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The First Sign of Anxiety

The first sign of anxiety

It wasn’t until I went through a dark time in my life, full of anxiety and panic and then recovered, that I was able to recognize the first sign of anxiety. Anxiety consists of countless symptoms. Most of which are symptoms of other ailments. Due to this, anxiety increases and more symptoms arise because we worry about what each and every symptom could be. Rarely are we ever satisfied with knowing that what we are experiencing can truly be caused by anxiety alone.

Mental disorder?

We tend to think of anxiety as a mental disorder. While it is primarily a mental health challenge, I can attest that anxiety is very physical as well. Name any bodily sensation you can think of or have ever experienced. Most likely. someone has or is experiencing that as a result of anxiety right now.

A few common symptoms associated with anxiety are headache, dizziness, blurry vison, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, stomach cramps, muscle knots, nerve pain, tingling, hot and/or cold flashes and the list goes on.

What is the first sign of anxiety?

On the surface, the answer is not as clear as you may have hoped. The answer to that question is that it depends. Everyone is different and will respond in their own way to stress. One thing I can tell you is that our bodies tend to have a great memory which means that some symptoms will be patterns. While it may not seem so, this can be beneficial. Don’t worry that you will be stuck with your worst symptoms returning over and over, because with work, you can change how your body responds.

How do you figure out what your first sign of anxiety is?

Pay attention to the patterns of symptoms and your mental health. Notice which sensations ease when you are at peace and notice if they ramp up when you are more anxious.

What if you can’t find any peace?

If you are struggling to have peaceful moments at all, my advice is to accept that your symptoms very well could be a result of anxiety and nothing else. Especially, if you have visited a health care professional and tests have come back clear, accept that nothing more than anxiety could be the cause of whatever is making you worry. Don’t continue chasing a diagnosis. Read this post for more about medical visits with anxiety, or check out more on anxiety loops here.

The best weapon to beat anxiety

The best weapon to beat anxiety is acceptance. The more you accept that your anxiety can cause your symptoms, the more peace you will find. I promise, you can truly believe you are dying based on your symptoms, but they may very well be a result of your anxiety. Once you accept this, your mind will discover some peace and your symptoms that are the result of anxiety will begin to let go. The best weapon to beat anxiety is acceptance. Some symptoms will take time to recover. Be patient and focus on the peaceful moments you are beginning to achieve.

Noticing the signs

Once you have found some peace, if you pay attention, you may notice physical symptoms long before the mental. This is a good thing because we are so strong from surviving anxiety that we can absolutely handle the physical and get to work easing the mental before it ramps up. In turn, that eases the physical symptoms.

For me, the first sign of anxiety is full-body muscle tension that is most extreme in my back, shoulders, and neck, along with digestive changes. Once I realize what is happening, I focus on nurturing my mental health and comforting my body. Stick around to find out more about how I respond once I notice the first sign of anxiety. Subscribe to be notified when a new post is published.

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It’s easy to mistake God’s silence for His absence, but remember this: silence is not a sign of distance; it’s often a space for growth, reflection, and deeper connection.

✨ When He was on the cross, YOU were on His mind. ✨

**Feeling Anxious? Here’s Your First Sign!**

We often find ourselves trying to control the chaos around us, battling the storms that seem relentless. But what if I told you the key isn’t in calming the storm, but in calming yourself?

Have you ever felt like your thoughts are running the show? We’ve all been there—caught in a whirlwind of worries, doubts, and what-ifs. But here’s the truth: YOU are not your thoughts!

