monkey-mind-pills

[monkey-mind-pills]

Anxiety: The Body Remembers

What if I told you that traumas and stress are stored in our brains as memories of past events. Traumatic events are stored in your brain in a “state-dependent” fashion due to their emotional nature. They remain there, untouched until they surface vividly given the appropriate stimulus.

What I describe I didn’t invent myself. Scientists and Therapists have a name for it.

What is Somatic Memory?

People who have gone through some traumatic events hold implicit memories of past events. Memory is associated with PSTD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Flashbacks, Deja-vus, bad dreams, and startle responses are signs that the body of compromised individuals refuses to forget.

These recalling events are triggered by sensory interactions: aromas, songs, temperature, or visual cues. We can think of them as somatic (Soma=Body) memories.  

Can We Achieve Somatic Mindfulness?

Can we learn to ignore our nervous system? The “fight or flight” response of our bodies was created for a reason. Like a gas pedal in the car, this survival brain function provides the body with energy through a sudden blood rush and secretion of adrenaline hormones to respond to perceived dangers. It launches our bodies into “overdrive”.

The amygdala and the hypothalamus activate the sympathetic nervous system. It does sound very technical, but in essence: Bloodstream supplies the body with energy and prepares it for a dangerous situation. The question then remains: Can such process be... turned off? Bypassed? Or Ignored? 

The answer is yes, and no at the same time. Our bodies cannot be changed, at least not in the way we imagine. Body functions cannot be stopped, but how we relate to those processes can certainly be shaped with training. 

Imagine driving your car on the highway and loosing the breaks. What is your immediate response to the danger? Swerve? Hit a ditch? Zig zag? Your vehicle has lost one of his functions, but you are still in control. You do not control the breaks, but you do control everything else on-board of your vehicle. In theory, you could release the gas pedal, switch to neutral, and ride the “potential energy” until the friction slowdowns the car before stopping entirely at the shoulder.

I know it’s easier said than done. However, with training, you could potentially ride any anxiety attack. If you know what to look for.

Somatic Memory and it’s Relationship to Anxiety.

When dealing with my own anxiety, I found several stimuli that could potentially drive me into a panic state. I had the recollection of past events and knew what situations, places, or circumstances were more prone to cause me flashbacks. For a while, I was very susceptible to temperature changes. I feared suffocation, and as a result, I was always concerned about having a “climate control” strategy.

Certain places would also become active triggers. I could remember when and where a panic attack had taken place. What time of the day or in what room in my house everything took place. Entering specific spaces would cause me anxiety. When it was time to leave work and head home, I was already anxious about dealing with situations there.

The body remembers, and pretty much almost anything makes it remember. 

I soon realized I wasn’t going to stop my body from having reactions to specific triggers. It was unrealistic to think I would be able to eliminate anxiety, excitement, or nervousness. These are the functions we need to keep us safe. To keep us human. The game-plan laid out by my therapist was to offer a method to start systematic desensitization. Re-configure the way I would relate to memories, thoughts, and stimulus.

How to use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to deal with anxiety?

You see, the theory is simple. We need to address the negative patterns and distortions present in the way we look at the world. A specific room, the temperature on my AC, or particular activities were not my enemy. My distorted thoughts were.

“Our thoughts, not external events, affect the way we feel” 

Therapy can help you uncover the underlying causes of your worries and fears even though these are not always evident at first glance. Learning how to relax; look at situations in new, less frightening ways; and develop better coping and problem-solving skills.

I’ll go deep into Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques I have used here.

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Anxiety: You are only as sick as your secrets.

I always had a good relationship with my therapist. After the first couple of meetings, I felt she was more like my friend than my actual counselor. Friends, family, and therapists are always an excellent way to help you cope with your condition. While sick, it is common to find yourself talking to yourself, arguing over your illness details. You would be driven to create a statement and having yourself refute or concur with your thoughts. This is a double-edged sword.

