Books at Bedtime by Calming Anxiety - The Time Machine Chapter 4

I Keep Waiting for Everthing to go Wrong

Stop Paying the Toll for Disasters That Haven't HappenedDo you find yourself constantly scanning the horizon, waiting for the other shoe to drop? That familiar weight of hypervigilance—bracing for a medical diagnosis, a broken relationship, or sudden job loss—can completely exhaust your nervous system.In today’s session, we explore why waiting for a crisis is often more draining than the crisis itself, and how you can gently step away from the "window" of fear and back into the safety of the present moment.🎧 Episode Chapters * 00:00 – Cold Intro: Putting the Anxious Scanning Mind to Rest * 00:26 – Welcome from Martin Hewlett & The Vagus Nerve Reset * 03:14 – Guided Visualization: Stepping Away from the Storm * 05:45 – Deep Affirmations for Releasing Anticipatory Anxiety * 07:40 – 3 Daily Caring Tips for Overcoming Catastrophizing * 09:14 – Grounding & Returning to the Room * 10:03 – Outro & Special Announcement 🧘‍♂️ Today's AffirmationsRepeat these internally during the session to let them truly land in your nervous system:"I am safe in this moment." "My mind does not have to solve the future today." "I release the need to brace for what hasn't happened." "I am allowed to rest." "The waiting is not protecting me. I can let it go."💡 3 Daily Caring TipsWhen your mind starts looping into "what-if" scenarios, give your body these real-world anchors: 1. Name the Pattern: When the scanning starts, say out loud or in your mind: "I am catastrophizing about the future." Naming the thought separates you from the anxiety. You are the observer, not the thought itself. 2. Ask One Honest Question: Ask yourself, "Is there anything actually wrong right now, in this exact second?" The suffering is almost always living in your imagination, not the room you are sitting in. 3. Give Your Nervous System Physical Proof: Stand up and press your feet flat onto the floor. Feel the solid ground beneath you. Your body responds to tangible, physical evidence—the ground is real, and you are safe here. 🚀 Take Your Healing DeeperIf you are ready to break the cycle of chronic worry and rewire your brain's fear response, join me inside the Anxiety Circuit Breaker Course.Get instant access to 5 powerful, clinical hypnotherapy sessions designed to rewire hypervigilance for just $67.👉 Claim your peace of mind at calminganxiety.fm [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://calminganxiety.fm]Follow & Subscribe: If this session brought you peace, please hit subscribe! With over 2,300 free sessions in the library, I'm here to support you every single day.And in everything you do today, my friend, be kind. 👉 Click to subscribe and unlock ad-free episodes now! Support the Show:Ad-Free Listening: Enjoy Calming Anxiety without ads at https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/calming-anxiety--4110266/support [https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/calming-anxiety--4110266/support] Buy Me a Coffee: Support hosting costs at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/calminganxiety [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/calminganxiety] https://calminganxietypodcast.substack.com/?r=6zm0sc&utm_campaign=pub-share-checklist Rate & Review: Leave a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to help us reach more listeners! YouTube: Watch all episodes at https://www.youtube.com/c/calminganxiety?sub_confirmation=1 [https://www.youtube.com/c/calminganxiety?sub_confirmation=1]  Social Media Support: For younger listeners struggling with social media stress, visit https://www.icanhelp.net/ [https://www.icanhelp.net/] Backing Music: Chris Collins =================== Affiliate links to the gear I use the items that give me a more tranquil life. ============================= Items I use for a more relaxed way of life :) Organic Pure Hemp CBD Capsules - https://amzn.to/3 Ready for More Calm?Thank you for listening to the Calming Anxiety Podcast, featuring guided meditation, mindfulness, and sleep hypnosis sessions with Martin Hewlett. Our mission is to provide you with proven tools for anxiety relief, stress reduction, and a path toward deep relaxation. Use this episode anytime you need to calm your mind and feel more at ease.