🌟✨ Life can sometimes feel like too much, can't it? The weight of our worries, the chaos of our days, and the hurdles that seem insurmountable can leave us feeling overwhelmed. But here’s the beautiful truth: what feels like too much for us is never too much for Him. 🙏💖

🌟✨ Your feelings matter, even if nobody else understands them. ✨🌟

Self Help

Calm the Nervous System: 4 Quick Ways

4 Quick Ways to Calm the Nervous System

Before we get into quick ways to calm the nervous system, let’s go over what the nervous system is. The nervous system is made up of the brain, spinal cord, and a complex network of nerves that affect the entire body. It is the system that sends messages back and forth between the brain and body. Very simply, the nervous system connects your mind and body. Regulating the nervous system can help reduce pain, calm the mind, and release stress from your body.

1. Here is a quick self-regulating exercise to calm the nervous system using your senses.

Name:

5 things you can see

4 things you can feel

3 things you can hear

eyes looking — Photo by Marina Vitale on Unsplash

A hand feels water to calm the nervous system — Photo by Nicholas Ng on Unsplash

hearing the sound of rain to calm the nervous system — Photo by A A on Unsplash

(Optional)

Continue by naming:

something you smell

something you taste

2. Touch

Snuggle

Snuggling with your pet or child can be comforting. Let yourself notice their breathing and yours may slow to a similar pace, as well as calm your heart rate.

Hold Hands

You can also try holding hands with a loved one.

Hug

Hugs are my favorite and quickly bring me so much comfort. I recently explained to my husband, Do you know that feeling when the bed feels so extraordinarily comfortable? That is what I feel in your arms.” I am so blessed! I refuse to accept that blessing without immense gratitude. It may sound silly, but, wrapping your arms around yourself and closing your eyes to soak it in can be very helpful too! In fact, there are many things you can do on your own using your sense of touch to calm your nervous system. Trace a finger on your skin, stroke your arms, clasp your hands, or rub your hands slowly back and forth. Tapping is another great tool that we will discuss later.

man hugging dog which regulates the nervous system — Photo by Cynthia Smith on Unsplash

3. Change Temperature

I always think of my friend and doula telling me, when you are showing signs of labor, do the opposite of what you are doing and see if anything changes. Regarding labor, the idea is that if you are having contractions, doing the opposite of what you are currently doing, such as eating something, getting up and walking around, taking a bath, etc., will either let the contractions continue or they will stop if your body is not in true labor. Along the same lines, if my mind and body are overwhelmed and on the edge of panic, I seek cold. Likely because I am hot-natured. Whether it is cold or warm, find what works for you.

Warm

A warm bubble bath might be what your body craves. While bubbles are typical for a bath, you can switch it up with Epsom salts and essential oils to help you relax.

woman relaxing in a bath — Photo by Tanner Vote on Unsplash

Cold

For me, cold usually helps snap me back into a place where my mind and body are more cohesively working together. There are many ways to accomplish this. A cold bottle of water in my hands, touching an ice pack, a cool cloth on my neck, or cold air on my skin. I will stand in the shower and switch the water to cold. If it is too intense, start slow, ease the water cooler.

Alternate Temps

You can even switch between the warm and cold water. As a kid, did you ever get in the hot tub just long enough to jump in the pool so that it made the pool feel much colder? That is the feeling, the release of endorphins. I am thankful to live in a place that gets cold enough for snow and, very much, enjoy quick barefoot walks in the snow as well. Many times I employ these methods when the need is high, other times, simply to keep my body and mind in tune.

4. Focused breathing

There are many types of breathing exercises that are very beneficial. We will discuss a variety of these later. You hear people say all the time, “Take a deep breath.” We tend to hold our breath when faced with fear, stress, or worry. It is a natural reaction. Taking a deep breath is a little more than what it sounds like. Yes, when we hold our breath, we need to replace that oxygen throughout our bodies. However, we also need to release carbon dioxide with a slow strong exhale as well.

I spent many days breathing my way through them. Of course, breathing is an involuntary action and we won’t just stop if we don’t think about it. I was stuck in a state of stress, my body was tense, and my mind was keeping a tight leash on the rise and fall of each breath. Shallow breathing only causes more tension in the body and leaves you exhausted. I will share with you the most simple form of breathing that you can remember and do anywhere to calm yourself.

