In today’s episode of The Grounded Union Podcast, discover how anxiety can silently sabotage your marriage and the small daily habits that can set you free. Brandon opens up about his years of crippling anxiety and the coping mechanisms that masked the problem: endless scrolling, gaming, and withdrawing from family life. A breaking point came with a 40-day fast and a panic attack that forced him to face the truth. Caitlyn brings a powerful perspective on why so many couples lack the emotional vocabulary to navigate these struggles, and how that gap fuels disconnection. Together, they share practical strategies, from naming emotions to practicing embodied exercises like breathwork and cold showers, that create space for real intimacy. If stress and avoidance are stealing joy from your marriage, this conversation offers both validation and a roadmap toward lasting peace.
Our 2025 Grounded Union workshop & intensive:
🏝️Maui, Hawaii – 3-Day Intensive—limited to 20 couples, lodging included! (October 10th-13th)
Maui Intensive: Tap here to apply
Looking for immediate support in your marriage?
Community for Men: Tap here to start your 14-day FREE trial
Workshops for Couples: Join the waitlist to get notified
Grounded Intimacy Program: Tap here for more info on our online couples program
Follow us on social at @brandontalksmarriage & @caitlyn_doerksen
Check out our IG account to stay updated @groundedunionpodcast
YouTube Show available here
Timestamps & Key Moments:
- 00:00:29 – Introduction: Brandon and Caitlyn frame anxiety as a hidden barrier to emotional safety in marriage.
- 00:01:54 – The Gut–Emotion Connection: Brandon explains how unresolved emotions often show up as digestive issues and physical stress.
- 00:02:34 – Video Games as Escape: He admits that gaming and scrolling became his way to numb out and regulate emotions.
- 00:03:51 – The Waterfall Analogy: Brandon shares a mentor’s picture of how entertainment only pauses anxiety but never resolves it.
- 00:04:47 – Rest vs. Entertainment: Caitlyn challenges the idea that zoning out with screens equals rest, calling it avoidance.
- 00:07:01 – Running from Emotions: She explains how people chase addictions to avoid the emotions they don’t want to face.
- 00:09:21 – The Real Struggle in Marriage: Brandon reflects on how marriage and kids amplified his anxiety by removing alone time.
- 00:13:00 – Panic at the Airport: He recounts collapsing in Portland Airport under stress, marking a breaking point.
- 00:14:07 – Emotional Illiteracy in Childhood: Caitlyn highlights how many weren’t taught to name or process emotions growing up.
- 00:19:02 – A Turning Point: Brandon introduces “deliberate practice in a controlled environment” as a key to healing.
- 00:20:00 – Emotional Response Training: He describes his daily practices—cold showers, breathwork, and miming—that reshaped responses.
- 00:23:00 – From Anxiety to Rest: Through embodiment routines, Brandon learned to find calm and see Caitlyn’s strength as support.
- 00:28:03 – Simplicity of Healing: They close by showing how simple practices and rewired beliefs unlock peace and freedom.