Books at Bedtime by Calming Anxiety - The Time Machine Chapter 5

Welcome to Books at Bedtime by Calming Anxiety. Tonight, leave the stress of modern life behind and step into the distant future as we continue our journey through H.G. Wells' classic science fiction masterpiece, The Time Machine. In Chapter 5, "In the Golden Age," our weary Time Traveler finds himself face to face with the exquisite, fragile inhabitants of the year 802,000—the Eloi. Garlanded with magnificent, ancient flowers and led into a colossal, dilapidated hall of fretted stone, he experiences the gentle, childlike, and indolent world of humanity's remote posterity. But beneath the surface of this lush, fruit-filled paradise, a profound sense of mystery and suspended judgment lingers. This soft, slow-paced literary reading is designed to act as a natural sleep aid. Let the descriptive, elegant prose of a timeless story gently lower your cognitive load, quiet your racing mind, and anchor your nervous system into deep, restorative sleep.  Love falling asleep to classic stories? Pull the blankets up, get fully comfortable, and hit Follow so tomorrow night’s bedtime story finds you automatically. If our nightly readings help you drift off, please consider sharing this episode with a friend or on your social media channels to help others find their nighttime calm. ⏱️ Time Chapters * 00:00 – Introduction & Welcome to Books at Bedtime Settle in, adjust your volume, and take a deep, slow breath as we introduce tonight's classic sleep story. * 00:10 – The Time Machine, Chapter 5: In the Golden Age The Time Traveler meets the delicate future inhabitants of Earth and takes precautions to secure his machine. * 03:04 – Communicating with the Eloi An unexpected, childlike question about thunderstorms leaves the traveler contemplating the intellectual level of humanity's future. * 05:12 – The Great Dilapidated Hall Walking through a weedless, beautiful wilderness into a colossal, ancient stone structure worn down by generations. * 08:13 – A Banquet of Strange Fruits Seated among hundreds of gentle, vegetarian future beings, the traveler tastes their delightful staple fruits. * 11:15 – Learning a Forgotten Language A slow, patient attempt to decipher the exquisite nouns and pronouns of an easily fatigued people. * 12:30 – Gentle Fade-Out & Sleep Automation The story softly recedes, leaving you in total peace to drift off completely. 📖 Key Themes & Visuals to Dream OfLet your mind wander safely into the rich imagery of H.G. Wells' future world: * A long-neglected, weedless garden stretching to the horizon under a soft, golden sun. * Fragile, exquisite creatures dressed in soft, silky materials speaking in liquid, cooing notes. * Vast, shadowed halls partially glazed with beautifully patterned colored glass. * Heavy platters of petrified raspberries, oranges, and flower-like three-sided husks. 📣 Connect & Support Independent AudioBooks at Bedtime is an independent production recorded directly from my mobile studio van! To keep this channel completely free from large corporate ad breaks, we rely entirely on listeners like you. Please take a brief moment to share this episode with anyone who struggles with insomnia or nighttime restlessness. Looking for a premium wellness toolkit to keep in your pocket during the day? Check out our Anxiety Breaker Course and daily mindfulness app setup at calminganxiety.fm.Sleep deeply, enjoy your journey through time, smile when you wake, and be kind. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/calming-anxiety-guided-meditation-sleep-hypnosis-panic-attack-relief--4110266/support [https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/calming-anxiety-guided-meditation-sleep-hypnosis-panic-attack-relief--4110266/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss]. Ready for More Calm?Thank you for listening to the Calming Anxiety Podcast, featuring guided meditation, mindfulness, and sleep hypnosis sessions with Martin Hewlett. Our mission is to provide you with proven tools for anxiety relief, stress reduction, and a path toward deep relaxation. Use this episode anytime you need to calm your mind and feel more at ease.