Try This

This is my most used breathing technique. Start by exhaling fully. Then, take a strong deep breath in, completely filling your lungs, expanding your belly and chest fully until you can not take in any more air. Then slowly force the air out of your body from the back of your throat until you can not expel any more air. I like to count how long it takes me to fill myself with oxygen and then double that count for the slow exhale.

To go one step further with this, focus on that fresh cleansing oxygen coming in and reaching every nook and cranny in your body and mind while washing out every little bit of tension and negativity as you release it all in your slow forceful exhale. Stop right now and try it. Let me know how it makes you feel in the comments. Sometimes the exhale is blissful.

Practice these methods anytime your mind and body feel out of sync or for a quick tune-up. Let me know in the comments what works for you.

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Health Anxiety

Navigating a Doctor’s Appointment with Health Anxiety

How do you manage a medical appointment when you are dealing with health anxiety?

Medical appointments can be daunting when you are dealing with health anxiety. Before we discuss appointment management, read about what health anxiety is here.

You are not alone

Health anxiety is more common than you may think.

Be kind to yourself when preparing for an appointment if you are dealing with health anxiety

The following are some ideas that might make you feel more comfortable:

Think before you schedule

Ask yourself if you will feel better visiting the doctor and/or testing to rule something out.

Photo by Obi – @pixel9propics on Unsplash

If your test confirms the worst how can you prepare ahead of time to handle that news? In some cases it is best to receive a diagnosis because treatment can begin. Other times you may decide that it will only cause more unnecessary stress, anxiety, and worry.

Choose your doctor wisely

Do some research before choosing a doctor. Ask for referrals. Read reviews about the office, staff, and doctor. Pay attention to any reviews that refer to patient interactions and bedside manner.

Be Honest

Tell the staff and doctor that you have health anxiety. If you know your triggers, explain them to the staff and doctor. For example, maybe you prefer not to hear possible symptoms because your anxiety will start searching for and noticing these symptoms.

Be your own advocate

This goes right along with being honest. Protect yourself. Tell the doctor what you need from them. Remember you are paying them for their services.

Make a list

Make a list of your medications and concerns to take with you to the appointment. This will help you stay on topic, not forget anything, and make the time spent at the appointment more efficient.

Choose your appointment

angle-shot-of-a-person-making-a-zoom-call-to-a-doctor-using-a-tablet-computer-8376167/ — Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko: https://www.pexels.com/photo/high-

If you have the option of telehealth and it feels like the best option for you, schedule a telehealth appointment. If sitting in the waiting room increases your anxiety, an early appointment may be beneficial. It is more likely that your appointment will be on time earlier in the day.

You can also check in and tell the staff you will be waiting just outside the door.

Consider bringing a support person

Bringing a friend or family member to your appointment can help you feel more comfortable.

Your support person can help distract you in the waiting room. If they accompany you in the room during your appointment they can also serve to hear what the doctor is saying without the interference of your anxiety. After the appointment, you can discuss, with your support person, what was communicated during the visit. Anxiety has a way of twisting the truth.

Accept that your readings may be high

Anxiety can cause your heart rate and blood pressure to be higher than usual. White coat syndrome is common even in people who don’t typically deal with anxiety. White Coat syndrome is the term that refers to elevated blood pressure readings due to the stress of visiting a healthcare establishment. White Coat Syndrome can also affect your reading simply by being concerned that it might be high.

Manage White Coat Syndrome

Managing White Coat Syndrome includes avoiding stimulants and relaxation techniques. Stimulants that should be avoided before your appointment include caffeine, smoking, and alcohol. Arrive early for your appointment in an attempt to remain more relaxed. Stay calm and breathe slowly and deeply. Remind the staff and doctor that you expect your readings to be elevated. Distract yourself during the reading. This could be a good time to put your support person to work. Ask them to talk to you about something random to distract you. Better yet, maybe a topic that will give you a pleasant feeling.

