East meets West in this special episode of Anxiety Matters as Bonnie West travels to visit Bonnie East. After an excitedly heartwarming welcome, the two enjoy good food and drink as they discuss exciting new plans for Anxiety Matters.

The two hit up Bonnie East's local Whole Foods to do a live exposure exercise. They leave tea on a shelf, walk away for a while, and return to drink it and describe the purpose of these exercises as helping people tolerate uncertainty, discomfort, and the anxiety that rises and then falls.

They discuss several kinds of exposure work, including asking for help, interrupting someone, leaving items unattended, and handling contamination fears including a more direct contamination exposure involving a chip that is placed on a shelf and then on the floor before being eaten. BZE describes how some people need repeated practice before they are willing to do it, and notes that doing the feared action often reduces anxiety more than expected.

Later, BZW visits BZE's office and home, where they talk about the workspace, the artwork created by Bonnie East's mom, and family-made gifts. They wrap up by discussing BZE's home, the dog, the Christmas decorations, how they each work and the surprising place Bonnie East records episodes of the podcast. You'll want to listen in, not only for valuable information on exposure exercises, but for the fun these two share when they're together.

HIGHLIGHTS:

1:18 Whole Foods Exposure

5:17 Challenging Contamination Fears

7:49 Tolerating Uncertainty

9:49 Eating the Floor Chip

14:08 Flooding Exposures

17:05 Visiting the Office

20:24 House Tour and Gifts

24:21 Cozy Home Reflections

CONNECT WITH THE BONNIE ZUCKERS:

Bonnie Zucker Ph.D.(west)

website: https://www.bonniezuckerphd.com

Newsletter sign-up: https://bonnie-zucker-ph-d.kit.com/d44b57fcdf

Books by Bonnie West: https://a.co/d/04aNJFDZ

Bonnie Zucker Psy.D. (east)

website: https://www.bonniezuckerandassociates.com

Books by Bonnie East: https://shorturl.at/MxvRZ

The content of Anxiety Matters Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute mental health or medical advice, nor is it a substitute for professional mental health or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, call emergency services or a local crisis line.