I indeed received a tremendous amount of help from talking to my close ones. I noticed that talking allows me to express myself and finally get a real person on the other side, actually listening and challenging what you say.

I always felt, talking and sharing are great ways to assist you with your anxiety. During my illness, I would speak to my wife, family, and therapist about anything that I could think of. I would, in turn, hear what they had to say. Listening to what they observe, what they believe, and their own unique impressions about the whole situation. This was a 2-way street. I would articulate my thoughts and fears, and in turn, I would gain new insights into things.

I have to say, talking is a lot easier than sharing. You can start by choosing a statement or idea and elaborate and create even an argument over it. It is a healthy process, and it keeps your assumptions in check. Sharing, on the other hand, requires you to express your deepest and darkest thoughts, which at times can be overwhelming or embarrassing. We sometimes don’t feel like talking about specific topics, and sharing requires even the most profound commitment to dig into your most intimate experiences. It is normal to feel apprehension, but if we want to really take treatment to the next level, we need to share it all.

MY DARKEST SECRET

I never felt the suicidal type. I love my life, and I love my close ones. I’m an ordinary individual with a decent job and a decent living. I don’t have many regrets and feel I’ve been blessed with opportunities. I cherish my existence.

Talking about suicidal thoughts was never easy. Again. I’m not the suicidal type but my anxiTalking about suicidal thoughts was never easy. Again. I’m not the suicidal type, but my anxiety revealed a deep dark fear I didn’t know I was carrying inside. I can take the pain. I can deal with surgeries, broken bones, and physical ailments. But I never realized how fragile I could be mentally. I meditate and cultivate mindfulness, so I always assumed I was better prepared to deal with things of the physique more than the regular folk. I was partially wrong.

As part of my anxiety disorder, I got into this over-inflated nervous breakdown. Your body reacts to what it feels like danger. The fight or flight response was activated, but in my case, somebody forgot to switch it off. This sudden rush of adrenaline is supposed to provide your body with extra energy to run or face an imminent threat. It is supposed to act as a temporary response to perceived danger. Mine was in continuous overdrive for 72 hours. It was exhausting. No, it was torture.

After the 3rd consecutive day of hypersensitivity and fear, I had enough. I could sense how my mind was conceiving scenarios that, in normal circumstances, I never thought of. “I want to hit my head against the wall” was my favorite phrase to subtly express a dark reality. I CANNOT DO THIS ANYMORE. It is eyeopening to digest what you think you can do when pushed to your mental faculties’ absolute limit. I never had a plan; I never took the thought too far, but the lingering teasing idea of what this could become gave me the chills. I told my wife and said: “Take me to an emergency room right now”

It was an expensive decision, but a decision that provided me with some answers and equipped me with a better understanding of what Anxiety Disorder was. Your first battle is dealing with all the unanswered questions. Talking to a doctor and some initial medicine put time back in my clock. A chance to continue.

HONESTY IS YOUR BEST CHANCE TO WELLNESS

I never thought of it much. “I want to hit my head against the wall” didn’t come back for a good 2 months after my initial visit to the ER. But it did surface once more when my monkey-mind started playing scenarios in my head. Thinking ahead is understandable speculation, and combined with memories of past experiences can be an explosive combination. I had a relapse. And it happened because I faced my darkest fear to date head-on.

How far can I go when pushed to the absolute limit? Would I be able to attempt my life simply because I’m not mentally healthy to deal with desperation?

When this happened, I first shared it with my wife. She is my partner, but she is also my best friend. I consider our talks while walking around the neighborhood free therapy. I have to say, I felt immense relief when I first shared it. It was so intense that within minutes I was sobbing uncontrollably. I made a mental note: “This is important” and decided to talk to my therapist.

I’M GLAD YOU TOLD ME

Somewhat nervous and embarrassed I said to my therapist: “I’m not the suicidal type, however..."