Avoid MyChart

Although you may have to sign in on MyChart for a telehealth appointment, avoid browsing. Health anxiety can very quickly trigger panic. There can be so many notes on appointments and tests that are clinical, not easily understood, and instead result in immediate anxiety. It is best to just avoid it.

Do not consult Dr. Google

I will say this time and time again, avoid Dr. Google. When it comes to health anxiety there is nothing good that I have found that from googling your symptoms, diagnosis, or medication. Instead, you will find plenty of horrific information that only makes you worry unnecessarily. Remember most health information comes with warnings to protect the individual(s) sharing the information. If you are feeling brave and choose to Google, remind yourself that these are disclaimers.

Accept the results

If you receive the all-clear from a test, accept the results and allow yourself to stop worrying. Don’t continue to chase a diagnosis that is not there. If you receive a diagnosis, focus on making a plan on how to deal with the results. Get a second opinion if necessary. This may be especially helpful when making a treatment plan. Find support from health professionals, support groups, friends, family, a therapist, and most of all, God.

Let yourself be

Let yourself be whatever you are: anxious, nervous, scared, calm, or numb. Just acknowledge how you feel but do not give it power.

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Health Anxiety

What is health anxiety?

First the formal answer. Health anxiety or hypochondriasis is a mental health condition characterized by excessive and persistent worry about one’s health.

Health anxiety is extreme worry over everything regarding your body. This includes worry that you are sick or will become sick. Many also fear taking vitamins, supplements, over-the-counter medications, and prescriptions. Every little ache, pain, spot, symptom, etc. that you notice starts with concern that builds quickly into worry and can manifest into all-out panic and fear for one’s life. Anxiety itself causes endless symptoms. Much like most other illnesses, symptoms overlap. It is easy to see why someone could worry over a symptom that very well may be caused by and exacerbated by anxiety. It is a vicious cycle. Notice something, become concerned, overthink, worry, symptoms increase spread or change, panic sets in, become concerned about new symptoms while panicking, and so on.

A real life example

You finally relax on the couch for the night after a long day. You notice your heart beating quickly. Concern. Is it beating faster than it should be? Overthink. Is my heart working too hard? Worry. Tension builds and your chest begins to feel tight. Anxiety sets in and you feel weak and breathless. Symptoms increase spread or change.

Continuing to focus on your heart beating fast, your chest feels tight and heavy. You try to catch your breath and check your pulse. Panic sets in. Am I having a heart attack? Why do my arms feel tingly? Concern and panic. Should I go to the hospital? Am I going to die? I am going to die!

These are not just passing thoughts the person really believes something is terribly wrong. Anxiety symptoms are numerous and very real. Health anxiety can be extreme and interfere with day-to-day life. The worry of being sick or getting sick becomes obsessive and can take over your life. Health anxiety makes you feel helpless and leaves you hopeless.

Can Health anxiety be cured?

Yes! There is hope! I personally have suffered from severe debilitating health anxiety. There were definitely times in the depths of it all that I thought I was going to die. Occasionally I have to work harder and use my tools more to stay strong but it no longer affects me daily. If you or someone you know is dealing with health anxiety, I promise you that it does not have to be this way forever.

Know Your Triggers

What is a Trigger?

What is a trigger and how can you know what your triggers are? A trigger is something that triggers a response. Has a song ever affected your mood even for a little while? Pay attention to how you feel physically and mentally and when you started to feel that way. Notice what took place at that time. This will help you know your triggers. All day long every day we are affected by little things in positive and negative ways. Here we are focusing on how we can remove negative triggers as a form of self-love. Triggers tend to repeat the same response. This is why we should try to recognize and remove our negative triggers when we are able to. Below are some suggestions.

Turn Off the News

How often do you feel good after watching the news?

