Peace Over Panic: Life Beyond Anxiety

Taylor Barone MS, RDN
  • 5.0 (13)
  • Mental Health

Welcome to Peace Over Panic. I'm Taylor, a registered dietitian, anxiety advocate, and someone who has personally walked through panic attacks, health anxiety, OCD, and the exhausting cycle of fear. For years, anxiety convinced me my life would always be controlled by "what ifs." But through faith, evidence-based tools, and a whole lot of healing, I discovered something life-changing: Peace is possible. Each week, you'll find honest conversations about anxiety, panic disorder, OCD, health anxiety, nervous system regulation, mental health, and faith. Together we'll explore practical tools backed by research, biblical encouragement, and real-life strategies that help you stop merely surviving and start truly living again. If you're constantly checking your body, caught in reassurance-seeking, overwhelmed by intrusive thoughts, or wondering if you'll ever feel like yourself again, you're not alone and you don't have to walk this journey by yourself. This isn't a podcast that promises perfection. It's a place where healing is possible, hope is restored, and every episode points you toward peace instead of panic. Take a deep breath. You're safe here.

Episodes

  1. Sep 9 ·  Video

    Let the Heart Flutter Pass: A Guided Meditation for Heart Anxiety

    Send us Fan Mail A flutter. A thump. A skipped beat. When an unexpected heart sensation captures your attention, it can be difficult to think about anything else. This guided meditation will help you respond differently, not by forcing the sensation away, but by allowing it to exist without checking, monitoring, or attaching a frightening story to it. Through calming breathwork, gentle imagery, and acceptance-based reminders, you’ll practice noticing bodily sensations without letting them determine what happens next. Return to this meditation whenever heart sensations leave you feeling anxious, hyperaware, or afraid. You don’t have to wait for your body to feel perfectly quiet before returning to your life. Notice. Allow. Keep moving forward. Please note: This meditation is intended to support anxiety management and is not a substitute for medical evaluation or treatment. If you experience new, severe, or concerning symptoms, seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional. Connect with Taylor: Instagram: @health_anxiety TikTok: @healthanxiety Threads: @health_anxiety YouTube: Health Anxiety Healer Chirp: chirp.me/healthanxiety Website: peakofpanic.com If this episode brought you a little more peace, follow the show, leave a rating or review, and share it with someone who may need this reminder today. You are not alone, you are not broken, and peace is something you can practice, one moment at a time. Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional about your individual needs. If you are experiencing a medical or mental health emergency, contact emergency services in your area.

  2. Sep 4 ·  Video

    Therapy Isn’t Working, Now What? Finding the Right Treatment for OCD and Health Anxiety