It was never about the fact if I could carry on with a dark plan to end things. Again, I love my life, and I would be extremely disappointed leaving this world before my time. I don’t intend to die. But this was never about what I wanted; it was more about what I could do if desperation drags me to a dark endless pit-hole. I need to prepare for when I’m blinded by the thoughts of vulnerability and will inadequacies.

“I’m glad you told me”. Said my therapist.

“Why?” I replied.

“Because you are only as sick as your secrets”. She said.

“We’re only as sick as our secrets” is an adage known well by AA members.. It basically means that a secret kept in the dark grows and becomes more harmful, but once it is exposed to light or released, its power is lost. 

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ANXIETY, FEAR OR ANGUISH: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

There are three negative emotional tenses or times: The present of past things (anguish), the present of present things (fears) and present of future things (anxiety). The easiest way to remember such differences is the actual “time or tense” our mind seems to be zoomed in when emotionally induced. 

It is important to understand the difference between Anxiety fear and anguish as each feeling or emotion requires a different approach to managing its effect on the body and mind.

“Past, present, and future walk into a bar. Suddenly everyone becomes very tense...”

FEAR: PRESENT TIME

Something that is happening right now and that anyone would feel the same way. For example, an earthquake or a situation where your life is in danger.

Expressions such as: “I can’t” can poison someone’s will as it fills the mind with negative words impeding the brain to think of positive ideas or solutions.

When it comes to fear, you should trust your resources to resolve a situation. Focusing on the task or challenge at hand turns your fear into a proactive chain of thoughts.

ANXIETY: FUTURE TIME

Anticipatory thoughts of negative scenarios, everything that can go wrong. Relatively shared by some people as some individuals identify with this concept and others simply awaken this emotion for different reasons. 

Examples of common anxiety reactions are public speaking, job interviews or prelude to a sports match. The anticipation of things that may or may not happen such as things you are going to forget during an exam or negative feelings about negative outcomes. “We will loose this match...”

It is not uncommon to speculate about the future, but unchecked emotions about the future can send you through a deep “rabbit hole”.

When dealing with anxiety your main focus should be to try to return to the present moment. The idea is really simple really: You cannot solve something that hasn’t happened yet.

ANGUISH: PAST TENSE

When you remember unpleasant past trauma triggers (by some stimulus or thought) and you start acting like you may be at risk again. For example: A past relationship of infidelity. My current partner does something that resembles a bad time for me and activates my trauma memories. I automatically start acting like this is happening to me again.

Digging up the past can remind us of past incidents and emotions filled with failure, disappointment or pain.

When dealing with anguish your task is to convince your mind that the “same situation” is not necessarily happening again. Run your thoughts through a Socratic Process.

As a general suggestion for dealing with any of the 3 tenses, you should start looking into learning how to alert your mind when you are excessively dwelling on either future or past “Time zones”. A basic understanding of psychology and mindfulness, should be able to provide you with awareness about certain thoughts and emotions and help you counter negative thoughts.

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WHAT ARE THE MEDICATIONS TO TREAT ANXIETY?

Some of the medications to treat anxiety disorders short term may include Xanax, Clonazepam and Valium. Sertraline is a medication used to treat anxiety disorders and panic disorders aimed as a long term treatment. If you suffer some kind of anxiety disorder you may need to use one or a combination of short and long term treatments.   

My experience with each individual medication was unique at every step of my recovery process. As I intend to dig into the differences between them keep in mind only a licensed Psychiatrist will be able to determine the right treatment for you. 

I will touch on each individual medication in an orderly fashion. I will start from the beginning trying to emphasize the different stages of my condition and how I discovered each medication during specific events in my timeline.

Alprazoman: Sedative. Brand Name (Xanax)

It took 3 panic attacks to send me on my way to the Urgent Care. After the third one I was in a non-stop roller coaster of physical and psychological emotions. The Pandora's box had been opened and my train of thought was disrupted.It was not only the panic attacks themselves I was concerned about, I developed an acute sensibility to thoughts. I felt I was no longer in control; my brain was dictating when and how to submit my body and mind to dreadful anxiety preludes.

