This is me. In case we run into each other at Trader Joe's.

Who is this anxious protagonist? And, why should anyone listen to him?

With great anxiety comes great responsibility agitation. And anxiety attacks. And worry, stress, obsessions, compulsions, insomnia, social avoidance, PTSD, and chronic chewing of cuticles - yours and mine. These are all traits frowned upon by the general populace. For example, it's hard to date someone when you flail about the bed all night worrying about things that will never happen.

I typically keep anxiety under tight-wraps through a myriad of clandestine, ninja-science techniques. However, there are certain events, situations, people, and venues that greatly exacerbate my angst. These include Black Friday crowds, elevators, the GOP, Celine Dion, and the Mall of America. I can generally avoid them all, except for Celine. That chick is "Near, far, wherever you are ..."

For me - and maybe for you - anxiety is at its worst during a particularly stressful event; at which time it can run feral and un-tethered in a cataclysmic cyclone of cerebral rape. Such events include breakups/divorce, death, job loss, relocation, school, the presence of in-laws, or being inundated by CNN or FOX News. At any given moment, there are approximately 50 million Americans suffering from debilitating anxiety related to one cause or another - which prompted the creation of this site, the 101 Ways to Conquer Teen Anxiety book, and my latest nonfiction, humor books In Case of Anxiety... Anxiety Hacks for a Janky World and Breaking-Up Badly - How Not to Self-Implode Following Your Breakup or Divorce (both 2018 releases).

I continue to partner with numerous mental health physicians in revolutionizing anxiety relief using an unrivaled blend of hilarious relatability, anecdotal evidence, and evidence-based skills. Herein you will find road-tested, easy-to-use tactics that actually work; not the re-purposed counsel that litter bookshelves and the Internet, while promising quick recovery and whiter teeth.

I hold an M.A. in from California Polytechnic (Cal Poly), San Luis Obispo. I wanted to get a PsyD, but was tired of being broke in college, and asking my dates to eat dinner prior to going out ... to dinner. I still don't have much money because I live in California - but, can now afford to shop for clothes not previously worn by strangers.

The State of Anxiety site actually began as a personal essay about my own worst anxious breakup. In the absence of relatable breakup advice available anywhere, the essay turned into the single best source of breakup advice to myself and friends. It was so effective that I posted it online to let others know that their maniacal breakup behaviors were justifiably sane. Based on a steady stream of comments and emails from sufferers seeking breakup advice worldwide that followed, it didn't take long to realize the overwhelming need to provide more. More advice. More humor. And, more help related to the visceral pain associated with a breakup or divorce. For men, women, gays, and straights alike, being on the receiving end of a breakup affects everyone equally. Even the ridiculously good-looking.

Feel free to contact me directly here.