    Send us Fan Mail You notice an unusual sensation, and your mind immediately goes to the worst-case scenario. You Google your symptoms, check your body, ask for reassurance, or schedule another appointment. Even when you’re told everything is okay, the relief doesn’t last. Then you try therapy, but you still don’t feel better. Does that mean you’re broken, or could you simply be receiving the wrong kind of treatment? In this episode of Peace Over Panic, Taylor sits down with Gracie Block, a Licensed Professional Counselor at Dallas CBT, to explore the close relationship between OCD and health anxiety and why treating these conditions requires specialized knowledge. Gracie explains the cycle of intrusive fears, compulsive behaviors, temporary relief, and renewed doubt. She also breaks down Exposure and Response Prevention, or ERP, an evidence-based treatment for OCD that helps people face uncertainty while reducing the checking, avoidance, and reassurance-seeking behaviors that keep anxiety alive. Taylor also shares her own experiences with health anxiety, feeling misunderstood in therapy, turning cognitive exercises into another source of reassurance, and eventually recognizing that an unsuccessful therapy experience did not mean she was incapable of getting better. In this conversation: How OCD and health anxiety create similar cyclesWhen a reasonable health concern becomes rigid or compulsiveWhy reassurance provides relief but may strengthen anxiety over timeThe difference between emotional processing and ruminationHow well-intended talk therapy can sometimes reinforce the OCD cycleWhy “CBT” does not always mean OCD-specific treatmentHow Exposure and Response Prevention worksWhy exposure and response prevention must be used togetherHow ERP can help someone return to activities anxiety has taken awayThe roles of ACT, DBT, trauma treatment, and EMDRWhy therapy must be tailored to the individualWhat recovery from OCD can realistically look likeThe questions to ask when searching for an OCD therapistHow to recognize specialized training in OCD and ERPWhy not improving in therapy does not mean you are brokenAbout Gracie Block Gracie Block is a Licensed Professional Counselor at Dallas CBT. She works with children, adolescents, young adults, and families experiencing OCD, anxiety, depression, trauma, and emotional dysregulation. Her approach incorporates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Exposure and Response Prevention, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Gracie brings both professional expertise and personal understanding to her work with OCD and anxiety. Approximate timestamps 00:01 The cycle of health anxiety 01:20 Introducing Gracie and Dallas CBT 03:30 Why Gracie chose to specialize in OCD and anxiety 05:20 What OCD actually looks like 08:20 How health anxiety overlaps with OCD 10:10 Responsible healthcare versus compulsive checking 12:35 Why talk therapy may not be enough 15:10 Taylor’s experiences with therapy and feeling misunderstood 17:55 Emotional processing versus rumination 20:05 Understanding CBT 22:05 Why ERP is different from traditional CBT 23:35 How exposure and response prevention work together 24:15 Medical clearance and health-anxiety exposures 28:05 Safety behaviors and the “emotional support water bottle” 30:15 What recovery and progress can look like 34:10 ACT, DBT, trauma treatment, and EMDR 38:10 Other approaches to OCD treatment 40:40 How to find a qualified OCD therapist 44:20 Dallas CBT resources, virtual care, and referrals Resources Learn more about Gracie BlockVisit Dallas CBTFind OCD information and treatment resources through the International OCD FoundationSearch the IOCDF Resource DirectoryLearn how to evaluate a prospective OCD therapistThis episode is intended for education and encouragement only. It does not provide a diagnosis or replace individualized mental-health or medical care. If you are experiencing a new or concerning physical symptom, consult an appropriate healthcare professional. Connect with Taylor: Instagram: @health_anxiety TikTok: @healthanxiety Threads: @health_anxiety YouTube: Health Anxiety Healer Chirp: chirp.me/healthanxiety Website: peakofpanic.com If this episode brought you a little more peace, follow the show, leave a rating or review, and share it with someone who may need this reminder today. You are not alone, you are not broken, and peace is something you can practice, one moment at a time. Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional about your individual needs. If you are experiencing a medical or mental health emergency, contact emergency services in your area.

  3. Aug 24 ·  Video

    Finding Peace While Waiting for Test Results | Guided Meditation for Anxiety

    Send us Fan Mail Waiting for test results can feel unbearable to those struggling with anxiety. You are not alone in this.  In this guided meditation, we’re creating space to step away from the “what ifs,” stop trying to predict what comes next, and find peace in the middle of uncertainty. Through calming breathwork, visualization, and faith-filled encouragement, you’ll be guided across a foggy lake, a reminder that uncertainty is not the same thing as danger. You may not be able to see what’s on the other side yet, but you don’t have to figure it all out today. We’ll practice releasing the questions you can’t answer, coming back to the life that is happening right now, and trusting that God is already present in whatever tomorrow holds. Because peace doesn’t always come when the fog disappears. Sometimes peace comes when Light enters the uncertainty. If you’re waiting on bloodwork, imaging, a biopsy, a doctor’s call, or any kind of medical answer, this meditation is for you. Take a breath. Set down the umbrella. Rest in the boat. You don’t have to cross tomorrow’s bridge today. 💛 CONNECT WITH TAYLOR 💛 For more anxiety recovery tools, encouragement, and resources: Instagram: @health_anxiety TikTok: @healthanxiety YouTube: healinghealthanxiety Website: peakofpanic.com 🎙️ Peace Over Panic Podcast Follow or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss an episode. If this episode helped you, consider leaving a rating or review. It helps more people struggling with anxiety find the podcast and reminds them that they aren't alone. More resources + information: Visit peakofpanic.com Peace Over Panic is for educational and supportive purposes and is not a substitute for individualized medical or mental health care. Connect with Taylor: Instagram: @health_anxiety TikTok: @healthanxiety Threads: @health_anxiety YouTube: Health Anxiety Healer Chirp: chirp.me/healthanxiety Website: peakofpanic.com If this episode brought you a little more peace, follow the show, leave a rating or review, and share it with someone who may need this reminder today. You are not alone, you are not broken, and peace is something you can practice, one moment at a time. Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional about your individual needs. If you are experiencing a medical or mental health emergency, contact emergency services in your area.