The first time I tried Xanax was during a visit to the Urgent Care near home. The doctor there wanted to understand where my anxiety was coming from and was quick to reveal, based on my severe symptoms, that I needed to see a Psychiatrist. She prescribed Aprazolam (Xanax) which is a sedative to treat anxiety or panic disorders and gave me a 5 day prescription hoping that I could make an appointment soon. I took it for a few days and only received a short lived relief. Xanax was fast, but it had non-lasting effects on me.

This happened on a Thursday. I immediately went into scrambling mode trying to find a good Psychiatrist that could help me as soon as possible. With no date in the near future I waited for an appointment. This was not an easy wait. 

I wanted the anxiety to stop. Imagine non-stop thoughts of future panic attacks, add to that intense twitching butterflies in the stomach and an overall feeling of restlessness, hot flashes and hypersensitivity. I had to see a doctor or else I was going to be hitting my head against the walls in desperation. After three days of non-stop anxiety and still no appointment available I was on my way to the ER. 

I was miserable for more than 72 hours and I was loosing my sanity. I was introduced to Clonazepam.

Clonazepam: Sedative. Common brands (Klonopin)

When I arrived at the emergency room, I was told no Psychiatrist was present at the time. They said I could get admitted but I was probably going to be treated by the regular doctor there. I got an EKG, they took blood samples looking for traces of thyroid problems and got me a chest X-Ray. After everything came back normal the doctor decided to share his veredict. “You are suffering from an Anxiety Disorder” 

Clonazepam can treat anxiety or panic disorders. The ER doctor prescribed this medication for a short term relief of my symptoms and gave me specific instructions on how to take it. The pill, had to be taken 30 min before any imminent anxiety symptoms. It takes longer to take effect and it is not as quick as the Xanax. The tricky part was the need to time it well and take it as soon as I started feeling uneasy. The clonazepam seemed to work a little better but my symptoms were still present. General anxiety happens all the time, which means you only get a few minutes of peace between waves of anxiety. I took the clonazepam and started taking homeopathic remedies. Passion Flower drops and Chamomile Flower Tea with Valerian Root also helped to get somewhere between 10 to 15 min of relaxation.

 My appointment was 2 days away.

Diazepam: Sedative. Brand Name (Valium)

It was Monday. I managed to get an appointment with a Psychiatrist near me and I was excited. My insurance would treat it as an specialist and I would only had to cover the co-pay. 

Side note: Look for a Psychiatrist who can take insurance. Private PsYs will charge somewhere between $400 and $600 dollars for the first visit and will request pre-payments to make appointments.

The prospect of finally seeing an specialist brought some peace for the hours prior to my appointment and the rest of the afternoon. It is incredible how the mind works. Seeing the M.D was the finish line for me. I was finally going to learn how to deal with my symptoms and for a short period of time my anxiety seemed to vanish. I was able to finally eat well for a few days. I was being taken care of.

When I finally was able to visit a Psychiatrist, he prescribed Valium. The reason? It is fast and has long lasting effects. He considered it the best option for me for short term relief. Not only I had taken all kinds of sedatives and benzodiazepines but gone through several doctors and physicians as well. The psychiatrist not only was able to formulate the dosage and frequency needed to battle my inflamed nervous system, he was able to explain what the long term treatment was going to be. Very little I knew this was the beginning of a new chapter in my life.

I was about to meet my daily companion: Sertraline.

Sertraline: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor or SSRI. Brand name (Zoloft)

Sertraline or Zoloft is an antidepressant in a group called Selective Serotin Reuptake Inhibitors. When used, this medication may improve several aspects of your life. Apetite, mood and even sleep can be regulated so that you can restore your interest in daily living. Sertraline is commonly used to treat a several array of health conditions such as depression, compulsive disorder, panic and anxiety disorders. For this reason, it became the real long term treatment for my case. Sertraline needs to be taken for a long period of time and it is considered a safe treatment for anxiety disorder. Its caveat? it takes 4 weeks to take effect.