My Heart is Racing — Am I Having a Heart Attack Anxiety vs Cardiac Emergency

Is your heart racing? Are you wondering if it’s a panic attack or a heart attack? In today’s episode of Calming Anxiety, we dive deep into the physiological response of a racing heart due to anxiety. Hosted by Martin Hewlett, a clinical hypnotherapist and former paramedic, this session provides professional insight into why your body triggers the fight or flight response and how to signal to your nervous system that you are safe.If you frequently experience sudden chest tightness, palpitations in your throat, or health anxiety regarding your heart health, this 10-minute guided relaxation and breathing exercise is designed for you. Learn the difference between a medical emergency and an anxiety-driven surge of adrenaline from someone who has seen both on the front lines.What You Will Learn: * How to differentiate anxiety symptoms from cardiac emergencies. * The role of the parasympathetic nervous system in calming a pounding heart. * A guided box breathing technique to lower your heart rate instantly. * How adrenaline affects your blood vessels and lungs during stress. Time Chapters * 00:00 – Emergency Screening: Vital signs of a cardiac event vs. anxiety. * 01:04 – Introduction: Meet Martin Hewlett, former paramedic and hypnotherapist. * 01:56 – Guided Breathing: Using the extended out-breath to signal safety. * 03:38 – The Science of Adrenaline: Why your heart races when you aren't in danger. * 05:12 – Visualization: The "Control Room" technique for nervous system regulation. * 07:18 – Affirmations: Rewiring your internal dialogue about heart health. * 08:32 – 3 Daily Caring Tips: Practical tools for managing heart rate anxiety. * 10:05 – Closing Thoughts: Embracing your body's natural responses. Heart-Centered AffirmationsRepeat these internally to ground your nervous system: * "My heart is strong and it is working exactly as it should". * "A racing heart is not proof of danger; it is proof that I am alive and responding". * "I know the difference between anxiety and emergency. Anxiety does not require a rescue". * "I trust my body to regulate; I trust my breath to lead me home". 3 Daily Caring Tips 1. Establish Your Baseline: Take your resting heart rate on a calm morning to provide a factual reference point for when anxiety spikes. 2. The Physiological Sigh: Use the "double inhale" (two sips of air through the nose) followed by a long, slow exhale to mechanically reset your stress levels. 3. Break the Freeze: Anxiety thrives in stillness. If your heart races, stand up and take three slow, deliberate steps to tell your brain you are not in a "life or death" freeze state. Support the ShowIf this session helped you find a moment of peace, please subscribe to Calming Anxiety on Apple Podcasts. With over 2,300 free episodes, we are here for you every single day. * Leave a Review: Your feedback helps others find these tools. * Share: Send this episode to a friend struggling with health anxiety. * Stay Connected: Visit calminganxiety.fm for more resources. Remember: Smile often, and to your beautiful self, be kind. 👉 Click to subscribe and unlock ad-free episodes now! Support the Show:Ad-Free Listening: Enjoy Calming Anxiety without ads at https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/calming-anxiety--4110266/support [https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/calming-anxiety--4110266/support] Buy Me a Coffee: Support hosting costs at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/calminganxiety [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/calminganxiety] https://calminganxietypodcast.substack.com/?r=6zm0sc&utm_campaign=pub-share-checklist Rate & Review: Leave a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to help us reach more listeners! YouTube: Watch all episodes at https://www.youtube.com/c/calminganxiety?sub_confirmation=1 [https://www.youtube.com/c/calminganxiety?sub_confirmation=1]  Social Media Support: For younger listeners struggling with social media stress, visit https://www.icanhelp.net/ [https://www.icanhelp.net/] Backing Music: Chris Collins =================== Affiliate links to the gear I use the items that give me a more tranquil life. ============================= Items I use for a more relaxed way of life :) Organic Pure Hemp CBD Capsules - https://amzn.to/3 Ready for More Calm?Thank you for listening to the Calming Anxiety Podcast, featuring guided meditation, mindfulness, and sleep hypnosis sessions with Martin Hewlett. Our mission is to provide you with proven tools for anxiety relief, stress reduction, and a path toward deep relaxation. Use this episode anytime you need to calm your mind and feel more at ease.

