Living with an Anxiety Disorder
The Body's Response to Stress By now, everyone has heard of the body's fight or flight response. This is a normal response to STRESS. The body releases stress hormones to get itself ready to deal with the perceived threat. These hormones energize the body, elevate the heart rate and TIGHTEN THE MUSCLES, in addition to… Continue reading Anxiety is a Pain in the Neck!
Exercise Reduces Anxiety One of the natural ways to reduce anxiety, is exercise. In my twenties, I exercised A LOT. I went to a gym twice a day and was in great shape. Is it a coincidence that during that time, I barely had ANY panic attacks? I think not. I know that exercise will… Continue reading Exercising for Anxiety
Gut Health So I’m testing out a theory and trying a nutrition program that heals “the gut”. The premise is that if you heal your gut, your stomach will produce more of the neurotransmitter, serotonin. My anxiety disorder appears to stem from a deficiency in this neurotransmitter. Heal the gut, produce more serotonin and cure the… Continue reading What the Gut?
These pictures were taken in the Summer of 2011. Four months earlier, I was on short term disability with Agoraphobia, which is basically a fear of places and situations that might cause panic. For me, it was every situation and every place! That meant I literally couldn’t leave my house! Luckily, with the help of… Continue reading Is Your Normal Really Abnormal?
Anxiety disorders are linked to low levels of Serotonin. Serotonin is a chemical and neurotransmitter in the body. Serotonin regulates: mood and social behavior appetite and digestion sleep memory sexual desire and function There is a link between low serotonin levels and anxiety and depression. For this reason, one way to control an anxiety disorder… Continue reading Why You are Losing the Anxiety Battle!
11/1/11 marked the one year anniversary of THE panic attack. When these pictures were taken I had been on medication for a little less than one year. My husband is a fireman and when he is on shift, it is 24 hours. I was able to take the kids “trick or treating” on Halloween and… Continue reading Happy 1 Year Panic-versary!!
During my worst days, my Xanax intake looked something like this: 2:00am: Wake up in a panic and take a Xanax. 6:00am: At exactly 4 hours, the sensations would start coming back. At this time, the kids were up and I needed to function and pretend I was fine. I would take another one. 12:00pm:… Continue reading Was I Addicted to Xanax?
On May 21, 2011, I had been on medication for 4 months. I woke up fine that day. It was literally the first day I had slept through the night, since THE panic attack and the first day I had woken up without trembling, or a nervous stomach, in about 7 months. Just one week… Continue reading Soaring at Epcot
Growing up, I vaguely remember hearing my grandmother talking on the phone about other family members. It seemed everyone had "una enfermedad de los nervios". Translation: a condition that affected the nervous system (anxiety). Also, growing up, I heard stories about how wonderful the old pre-Castro Cuba was. It seemed Cubans were always having a… Continue reading My Theory on Cubans and Anxiety
When someone has Agoraphobia, the fears are somewhat irrational. Knowing that, doesn’t change the fear. If someone would say “you have nothing to be afraid of”, I would think “NO SHIT!” I knew there was nothing to be afraid of, but it didn’t matter. There is no “off” switch. The sensations are just there. One… Continue reading Short Stories – Walgreens
