Is Anxiety your dirty little secret?
Why is it that so many of us need to keep this horrible little head f*** a secret? Afraid of what people may think of us... afraid of what your boss and colleagues may think of you? Friends and family, just don't really understand.
Anyone who has not had anxiety simply doesn't understand.. & that's okay, they don't need to.
If this you..? I feel you! This used to be me too.
It wasn't until I almost collapsed in the Dr's, I couldn't breathe, felt like I was honestly going to die, I couldn't take in enough oxygen I was dizzy and crying my eyes out. No one understands, really understands unless they have been there!
So, I got put on a waiting list to see a therapist, meanwhile, here's some diazepam. These little bad boys were my safety net, I felt okay as long as these little pills were in my purse.
The panic attacks continued though, I was off my work with anxiety & stress, I felt shamed and embarrassed. I thought my colleagues would be talking about me, that I couldn't handle things, there was no way my boss was going to give me that promotion now. What a let down.
When you have anxiety, you feel powerless, you are on an emotional rollercoaster and can't get off. Some days would be okay and the next thing BANG.
I couldn't understand why panic attacks happened when I was on a night out enjoying myself, having a great night with my girl friends, then BANG like a balloon popping, almost like anxiety is its own entity saying to you... "having fun are you? Not on my watch!"
It even happened when I was going to bed relaxing, then here it comes, shortness of breath, heart racing, Id reach for those little pills and eventually they'd kick in.
Pills didn't heal the problem, all they did was mask the the issue. They made me feel calm and woozy. I didn't want to rely on a drug to diffuse my emotional state.
This is no way to live, the impending fear of when is the next one going to bite! So I started staying in more, feel myself getting more depressed.
Eventually my appointment for the therapist came in. That woman taught me something really simple, which really worked for me. Perhaps it may help you too.
So, the minute, I started feeling slightly short of breath, I would pour myself a cup of water, focus on nothing but the water. If someone tried to speak to me, I ignored them, the phone, I ignored it, I just sat down, sipped and sipped and breathed until it passed... & it did.
That gave me self control. I no longer felt powerless, the fear of the impending doom of having a panic attack soon passed because I have learned how to control it. I prefer to use the word control, instead of manage, because managing something, feels like its always going to be there, where as if you are controlling it, you are taking all of its power!
Do not allow anyone to make you feel like anxiety should be your dirty little secret, kept hidden away. Anyone who is ignorant about it simply doesn't understand. Don't take it personally, I hope they never do understand.
Be you, unapologetically you, in all your beautiful flaws. You have power in you beyond your comprehension, all you have to do is learn how to tap into it and utilise your inner power.
I have since learned other simple, yet highly effective techniques which I use with my clients which really help.
Im really glad to say that don't suffer from that evil entity called anxiety, I have learned how to master my state, & utilise my own inner power. You too can learn how to do this.
Heres a little checklist (because I just love checklists :) of things that have have helped me become anxiety free.
1) Become aware of your self talk.
Are you self sabotaging yourself, putting yourself down? Your body is listening & responding to everything you are telling it.
3) Hypnosis
Hypnosis really helped me, that was one of the reasons I have became a cbt hypnotherapist. It helps your mind from a subconscious level, think healthier,