Photo by Amanna Avena on Unsplash

Uplifting news features are rare. You could avoid seeing and hearing so many negative and sad stories, not to mention all the ugly attacks. You might just find that you still hear about some of those good things too. Hopefully you surround yourself with people who discuss the uplifting reports. More on that below.

You Are Who Your Friends Are

Be choosy about who you surround yourself with. Negative people will bring you down. Sometimes it is not possible to completely avoid these people, however, you can limit your time with them or direct the conversations when you are around them. Do not be afraid to speak up and tell people that you wish to avoid discussing things that are triggering for you.

Unfollow Accounts

Scrolling through social media is a slippery slope. Unfollow accounts that don’t make you feel good. Learn how to create a feel-good feed here.

Stop Weighing Yourself

If you feel terrible after stepping on the scale, don’t do it!

Photo by i yunmai on Unsplash

Speak up at the doctor’s office and tell them you wish to avoid the scale unless it is necessary to prescribe medication. Learn about the Health At Every Size movement (HAES).

Eat for Health

This doesn’t mean eating “health food” but it does mean eating healthy food. What is healthy? For now, let’s just say, eat what makes your body feel good and be honest with yourself. Does that comfort food really feel good and comfortable in the end?

Limit your caffeine intake

I noticed I was having heart palpitations every night when I tried to relax. My morning coffee was to blame.

Photo by Mayur on Unsplash

For someone who loves coffee, this was a tough one at first. What I realized is that I love the taste of coffee, not the caffeine. Considering that most of my life I have enjoyed my coffee black, it truly was the taste for me. I began drinking decaf coffee but you could switch to decaffeinated tea if you prefer. If you are a pop/soda drinker you can switch to decaffeinated versions too.

Mute the Commercials

If you are someone with health anxiety, do yourself a favor and avoid all those drug advertisements. If you can’t avoid them, remind yourself that they make their money from selling you, their drug. This is fearmongering at its finest. I have been forced to choose my seat in the waiting room strategically or close my eyes to avoid educational displays in medical offices. I have also been forced to wear earbuds and listen to a relaxing playlist while waiting to manage while an educational video discussing symptoms repeated over and over which was extremely triggering for me at the time. It’s amazing the things you can believe are wrong with you simply be hearing things

Start Today

Notice when your mood changes or if physical stress symptoms begin. Think about when those changes began. Many times when the trigger comes to mind you will notice an immediate response if you are focused on it. This is how you will know your triggers. What changes will you start with? Comment below what is working for you.

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Self Help

Multiple Social Media Accounts

Do you have multiple social media accounts?

It might be time to create a few more.

You are what you eat = You are what you consume

It is easy to find yourself mindlessly scrolling through social media. Even worse, is when you find yourself down a rabbit hole from what you have seen or read on social media. If either of these situations are common for you, it might be time to make changes.

Do you find yourself triggered by what you are seeing or reading on social media? Just like we may choose to clean up our diet, we can benefit from cleaning up our feeds.

Create and switch between another profile

If you don’t want to completely overhaul your social media feed, consider creating a second account on the same platform. To do this follow the instructions for the social platform you want to create the additional account on. Typically, clicking on your profile or picture will allow you to add a new account. You can then access your social media accounts and switch between them by clicking on the profile or profile picture again.

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/help/5637701596308695

From your main profile, click your profile photo in the top right of Facebook.
Click See all profiles.
Click Create new profile or Page.
Select Personal profile and click Next.
Click Get started and follow the instructions on screen to create your profile.

Instagram

https://help.instagram.com/589697191199472/?helpref=hc_fnav

Open the Instagram app.
Tap Profile or your profile picture in the bottom right to go to your profile.
Tap your profile name at the top right.
Tap Add Instagram account.
Tap Create new account.
Enter your new profile name, then tap Next.
Tap Continue to add the new profile to your Accounts Center
1. Note: You can choose to create a password for this new profile if you don’t want to add it to Accounts Center.
Tap Continue, then tap Yes, continue.
Tap Complete sign up.

