us and send me an email. I’ll get back to you so that we can schedule a brief chat, answer your questions, and get you scheduled for your first session if you are ready.

Let me leave with a quote:

“Know the difference between an inconvenience and a catastrophe.”

Bruce Lee said that.

Thank you for being here!

Ted

7 Steps for Dealing with Political Anxiety – Episode 496

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There is a high level of political anxiety in our country. According the American Psychological Association, 77% of Americans cite the future of our country as a significant source of stress. The 24/7 news cycle, social media and extreme political polarization are major causes. Uncertainty, rapid and overwhelming change, and distressing current events can cause us to obsessively check our devices for news updates, keeping us stuck in an anxiety loop.

However, we can be well informed and active without being paralyzed with fear. In this episode, Ted give 7 practical steps that will help you feel centered, grounded and safe while continuing to be well informed.

If you are having trouble managing the overwhelming amount of information coming your way, listen or watch this episode.

 

Listen to this podcast episode now:

What is political anxiety?

Political anxiety is a chronic, situational response to political events, policy shifts, elections, or societal polarization, characterized by fear, helplessness, and worry. It frequently causes insomnia, irritability, and, in severe cases, feelings of depression. Many folks are experiencing emotional exhaustion and social withdrawal – the desire to check out and not be around other people.

As with most types of anxiety, physical symptoms can include headaches, gastrointestinal issues, tension in the body, headaches and an inability to focus or concentrate.

Emotional symptoms may also include feelings of hopelessness. obsessive thoughts, anger, and helplessness.

For people with a history of trauma, caused by violence, spousal abuse or domination and/or physical or verbal abuse, what’s happening in our country can be extremely triggering. The assumption here, of course, is that the trigger for anxiety is being aware of and paying attention  to what is happening in our country and in the world.

I want to make something very clear: I am very concerned about what is happening in our country. The immigration raids creating fear and intimidation, the recent deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, widespread protests, and the polarization and division in our country are distressing developments regardless of what side of the political divide you are on.

In my practice, over the past year. I’ve had many people from both sides come to me with a high level of concern, worry and anxiety about the future of our country.

According to the American Psychological Association:

“More than 7 in 10 adults reported the future of our nation (77%) as a significant source of stress in their lives, making it the most common source of significant stress in this year’s survey. The economy was the second most common, with 73% of adults having reported it as a significant source of stress. The 2024 U.S. presidential election followed closely at 69%”

We should be concerned. We should be informed. Thomas Jefferson often emphasized that an informed electorate is the best defense against tyranny.

But we have to have a balance between putting our heads in the sand to avoid current events, and being so overwhelmed by it all that we find ourselves paralyzed with fear and anxiety.

(If you’re happy with what’s going on and/or if you are not in the least bit concerned about the direction of our country, then this podcast episode is obviously not for you and that’s fine.)

For those experiencing political anxiety here are 7 steps you can take to deal with the negative impact that the current political climate may be having on your body and your mind.

  1. Avoid obsessive consumption of the news. I found myself doomscrolling a couple of days ago for almost an hour. Very unlike me. However, that hit of adrenaline you get from a post that makes you angry or indignant can be addicting. It’s designed that way.

Here’s a tip: read, don’t watch the news. Look for intelligent, critical analysis from credible sources. Avoid tablets and phones because of algorithms that keep you in the echo chamber or bubble.  Avoid provocative news sites that seek to trigger you with giant headlines and inciteful language. Seek credible sources of news.

  1. Avoid consumption of news right after you wake up and right before you go to bed. The are times when you are in a light hypnotic state, meaning that your mind is more open and suggestible. Avoid programming yourself for negativity by reflecting on the best time of the day to consume news information.
  2. Don’t get news from social media. Fake news stories created by AI are becoming more prevalent. If you are going to get your news from social media, again, follow a credible new source. Furthermore, don’t waste time arguing online in comments or posts. It’s simply not good for your mental health.
  3. Avoid catastrophizing. Terror, fear and intimidation are tools that have been used by states and government for hundreds if not thousands of years. Don’t use it on yourself. Don’t paralyze yourself into anxiety by imagining what you think will happen in the future. If you are going to imagine anything, imagine, hope and pray for a nation united and leaders focused on serving the best interests of the nation in ways that are humane and respectful.
  4. Draw boundaries with friends and family. Don’t allow yourself to get sucked into political discussions that will end in an argument with feelings hurt and things said that cannot be taken back. Avoid gripe sessions with people of the same political viewpoint that just want to vent and complain. I welcome political discussions with people that are rational, calm and informed about the issues. If I’m in the presence of someone whose aim is to incite or provoke or to have discussions in bad faith, I’ll walk away or state calmly and respectfully that I’m not interested in talking about politics.
  5. Take action: As an antidote to feeling helpless, decide what you can do and what you can contribute. Volunteer, donate money, or call or email your elected representatives. Get out on the street and protest if you need to.
  6. Use the basic tools of anxiety relief: good sleep, moving your body, getting outside. Mindfulness practices such as mediation and yoga are very effective. Prayer, or whatever you want to call connecting with God/ Universe, is incredibly powerful and allows us to let go and trust.

I believe that the vast majority of Americans want the same thing: safety for their families and communities, the opportunity to work. be productive and create abundance, and a feeling of unity with our fellow Americans.

Let me leave you with what may be the most important sentiment needed right now:

“Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough.”–Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Remember that you can listen to Ted in Your Head on Spotify, Apple podcasts, Soundcloud or TedinYourHead.com. Or,  watch it on YouTube.

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If you need some assistance dealing with all the bad news, and you need support staying centered and grounded in that face of it, reach out for a complimentary phone or zoom consultation.

Go to http://tedmoreno/com/contact-us and send me an email. I’ll get back to you so that we can schedule a brief chat, answer your questions, and get you scheduled for your first session if you are ready.