Dr. Jud on Dr. Chatterjee's Podcast: Coronavirus Special

Overview

In this bonus episode of Feel Better, Live More (Episode 103), Dr. Jud joins Dr. Rangan Chatterjee for an in-depth conversation recorded during the early days of global lockdowns. With many people feeling scared and helpless, the episode was designed as a practical resource for managing anxiety during a pandemic. Dr. Jud explains what fear and anxiety actually are from a neurological perspective, what happens inside the brain when anxiety escalates, and how to interrupt the cycle with simple exercises.

The conversation goes beyond generic self-care advice. Dr. Jud describes how social contagion — the way emotions spread from person to person — amplifies anxiety during a crisis, particularly through social media. He and Dr. Chatterjee discuss breathing techniques, physical activity, creative pursuits, and a key insight: calmness is a trainable skill, not a personality trait. With practice, anyone can strengthen their capacity to stay grounded when the anxiety habit loop activates.

Key Takeaways

• Understand the anxiety cycle: Dr. Jud breaks down how fear and anxiety form a self-reinforcing habit loop. The brain interprets uncertainty as danger, triggers worry, and the act of worrying creates an illusion of control that keeps the loop spinning.
• Beware social contagion: Anxiety spreads between people much like a virus. Dr. Jud explains how consuming fearful content on social media and news outlets activates our mirror systems, making us more anxious — even when we are physically safe.
• Calmness is a skill you can build: Through breathing exercises, physical movement, and mindfulness practices, you can train your brain to return to a calm baseline more efficiently. Dr. Jud and Dr. Chatterjee emphasize that this capacity grows with repetition, not willpower.

Listen to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or online here.

Related Resources

• How Anxiety Becomes a Habit
• Mindfulness Exercises for Anxiety and Stress
• Unwinding Anxiety — Dr. Jud’s Book
• What Is the Habit Loop?