X

https://help.x.com/en/managing-your-account/managing-multiple-x-accounts

The X help center says If you have more than one X account, it’s simple to add and access them from your X for iOS or Android app, and on desktop, mobile.X.com, X Lite, and X for Windows.

Create a Feel Good Feed

Once you create your new account, only follow profiles that are pleasant, uplifting, or inspirational. The algorithms are smart, only spend time on things you want to see more of. I promise, you will be amazed at how much better you feel when scrolling. It is hard to be mindless when your feed is full of self-care. This is a great tool to have in your pocket when you need help relaxing or a pick-me-up. There are some amazing accounts that are full of support for whatever your need may be. Find what resonates with you.

Feel free to share in the comments your favorite new accounts to follow.

I would be honored if you follow me on your new clean feed accounts!

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Uncategorized

Buffalo or Bison

Have you Ever Seen a Buffalo?

If you live in America and think you have seen a buffalo, most likely, it was not a buffalo but instead a bison. Buffalo are not native to North America. Bison are often referred to as American Buffalo however, they are not buffalo at all. Early settlers called the American bison, “bufello” due to some similarities between it and the well-known buffalo species. True buffalo are African Cape Buffalo (Syncerus caffer). The closest living relative of the African Cape Buffalo is the Asian Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalus).

Classification

The tribe Bovini includes cattle, bison, and buffalo. True buffalo are classified as the subtribe Bubalina, whereas American Bison (Bison bison) and European Bison (Bison bonasus) are Bovina. Both Bubalina and Bovina are separate subtribes within the Bovidae family.

Size Difference

The largest land mammals in North America, bison are majestic animals. Standing 6 feet tall at the shoulder, adult males weigh about 2000 lbs. and females 1000 lbs. Cape Buffalo are slightly smaller and water buffalo slightly larger than bison. All live in groups called herds. Mothers with their offspring and male groups. Water buffalo herds include 10-30. Bison and Cape Buffalo herds are made up of tens to thousands. They are all extremely protective of their young.

Horns

Buffalo have heads similar to cattle. Fully grown African Cape bulls have large upward sweeping horns up to 3 feet wide meeting in the middle to form a bony shield or helmet called a boss. The females do not develop the boss and have smaller upward-pointing horns. Asian water buffalo have similar-shaped horns and can measure up to 6 feet wide in both males and females. Bison have larger heads and shorter sharper horns than buffalo. They are more agile, unpredictable, and aggressive than buffalo.

Coat

Bison survive and thrive in harsh conditions. They have beards and thick shaggy fur that helps them endure extreme cold. African cape buffalo live in warmer climates and have a smooth coat with short thin hair. Bison have a larger head and a prominent hump near their shoulders which helps them plow through snowstorms.

Photo by Daniel Lloyd Blunk-Fernández on Unsplash

Amazing Instincts

Unlike cattle, who huddle together and attempt to run away, both Bison and Buffalo run directly into storms that come their way. Instinct tells them this will get them through more quickly with less suffering. Bison and Cape Buffalo can run nearly 40 mph. Not only does instinct help them face a storm head-on but their natural drive to get through faster helps with endurance. They can continue running at high speeds for several hours.

Bison are my spirit animal.

Bison are tough, confident, and thrive in harsh conditions. Everything I strive to be in difficult situations. Being more scrappy than true buffalo, bison, “American buffalo” are my spirit animal. Troubles and challenging times come and go in life, why not choose to face them head-on and learn to thrive in our own harsh conditions with confidence?

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Fear

Be like the Buffalo: The Buffalo is my Spirit…

My spirit animal is the buffalo. I live my life trying to be like buffalo. Why?

I have learned a valuable lesson from buffalo.