  4. Aug 22 ·  Video

    Real People, Real Stories: “I Thought I Was Dying” : Alex’s Story of Health Anxiety, Panic & Faith

    Send us Fan Mail What happens when anxiety has been part of your life for so long that you don't even realize it's anxiety? In the first episode of Real People, Real Stories, Taylor sits down with Peace Over Panic community member Alex to have an honest conversation about what it actually looks like to live with health anxiety and panic,  not from a textbook, but from someone who has lived it. Alex shares how anxiety showed up long before she had a name for it: stomachaches, trouble sleeping, fear around her health, hypervigilance, and constantly feeling like something might be wrong. Then, in her twenties, a terrifying panic attack in a Chick-fil-A drive-thru changed everything. What followed was the fear of having another panic attack, physical symptoms that felt impossible to believe were anxiety, health anxiety, medication, therapy, avoidance, and the exhausting desire to feel certain and in control. But this episode isn't only about anxiety. Alex and Taylor talk about childhood experiences that can shape the way we seek safety as adults, the shame that can come with struggling with mental health, medication and why there isn't one right path for everyone, and what it means to keep living even when anxiety comes with you. They also have an honest conversation about faith, including struggling with anxiety as a Christian, learning to release control, finding peace in God during the moments that feel impossible, and recognizing that having faith doesn't mean never feeling afraid. Alex shares how she went from once having to get off a plane because of panic to traveling to Paris, London, Australia, Japan and beyond , sometimes with anxiety still right beside her. Because healing doesn't always mean you never feel anxious again. Sometimes it means realizing: I can feel anxious and still live my life. In this episode, we talk about: Alex's first panic attack and the moment she realized what she had experienced for years was anxietyHealth anxiety and physical symptoms that feel incredibly realBecoming afraid of having another panic attackHow anxiety and hypervigilance can begin early in lifeThe need for control and learning to accept uncertaintyMedication, therapy, exercise and finding what works for youWhy anxiety can make your world smallerThe shame and guilt that often accompany mental health strugglesFaith, fear and what it means to surrender control to GodThe importance of community and talking to people who truly understandDoing things afraid instead of waiting for anxiety to disappearWhat choosing Peace Over Panic means to AlexIf you've ever thought, “No one understands what this feels like,” this conversation is for you. You are not the only one. You are not alone in this experience. And anxiety does not have to become the whole story of your life. Real People, Real Stories is a Peace Over Panic series sharing honest conversations with everyday people who have lived through anxiety, panic, OCD, health anxiety and other mental health struggles, because sometimes one of the most healing things we can hear is simply: “Me too.” 💛 Follow Peace Over Panic for more real conversations, recovery tools, faith-filled encouragement and reminders that there is life beyond anxiety. Connect with Taylor: Instagram: @health_anxiety TikTok: @healthanxiety Threads: @health_anxiety YouTube: Health Anxiety Healer Chirp: chirp.me/healthanxiety Website: peakofpanic.com If this episode brought you a little more peace, follow the show, leave a rating or review, and share it with someone who may need this reminder today. You are not alone, you are not broken, and peace is something you can practice, one moment at a time. Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional about your individual needs. If you are experiencing a medical or mental health emergency, contact emergency services in your area.

