My Story
I woke up on my 19th birthday, and had my first panic attack. I didn’t know what was happening to me, I thought I was dying, I had lost control and it was terrifying. After calming down everything seemed to go back to normal so I carried on with my birthday and got in the car to go to town, not five minutes into the journey and again I was over come with these awful feelings, I was shaking, feeling sick, my heart was beating so fast I was sure it would explode and I had an overwhelming desire to run, get away, I wanted to be anywhere but in that car.
From that day onwards travelling became my biggest fear. What if it happens again? What if I’m stuck in a traffic jam and I can’t get away? What if I’m on the motorway and it starts and its miles till the next junction? My life turned into “WHAT IF?”
Over the next five years my life became a rollercoaster. I went through good times, bad times and unbearable times. I started learning new fears and phobias along the way. I became a fire warden at work and after a day’s training became terrified to leave any switch on when I left the house in case of fire. I couldn’t bare loud noises, I couldn’t even stand the sound of the TV through the floor if I was upstairs, the base sound would send terror though my body. I lived my life at a constant height of anxiety.
Throughout all of this I did maintain a good job and move my career forward, doing a NVQ and night classes. I read many self help books, thinking what great advice they were giving but never actually putting them in to practice.
Though 2005 things started to get very difficult for me, after a couple of bad experiences with some not very nice people, one of which bullied me so badly that I considered ending things, I began to think that the whole world was against me and take what people said to me the wrong way. I could find the negative in everything. Enough was enough, I couldn’t go on like this any longer, I searched the internet for help and came across Ian Banyard who helps people with fears and phobias, and even better who was in Cumbria.
Ian told me he doesn’t usually do home visits, however if I promised him that I would go to his clinic for my second session he would come to my house! I was desperate and I agreed, not even contemplating that I had agreed to make a 75 mile round trip. Session one and I could see the light at the end of the tunnel, session two and I blooming well did it, I drove there and I felt fantastic!! I have never looked back, my life has gone from strength to strength!
I have studied hard and have diplomas in NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming), Pet Psychology and Life Coaching. I have become a volunteer for Eden Mind and made them a leaflet to help people who suffer with Panic, Stress and Anxiety which has been distributed around all the local Doctors Surgeries. I have been on Radio Cumbria with Ian Banyard talking about my experience of agoraphobia and how I have turned my life around, and so many more achievements that I could be here all day!! I am very proud of the positive affirmations CD "SWYCHI YOUR THOUGHTS" I have released and created it with a true understanding of what anxious people need to hear!
Through my experience and understanding of Stress, Panic and Anxiety I now help others. You are not alone and talking to someone who has also suffered can be the first step to recovery. Make that step.... get in touch x
Some Common Signs & Symptoms of Stress, Panic & Anxiety
· Butterflies in your stomach and bodily tension
· Worries or concerns playing over and over in your head
· Unable to switch off at the end of the day
· Irritable and more short tempered than usual
· Constant worrying or feeling bothered by recurrent thoughts and behaviours
· Avoiding certain places or activities because they will make you unwell
· Sudden feelings of panic or fear
· Withdrawing from your friends and family
· Sweaty hands, shortness of breath and palpitations (rapid heart beat)
· Loss of appetite
· Lack of personal hygiene
· Loss of sex drive
· Overuse of alcohol or recreational drug to relax and unwind
When You Feel Anxiety Brewing
· Stand tall
· Shoulders back
· Head held high
· Place your fore finger of your right hand just below your belly button
· Press your second to last finger in to your tummy
· Take a deep breath in and concentrate on the point you are pressing on your tummy
· Breathe out as slowly as you can, still concentrating on the point
· Repeat slowly breathing in and out until you feel calm
Relaxation Exercise
1. Sit or lie somewhere comfortable and quiet where you won’t be disturbed for between 15 and 20 minutes
2. Close your eyes
3. Take in a slow deep breath to the count of 5 and slowly out to the count of 5 – repeat this 10 times, breathing in calm and breathing out your stresses
4. Starting at your feet, wriggle your toes and scrunch and stretch your feet then let them relax
5. Circle your ankles a few times then let them relax
6. Whilst you are doing this tensing then relaxing keep your mind focused on the part of the body you are working on
7. Tense your lower leg and relax, work your way up your body so that you tense each part and then let it relax
8. Thighs, buttocks, stomach, chest, shoulders, arms, hands, fingers, neck and even your face, screw it up in many different ways and then let it relax
9. This will release a lot of tension built up in your body
Practice doing this exercise as slowly as possible, your aim is for it to take at least 15 minutes. THE LONGER THE BETTER
Affirmations
I strongly believe in affirmations, and have released a CD to help you - SWYCHI YOUR THOUGHTS! An affirmation is a positive statement. You can find one that suits your situation and practice saying it to yourself. For example you could make yourself a poster, with nice bright cheerful colours saying:
“I CHOOSE MY MOOD AND I CHOOSE TO FEEL HAPPY AND HAVE A WONDERFUL POSITIVE DAY!”
If you put the poster next to your bed so it is the first thing you see in the morning, you will start your day off in a positive way instead of thinking “oh no, I have so much to do today, how will I get through it all………”. Before you get out of bed repeat the affirmation to yourself at least 10 times, either out loud or to yourself.
Have you tried?
· Lavender
Lavender is well known for its relaxing effects. Try putting lavender stones in a bowl on your bed side table and the smell of lavender will help to relax you. Or you could put a few drops on a hankie so that you can hold it under your nose whilst doing your breathing exercises.
· SmilingA great way to change your mood is to change what your body is doing. When you feel down you literally look down and when you feel good you hold your head up high. It is extremely hard to look up at the sky with a big smile on your face and feel down. So try it… next time you feel down put a big smile on your face, look up to the sky and feel your mood lift!!
·Pilates
Pilates offers a mindful approach to movement incorporating a slow and controlled technique, you are encouraged to learn to listen to your body. Over time you will tune in and be able to have a body that will 'work with you' and not 'against you'. A fabulous posture and the confidence that this will give you will make you feel wonderful! Not to mention all the stresses and toxins you are releasing, leaving your body and mind calm and relaxed.
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