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The 18 Minutes Podcast

The 18 Minutes Podcast

Amanda Claessens 30 episodes Latest May 29, 2026

The 18 Minutes Podcast is a resource for anxiety disorder sufferers, aiming to help them move from fear to freedom. Hosted by Amanda Claessens, it focuses on rediscovering parts of oneself that anxiety may have taken away. The podcast encourages stepping into the world with courage, clarity, and heart, inspiring growth in others. It also has a community on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.

Episodes

Healthy Anxiety Habits Gone Wrong Jun 12, 2026 1247 Some of the most common "healthy" habits in the wellness and anxiety recovery world (breathing exercises, grounding techniques, meditation) can actually be the thing keeping you stuck. In this episode I walk through five of them, the genuine pros of each one, the trap each one falls into when it turns into a safety behavior, and the simple way to tell whether a habit is helping you or ho
Who Are You Without The Anxiety? Jun 5, 2026 1106 What's left when the anxiety finally subsides? In this episode I talk about a part of recovery I LOVE: when anxiety has been part of you for years, you get to actually rediscover who you are without it. I share how anxiety became the center of my own identity, why losing it can feel disorienting, and the practical work of reclaiming the person underneath the fear. Plus - a few things I discov
What To Do When Anxiety Comes Back May 29, 2026 1509 What do you actually do when anxiety comes back after you thought you'd put it behind you? In this episode I talk about why recovery was never a straight line to zero, and why I measured my own recovery by "widening the gaps" between panic attacks instead. I get into why a single anxious moment usually isn't the "setback" you think it is (and what a real setback actua
What Partners of Anxious People Need to Know May 22, 2026 1456 If you love someone with disordered anxiety, your most loving instincts are often what's keeping their disordered anxiety alive. I unpack the research on family accommodation, why reassurance is a long-term harm even when it feels kind in the moment, and the caregiver burden conversation we shy away from. Includes real examples from my own recovery and how my partner showed up alongside me. I
Agoraphobia 101: What It Is and How To Recover May 15, 2026 1411 Has your world been gradually getting smaller? Fewer places you'll go, more cancellations, a mental map of where it feels safe and where it doesn't? You might be dealing with agoraphobia. In this episode I unpack the real definition (it's not "fear of open spaces"), the panic-and-avoidance loop that builds it, a little entry-level neuroscience on what your amygdala and sym
Overpreparing Is Making You Anxious May 8, 2026 1355 Overpreparing might be the most socially acceptable safety behavior there is. It doesn't always look like anxiety, it looks like being responsible! In this episode I unpack what overpreparing actually is, why our brains love it so much, and the mental and physical cost we pay for it. Then we talk about how to gradually let go of it without flipping your whole life upside down, and what life l
How To Prepare For a Panic Attack May 1, 2026 1357 You're probably going to have another panic attack. Sorry!! But what if you could prepare for it in a way that actually moves your recovery forward? In this episode, I walk through the mindset shift that changed my own recovery, the neuroscience of why you can't think your way through panic in real time, and a practical toolkit for setting yourself up before the next adrenaline surge hit
Why Anxiety Feels Worse at Night (and what to do about it!) Apr 24, 2026 1070  Ever wake up at 2am in panic mode? This episode is for you! Today I'm talking all about nighttime anxiety. How to recognize it, why it happens, and practical steps to move past it. Thanks for listening! FREE Recovery Guide: https://the18minutes.com/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the18minutesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/the18minutes/FREE Recovery Guide: https://the18minutes.com/  Tik
Why Can't I Calm Down?! Apr 17, 2026 708 On this episode of The 18 Minutes I get into the science behind why it feels IMPOSSIBLE to calm down during an episode of intense anxiety or panic, and what we can do about it. Enjoy! FREE Recovery Guide: https://the18minutes.com/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the18minutesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/the18minutes/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@the18minutesEmail: amanda@the18minutes.c
What Not To Do During Panic Apr 3, 2026 806 Today's episode is a list of things that you might be doing that are keeping you stuck with disordered anxiety. Enjoy! FREE Recovery Guide: https://the18minutes.com/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the18minutesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/the18minutes/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@the18minutesEmail: amanda@the18minutes.com 
Travel Anxiety Tips Mar 27, 2026 1062 Today's episode is all about travel anxiety. I'm a nervous traveler, and in this episode I lay out my best tips for making travel fun! I cover how to manage anticipatory anxiety, feeling stuck, social anxiety, the fear of flying, and separation anxiety (and, of course, how to use the fear to overcome our anxiety disorders). Enjoy! FREE Recovery Guide: https://the18minutes.com/  TikTok: h
Anxiety & The Illusion of Control Mar 20, 2026 781 As overly anxious people, we CLING to anything we can control, often to our own detriment. In this quick chat-style podcast I cover the topic of control, and why reaching for it could be hindering our recovery. Enjoy! FREE Recovery Guide: https://the18minutes.com/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the18minutesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/the18minutes/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@the18m

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