Books at Bedtime by Calming Anxiety - The Time Machine Chapter 4

If you are tossing and turning tonight, unable to quiet a racing mind, step away from the frustrations of insomnia and drift off into a classic world of wonder. Tonight, Books at Bedtime brings you Chapter 4 of H.G. Wells’ timeless sci-fi masterpiece, The Time Machine. In this episode, your host Martin Hewlett utilizes his signature soothing, hypnotic cadence to help you cross the bridge into a deep, restful sleep. Follow the enigmatic Time Traveller as he finally finishes his machine, climbs into the saddle, and pulls the lever to launch himself headlong into the distant future. As night and day begin to blur like the flapping of a black wing and the sun streaks across a twilight sky, let the rhythmic rise and fall of the narrative lull your nervous system into complete relaxation. Designed specifically for those struggling with restless sleep, night anxiety, or sleep onset issues, this literary sanctuary invites you to put down the weight of today, stop counting the hours, and ease effortlessly into a calm, restorative slumber. Time Chapters * 00:00 – Introduction to Books at Bedtime: Chapter 4 * 00:23 – Completing the Time Machine in the Workshop * 00:53 – The First Voyage: Pulling the Starting Lever * 02:04 – When Night and Day Blur: The Physical Sensations of Travel * 04:31 – A Changing Earth: Watching Buildings Rise and Seasons Pass * 06:40 – The Looming Risk of Stopping in the Unknown * 09:21 – A Sudden Halt: Hurled into the World of the Future * 10:46 – The Crouching White Sphinx in the Hailstorm * 13:32 – Overcoming Bedtime Panic and Gathering Courage * 15:06 – Meeting the Frail and Beautiful Inhabitants of the Future Episode AffirmationsBefore we begin reading, let these gentle thoughts anchor your body and quiet your restless mind: * "I am ready to release the thoughts of today and let my mind drift." * "Just like seasons passing in a flash, the worries of today are transient." * "I am safe in my bed, completely supported, with nothing left to solve tonight." * "I choose to step out of the rush of time and rest in this quiet space." * "My body knows how to sleep, and I give it permission to relax fully now." 3 Daily Caring Tips 1. The Bedtime Pivot: If your mind is replaying the day’s events over and over, gently pivot your attention away from your own life. Immersing your imagination in an old audiobook or story gives your brain a fictional space to wander, stopping the anxious loop. 2. Break the Clock Habit: Looking at the clock when you can't sleep only feeds insomnia anxiety. If you find yourself wakeful, turn your phone or clock away. Accept that resting your body in stillness is highly valuable, even before sleep takes over. 3. Somatic Unwinding: Just as the Time Traveller felt the heavy, jarring sensations of his journey fade into a calm landscape, you can release physical tension. Take a slow, deep breath, drop your shoulders away from your ears, and let the bed completely carry your weight. Social Media Outro & ShareIf a restless mind or sleep issues have been keeping you awake lately, please know you are far from alone in the quiet hours of the night. If this chapter of The Time Machine helped soothe your bedtime anxiety and brought a little tranquility to your evening, please consider sharing this episode with someone else who might be staring at the ceiling tonight. You could be the reason they finally find their escape and drift off into a deep, peaceful sleep.Thank you so much for putting your faith and trust in Calming Anxiety and Books at Bedtime. Sleep deeply, rest well, and remember—be kind. 👉 Click to subscribe and unlock ad-free episodes now! Support the Show:Ad-Free Listening: Enjoy Calming Anxiety without ads at https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/calming-anxiety--4110266/support [https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/calming-anxiety--4110266/support] Buy Me a Coffee: Support hosting costs at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/calminganxiety [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/calminganxiety] https://calminganxietypodcast.substack.com/?r=6zm0sc&utm_campaign=pub-share-checklist Rate & Review: Leave a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to help us reach more listeners! Resources & Courses:Book Hypnotherapy: Schedule a one-on-one session with Martin at https://calendar.app.google/rXHMt8sRYft5iWma8 [https://calendar.app.google/rXHMt8sRYft5iWma8] Pain & Anxiety Course: Manage negative thoughts and pain with The Physio Crew’s course at https://offers.thephysiocrew.co.uk/home-pain [https://offers.thephysiocrew.co.uk/home-pain] Breathing Challenge: Try our relaxing breathing challenge at https://www.martinhewlett.co.uk/breathing-challenge/ [https://www.martinhewlett.co.uk/breathing-challenge/] Gift a Subscription: Share Calming Anxiety with loved ones at https://www.martinhewlett.co.uk/shop/calming-anxiety-gift-subscription/ [https://www.martinhewlett.co.uk/shop/calming-anxiety-gift-subscription/] Get the App:iOS: Download Calming Anxiety at https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/calming-anxiety/id1576159331 [https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/calming-anxiety/id1576159331] Android: Get it on Google Play at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=digital.waterfront.calming.anxiety&hl=en-GB [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=digital.waterfront.calming.anxiety&hl=en-GB] Connect With Us:Email: Share feedback or requests at calminganxiety@martinhewlett.co.uk YouTube: Watch all episodes at https://www.youtube.com/c/calminganxiety?sub_confirmation=1 [https://www.youtube.com/c/calminganxiety?sub_confirmation=1]  Social Media Support: For younger listeners struggling with social media stress, visit https://www.icanhelp.net/ [https://www.icanhelp.net/] Backing Music: Chris Collins =================== Affiliate links to the gear I use the items that give me a more tranquil life. ============================= Items I use for a more relaxed way of life :) Organic Pure Hemp CBD Capsules - https://amzn.to/3 Ready for More Calm?Thank you for listening to the Calming Anxiety Podcast, featuring guided meditation, mindfulness, and sleep hypnosis sessions with Martin Hewlett. Our mission is to provide you with proven tools for anxiety relief, stress reduction, and a path toward deep relaxation. Use this episode anytime you need to calm your mind and feel more at ease.