  5. Aug 17 ·  Video

    Peace in the Uncertainty | A Christian Meditation for Anxiety

    Send us Fan Mail Today’s meditation is for anyone carrying something heavy, a symptom, a diagnosis, an unanswered prayer, uncertainty about the future, or a situation you desperately wish would change. Inspired by Psalm 42 and Jeremiah 29, this meditation is a reminder that you don’t have to wait until everything feels okay to start living your life again. Fear will always want more answers. More certainty. More reassurance about what happens next. But peace doesn’t require knowing how everything will turn out. We can trust God in the waiting, in the questions, and in the moments when we still don’t understand. You don’t have to wait until every symptom is explained.  You don’t have to wait until every fear is gone.  You don’t have to wait until every prayer is answered. You can live today. Take a few minutes to breathe, release what you’ve been carrying, and remember: I don’t need all the answers today. I just need God’s grace for today. You got through yesterday. You’re getting through today. And God will be with you tomorrow. 💛 Connect with Taylor: Instagram: @health_anxiety TikTok: @healthanxiety Threads: @health_anxiety YouTube: Health Anxiety Healer Chirp: chirp.me/healthanxiety Website: peakofpanic.com If this episode brought you a little more peace, follow the show, leave a rating or review, and share it with someone who may need this reminder today. You are not alone, you are not broken, and peace is something you can practice, one moment at a time. Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional about your individual needs. If you are experiencing a medical or mental health emergency, contact emergency services in your area.

  6. Aug 15 ·  Video

    My Story of Health Anxiety, OCD & Panic Attacks

    Send us Fan Mail Before I became the person talking about anxiety online, I was the girl who looked like she had it all together. A 4.0 student. A perfectionist. An athlete. Someone constantly chasing achievement, approval, and the next milestone. But underneath that picture-perfect life, I was exhausted. In this deeply personal episode, I'm sharing the full story of how one terrifying panic attack in 2014 changed everything. What followed were years of panic attacks, debilitating health anxiety, OCD, emergency room visits, intrusive thoughts, derealization, and believing my life would never be the same again. I'm also sharing how recovery wasn't a straight line, why anxiety returned years later in a different way, and how faith became the foundation that carried me through my darkest seasons. If you've ever felt trapped by anxiety or wondered if you'll ever feel like yourself again, I hope this episode reminds you that healing is possible. In This Episode What my life looked like before anxietyThe perfectionism and pressure that were silently breaking meThe night I experienced my very first panic attackWhy I became convinced I was dyingMy struggle with health anxiety, OCD, intrusive thoughts, and constant reassurance seekingEmergency room visits, avoidance, and feeling completely hopelessHow anxiety affected my relationships, school, and identityThe role nutrition and becoming a registered dietitian played in my healingWhy I started sharing my journey onlineThe anxiety relapse that humbled me years laterHow my relationship with God transformed my recoveryWhat I want Peace Over Panic to become for anyone who is strugglingIf This Episode Helped You If this episode encouraged you, I'd be so grateful if you would: ⭐ Follow or subscribe to the podcast ⭐ Leave a rating and written review ⭐ Share this episode with someone who needs hope today Your support helps Peace Over Panic reach more people who are silently struggling with anxiety. Join the Community 💛 Join our free Peace Over Panic Facebook community. 📩 Follow along on Instagram: @health_anxiety 🌐 Website: peakofpanic.com Remember Healing doesn't happen overnight. Recovery isn't about never feeling anxious again—it's about learning that anxiety no longer gets to decide how your story ends. No matter where you are today, there is hope. I'm so glad you're here. Connect with Taylor: Instagram: @health_anxiety TikTok: @healthanxiety Threads: @health_anxiety YouTube: Health Anxiety Healer Chirp: chirp.me/healthanxiety Website: peakofpanic.com If this episode brought you a little more peace, follow the show, leave a rating or review, and share it with someone who may need this reminder today. You are not alone, you are not broken, and peace is something you can practice, one moment at a time. Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional about your individual needs. If you are experiencing a medical or mental health emergency, contact emergency services in your area.