Before the Storm

What instincts do animals have in storms? Animals have keen senses and can often detect changes in weather. Anything from changes in barometric pressure to premature vibrations from an earthquake. Animals tend to exhibit strange behavior as storms approach such as agitation, pacing, or hiding. When barometric pressure drops it often indicates a storm is on the way.

If we are observant, we can begin to notice similar changes in ourselves or those around us as our own storms approach. That tension in your neck and shoulders, why is there? Do you find yourself yawning or sighing more than usual? Maybe you are beginning to take more shallow breaths and your body needs oxygen.

When the Storm is in Sight

As the storm rolls in many animals hide, hunker down and prepare to endure the storm. Some choose to turn and run away which only prolongs the amount of time they suffer the effects of the storm.

When we make our own connection to what is bothering us, we may become agitated, stressed, or anxious. As we try to seek shelter from our own storm, typically the symptoms in our bodies increase as well. The tension in our neck and shoulders gets worse as a pounding headache takes hold. The extra yawning and sighing may become accompanied by feeling lightheaded or dizzy, maybe even blurred vision. Our heart rate increases, we may feel sick to our stomachs, and all this leaves us extra exhausted. Not a great position to be in when facing a storm.

A black and white photo. The background is a brick wall with a dark border at the bottom of the wall. In front of the dark area sits a wet bird fluffed up, sitting on what looks to be a flooded road. The bird is sitting in the open during a rainstorm, enduring the rain falling upon it. Raindrops are splashing into the wet road all around the bird.

The Storm

No matter if we choose to run from our storms or try to seek shelter, the storm will still come upon us time and time again with all the strength that has built up inside. This takes a toll on our mind and bodies and keeps us in a heighted sense of stress. The longer the storm lasts the more the effects on us snowball. What if there was a different way to handle the storm?

We can learn so much from the buffalo. Instead of hunkering down to endure what is coming their way or turning to run away and prolonging the agony, buffalo charge directly into the storm. Are they nervous? Maybe. However, they are fueled by their instinct that tells them storms won’t stop coming but there is a way to lessen the effects and shorten the time spent suffering. Hunkering down, hiding, or trying to run away may cause us to be petrified. Instead, charge directly into the storm with the strength that knowing it will be over soon can fuel inside. Face storms head-on. You cannot stop the storms but you can control how you respond to them. That should empower you!

Be like the Buffalo!

The side view of a buffalo (bison) covered in snow moving forward across the snowy landscape from left to right, heading into the snowstorm. — Photo by Daniel Lloyd Blunk-Fernández on Unsplash

“Buffalo” mentioned above refers to American Buffalo who are not really buffalo at all.

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Anxiety

From Surviving to Living: A battle with anxiety.

Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@sseeker?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash">Stormseeker</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/a-person-drowns-underwater-rX12B5uX7QM?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash">Unsplash</a>

Surrounded by crushing darkness every moment of every day.

A Battle with Anxiety

Surrounded by crushing darkness every moment of every day. Forced to spend every ounce of energy on simply being while desperately grasping to connect to life happening all around and, with great regret, passing by. Every sound, sensation, word, flooding in with debilitating panic. Suffocating inside myself. Death beating on the door leaving behind extreme mental and physical exhaustion. Desperate to live and stop simply surviving. This is a small glimpse into the anxiety and panic I have battled with.

A woman without a smile on her face, sitting in darkness while hugging her knees to her chest. There is a shadow across her face and body. This represents the crushing darkness of anxiety. — Photo by Alexander Krivitskiy on Unsplash

Understanding Anxiety

One cannot truly understand anxiety unless they have experienced it in some form. Life happens around you while you are forced to remain focused on putting one foot in front of the other. From the outside it seems so simple as if someone could choose another thought or feeling. Someone who doesn’t understand and wants to help may suggest that you just relax or tell you, “don’t worry it will all be okay”. If only we could not worry and believe everything would be okay.

