🎙️ Episode 9 – How to Conquer Anxiety: Real Tools for Real Men

In this episode of The Lion Counseling Podcast, Mark Odland (Certified EMDR Therapist & LMFT) and Zack Carter (Counselor & Coach for Men) dive headfirst into one of the most common issues men face—but rarely talk about: anxiety.

Whether it shows up as stress, overthinking, irritability, or a pit in your stomach, this episode breaks down what anxiety really is, why it's not always the enemy, and how you can take back control using real-world strategies backed by psychology and faith.

🔍 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

What anxiety actually is—and why your brain is wired for it
The difference between helpful anxiety and when it spirals into dysfunction
How to identify the thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that feed anxiety
Tools for breaking out of all-or-nothing thinking and catastrophizing
How to challenge irrational beliefs using Zack’s 3-scenario tool
The science behind box breathing and how to use it to calm your nervous system fast
Why naming your emotions (“name it to tame it”) can reduce their power
What to do if you try everything and your anxiety still won’t go away
How CBT and EMDR work together to heal both the thoughts and the trauma
Faith-based encouragement and the power of acceptance, action, and hope

💥 You don’t have to be ruled by anxiety. You just need the right tools and the courage to try.

About the Show:
The Lion Counseling Podcast helps men escape the cages that hold them back and become the lions they were created to be. Hosted by Mark Odland and Zack Carter, we explore topics like masculinity, faith, mental health, emotional growth, leadership, trauma recovery, and purpose—with truth, grit, and grace.

👉 Get help or book a free consult at www.escapethecagenow.com

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