  7. Aug 10 ·  Video

    What If It All Works Out? | A Guided Meditation for Anxiety & Trust

    Send us Fan Mail What if your future is better than fear has convinced you it will be? In this calming 8-minute guided meditation, we'll gently step away from anxious predictions and make room for a different possibility: that maybe your story isn't headed where fear says it is. Together we'll visualize laying down the weight you've been carrying, walking through the forest of uncertainty, releasing your worries into a flowing river, and remembering that anxiety is not a fortune teller, it is simply a storyteller. If you're struggling with health anxiety, panic, OCD, fear of the future, or simply carrying the weight of life's unknowns, this meditation is an invitation to slow down, breathe deeply, and remember that you don't have to know tomorrow to experience peace today. You'll be reminded that: You don't have to predict the future to live fully today.Anxiety doesn't get to write your story.God sees every bend in the road, even when you can't.Sometimes the most healing question isn't, "What if it all falls apart?" but, "What if it all works out?" I hope you'll return to this meditation whenever fear feels louder than hope. If this episode encouraged you, please follow Peace Over Panic, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs a reminder that peace is possible, even in uncertainty. Connect with Taylor: Instagram: @health_anxiety TikTok: @healthanxiety Threads: @health_anxiety YouTube: Health Anxiety Healer Chirp: chirp.me/healthanxiety Website: peakofpanic.com If this episode brought you a little more peace, follow the show, leave a rating or review, and share it with someone who may need this reminder today. You are not alone, you are not broken, and peace is something you can practice, one moment at a time. Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional about your individual needs. If you are experiencing a medical or mental health emergency, contact emergency services in your area.

  8. Aug 7 ·  Video

    Why Peace Over Panic? Finding Life Beyond Anxiety

    Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the very first episode of Peace Over Panic. For years, many of you have known me as "the health anxiety girl." But the truth is, my story has never just been about anxiety. Beneath the panic, the intrusive thoughts, and the constant search for reassurance, I've always been searching for something deeper: peace. In this first episode, I'm sharing the heart behind this podcast, why I felt God calling me into this new season, and why I chose the name Peace Over Panic. We'll talk about what anxiety has taught me, why chasing certainty never brings lasting freedom, and how I've discovered that real peace isn't found in controlling every outcome, it's found in trusting God in the middle of life's uncertainty. This podcast is for anyone who feels overwhelmed by anxiety, panic attacks, health anxiety, OCD, overthinking, or fear. It's also for anyone longing to strengthen their faith, heal, and discover that hope is still possible. I'm so grateful you're here. This is more than a podcast, t's a community where we'll have honest conversations, learn from experts, explore science and faith together, and remind each other that healing is possible. Welcome to Peace Over Panic. I'm so glad you're here. In this episode, we'll talk about: Why I started the Peace Over Panic PodcastThe story behind the name Peace Over PanicWhy anxiety keeps us chasing certaintyFinding peace through faith instead of controlWhat you can expect from future episodesThe vision and heart behind this communityIf this episode encouraged you, I'd love for you to follow the show, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs a little more hope today. Until next time... choose peace over panic. Looking for support? Join the free Peace Over Panic facebook group and follow my at @health_anxiety on instagram!  Connect with Taylor: Instagram: @health_anxiety TikTok: @healthanxiety Threads: @health_anxiety YouTube: Health Anxiety Healer Chirp: chirp.me/healthanxiety Website: peakofpanic.com If this episode brought you a little more peace, follow the show, leave a rating or review, and share it with someone who may need this reminder today. You are not alone, you are not broken, and peace is something you can practice, one moment at a time. Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional about your individual needs. If you are experiencing a medical or mental health emergency, contact emergency services in your area.

  • 8 Episodes

5
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

Welcome to Peace Over Panic. I'm Taylor, a registered dietitian, anxiety advocate, and someone who has personally walked through panic attacks, health anxiety, OCD, and the exhausting cycle of fear. For years, anxiety convinced me my life would always be controlled by "what ifs." But through faith, evidence-based tools, and a whole lot of healing, I discovered something life-changing: Peace is possible. Each week, you'll find honest conversations about anxiety, panic disorder, OCD, health anxiety, nervous system regulation, mental health, and faith. Together we'll explore practical tools backed by research, biblical encouragement, and real-life strategies that help you stop merely surviving and start truly living again. If you're constantly checking your body, caught in reassurance-seeking, overwhelmed by intrusive thoughts, or wondering if you'll ever feel like yourself again, you're not alone and you don't have to walk this journey by yourself. This isn't a podcast that promises perfection. It's a place where healing is possible, hope is restored, and every episode points you toward peace instead of panic. Take a deep breath. You're safe here.

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