A woman with mascara-smudged eyes holding a paper in front of her mouth that has a smile drawn on it. This represents the desire to choose another emotion, such as happiness, while dealing with anxiety and panic. — Photo by Sydney Sims on Unsplash

Photo by Marcos Paulo Prado on Unsplash

Surviving Anxiety

I have discovered that while we are chained to looking in to survive there is an alternate existence that seems unattainable.

It is there just waiting for us to be ready, when we can finally look out to LIVE life.

I remain immensely thankful for every bit of support I receive while feeling like a burden. I have felt so weak and helpless. Finally, coming to the realization that I may feel helpless and incredibly weak but am the absolute opposite.

A beautiful black and white photo of a majestic-looking lion's face and mane. Evoking a sense of strength and calmness. — Photo by Dustin Humes on Unsplash

Nobody surviving anxiety and panic is anything less than a warrior!

Anxiety Recovery

It takes the greatest strength one could possibly possess. Many people don’t think they could ever be that strong until it is the only option you have left. This is finding hope. Unwinding the knots, changing the gaze from in to out and moving from surviving to living. This is finding joy. Recognizing hope and joy and believing that life can be more than anxiety and panic that is seeking peace.

Sunset at a beach that is filled with rocks near the shore. A woman stands, soaking up the sun shining upon her. Her arms are outstretched to her sides at shoulder height as her hands and fingers flex further outstretched behind her as if she was flying. The whole scene is washed out by the glow of the sun upon the woman, creating a sense of freedom, peace, and gratefulness. — Photo by Fuu J on Unsplash

Living with Anxiety

Today I live mostly in peace and am eternally grateful for every moment of that sweet relief. Spoiler, anxiety doesn’t just go away however it can be a part of you that you no longer allow to have the power it once did.

That is the greatest battle I have won.

I remain steady in His peace as I run each day into the storm. How did I get here? Stay tuned for more about that and the things I find joy, hope and peace in, each day. Please subscribe.

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The First Sign of Anxiety

Into the Storm

•

April 11, 2025

The first sign of anxiety

Mental disorder?

What is the first sign of anxiety?

How do you figure out what your first sign of anxiety is?

What if you can’t find any peace?

The best weapon to beat anxiety

Noticing the signs

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4 Quick Ways to Calm the Nervous System

1. Here is a quick self-regulating exercise to calm the nervous system using your senses.

Name:

(Optional)

2. Touch

Snuggle

Hold Hands

Hug

3. Change Temperature

Warm

Cold

Alternate Temps

4. Focused breathing

Try This

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How do you manage a medical appointment when you are dealing with health anxiety?

You are not alone

Be kind to yourself when preparing for an appointment if you are dealing with health anxiety

Think before you schedule

Choose your doctor wisely

Be Honest

Be your own advocate

Make a list

Choose your appointment

Consider bringing a support person

Accept that your readings may be high

Manage White Coat Syndrome

Avoid MyChart

Do not consult Dr. Google

Accept the results

Let yourself be

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What is health anxiety?

A real life example

Can Health anxiety be cured?

More on how to cope is coming soon.

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What is a Trigger?

Start Today

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You are what you eat = You are what you consume

Create and switch between another profile

Facebook

Instagram

X

Create a Feel Good Feed

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Have you Ever Seen a Buffalo?

Classification

Size Difference

Horns

Coat

Amazing Instincts

Bison are my spirit animal.

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Before the Storm

When the Storm is in Sight

The Storm

Be like the Buffalo!

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Surrounded by crushing darkness every moment of every day.

A Battle with Anxiety

Understanding Anxiety

Surviving Anxiety

It is there just waiting for us to be ready, when we can finally look out to LIVE life.

Nobody surviving anxiety and panic is anything less than a warrior!

Anxiety Recovery

Living with Anxiety

That is the greatest battle I have won.

I remain steady in His peace as I run each day into the storm. How did I get here? Stay tuned for more about that and the things I find joy, hope and peace in, each day. Please subscribe.

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