Winning the battle!

After several sessions of hypnotherapy, I finally started to feel as though I were making progress in my battle with an anxiety disorder. I was much calmer and I noticed the way I approached my anxiety was changing.  Through hypnotherapy, I was taught how to will myself through difficult situations that at one time paralyzed me.

I began to look at my anxiety as a pesky friend that would probably in some way, shape or form always be in my life; however, it was now something that I could deal with.  I began to understand my anxiety. That panicky feeling I described in my first two blogs, where I thought I was going to toss my cookies at any moment, no longer consumed me.  If I found myself heading in that direction I would stop and breathe.  Breath is one of the most important things for obvious reasons.  When I felt anxiety creeping in the first thing I would do was stop and breathe – long, slow, deep breaths.  Then I would remember my place of quiet comfort on the beach with the warm sun on my back as I floated on the open water.  Most importantly I began to bring myself back to the present moment and focus on where I was and what I was doing.  That helped to stop the panic.

I decided to start looking at my anxiety as a strength and not a weakness.  Many people might wonder how the heck I could ever do that.  Anxiety did cause me negative emotion; however, it also shaped my character and helped me to be the person that I am today.  I mentioned in my first blog that I wear my anxiety as a badge of honor.  I now look back on my experience as one of great courage and strength.  I have endured and overcome obstacles that many people may not have been able to.  Now when I face a situation that may seem unbearable, I remember all that I endured and how I overcame.

In life there are times when you have to shift your perspective and look at things through different eyes.   I learned that I had to embrace my anxiety disorder and accept it.  This was one of the best ways to conquer it.  I had to accept the fact that the panicky feelings could and probably would creep in. 

Once I had realized that an anxiety attack was not going to kill me, and I learned skills to deal and overcome anxiety, I was able to do the things at one time I dreaded doing.  Essentially I got my life back.  No more fear in doing the simplest of tasks, no more excuses that left me with nothing but regret and guilt.  I learned that the old saying “there is nothing to fear but fear itself” could not be truer. 

Until next time,

Andrea