Calm Anxiety Fast | Breathing & Mindset Techniques for Daily Stress Relief

How to Stay Calm When Stressed at Work: A 10-Minute Mental ResetThe morning frost may have melted, but as the day progresses, the "heat" of demands—emails, noise, and constant expectations—can wither your peace. In this session, clinical hypnotherapist and former paramedic Martin guides you from the open meadow into a sheltered, quiet glade to build your "Invisible Shield".Using the clinical concept of Sensory Gating, you will learn how to triage your environment—much like a paramedic on a chaotic scene—to filter out background noise and focus purely on what matters. Protect your energy and maintain your balance, no matter how bright or loud the world gets outside. 🕒 Episode Chapters * 00:00 – From the Meadow to the Sheltered Glade * 01:11 – The Science of Sensory Gating & Mental Triage * 01:56 – The Gated Breath: Rhythmic Breathing for Boundaries * 04:37 – Deep Relaxation: Melting Pockets of Tension * 05:35 – Guided Affirmations: Becoming the Architect of Your Space * 08:26 – 3 Daily Caring Tips: The Gatekeeper Mantra * 09:13 – Returning to the Room & Final Kind Thoughts ✨ Protective AffirmationsInternalize these words to reinforce your mental shield throughout the day: 1. I am the architect of my own environment, and I choose what enters. 2. I can observe the chaos around me without absorbing it into my body. 3. My peace is a priority, and I have the right to protect it. 4. I am the steady center of my own world, regardless of the storm outside. 5. I return to my calm canopy with every single breath I take. 🌱 3 Daily Caring Tips 1. The 2-Minute Tech Fast: Give your "canopy" a reset by stepping away from digital noise. 2. The Gatekeeper Mantra: Before reacting to stress, ask yourself: "Is this my emergency, or theirs?" 3. The Shoulder Drop: Check your physical shield every hour. If your shoulders are at your ears, drop them down and breathe. A Heartfelt Note from MartinThis podcast is a labor of love, recorded from my van to help you live your best life. If these sessions help you find your moment of balance, that is all the thanks I need.If you're ready to further banish anxiety, please subscribe and consider joining the Anxiety Circuit Breaker Course at . Your support helps keep these sessions free for thousands of others around the world.Take care, may your God go with you, smile often, and to your soul... be kind. 👉 Click to subscribe and unlock ad-free episodes now! Support the Show:Ad-Free Listening: Enjoy Calming Anxiety without ads at https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/calming-anxiety--4110266/support [https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/calming-anxiety--4110266/support] Buy Me a Coffee: Support hosting costs at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/calminganxiety [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/calminganxiety] https://calminganxietypodcast.substack.com/?r=6zm0sc&utm_campaign=pub-share-checklist Rate & Review: Leave a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to help us reach more listeners! YouTube: Watch all episodes at https://www.youtube.com/c/calminganxiety?sub_confirmation=1 [https://www.youtube.com/c/calminganxiety?sub_confirmation=1]  Social Media Support: For younger listeners struggling with social media stress, visit https://www.icanhelp.net/ [https://www.icanhelp.net/] Backing Music: Chris Collins =================== Affiliate links to the gear I use the items that give me a more tranquil life. ============================= Items I use for a more relaxed way of life :) Organic Pure Hemp CBD Capsules - https://amzn.to/3 Ready for More Calm?Thank you for listening to the Calming Anxiety Podcast, featuring guided meditation, mindfulness, and sleep hypnosis sessions with Martin Hewlett. Our mission is to provide you with proven tools for anxiety relief, stress reduction, and a path toward deep relaxation. Use this episode anytime you need to calm your mind and feel more at ease.