The tricky aspect of dealing with anxiety is waiting for improvement. It won’t come the next day but it will arrive more sooner than later. It does not come overnight but rather your emotions and feelings would fade with every passing week. 

After picking up my 100mg of sertraline at the local pharmacy it was all a waiting game. I had a plan of attack. It was clear I needed to rely on sedatives or benzodiazepines to battle strong symptoms while the Sertraline took effect. I took valium day and night for almost 2 weeks. After the 2nd week I decided to drop the day dosage and leave the night pill. After the third week I cut my daily dosage in half.

I was never super excited about taking sedatives (my personal choice) so I decided I was going to slowly decrease my intake of Valium until I had no need for it anymore. With sedatives or not, I was grateful that I had some of my questions answered and that I had a treatment I could follow. This however was only half of the strategy to battle my anxiety. One question remained. How it all happened in the first place?

It was time for me to get some therapy. I was going to visit a Psychologist.

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ANXIETY: PSYCHIATRIST VS PSYCHOLOGIST?

When treating anxiety, a psychiatrist will prescribe short or long term medication to help you cope with your physical symptoms. Psychiatrists are medical doctors and can prescribe pharmaceuticals, Psychologists can’t. A psychologist will explore the root cause behind your anxiety and treat it with a long term psychotherapy. They may also suggest breathing and meditation techniques to deal with your physical symptoms short and long term.

 Depending on your specific situation you may need to visit one or both.

Physical and physiological aspects of Anxiety.

The very first time I experienced a panic attack in my life it was unexpected. It clearly left a mark in my life but whatever conflict it created in my mind was left hidden inside my subconscious. Dealing with the panic attack itself didn’t take much. Next day, I was already moving on with my life clueless of the long term implications and the trauma it had created and which laid dormant. I didn’t know it yet, but a very specific trigger would make it all come to life again and with unforeseeable repercussions. 

The panic attack was for the most part a physical reaction to the situation. I was locked down at home during a hurricane with no power and no AC. I live in Florida and the temperature during summer months is brutal. It all happened fast, but the detonator was this powerless sensation that I was suffocating. 

Here we have a physical manifestation of the fight or flight response of the body. Experts describe this phenomenon as the physiological reaction following a perceived dangerous threat or attack. It launches your body into survival mode pumping blood and releasing adrenaline for maximum physical efficacy.

This is supposed to be a one time response but, what happens if your fight or flight response system goes haywire? Can you imagine going thru panic and anxiety episodes that simply won’t go away?

Not knowing it, this little detail would become essential to understanding what my future anxiety disorder was all about. Yes, a random panic attack set the precedent for what was to become my own anxiety disorder.

I think you may now understand what goes on during a panic attack physically. Now you may be asking: Is there a physiological aspect to panic attacks as well?

If you have recurring panic attacks the answer is probably yes. Even if you have experienced only one panic attack in your life, you may be susceptible to more if your first experience was somewhat traumatic. The problem here is that you can’t really know if certain experiences have created subconscious time-bombs that could detonate provided certain specific triggers are present. 

As I became more aware of the patterns that would cause panic attacks I became more and more anxious. I was about to experience generalized anxiety disorder which in plain terms translates into “being anxious about getting anxiety.” Awareness is key to deal with anxiety, but in the early days I was just lost and inexperienced. Awareness was causing me trouble.

Short and long term medical treatment for anxiety.

A Psychiatrist is a medical doctor specialized in mental health that includes substance use disorders. They are qualified to assess both, your mental and also physical aspects of what could be considered psychological conditions. 

People seek psychiatric help for many reasons. Some of these reasons are: sadness, depression, hallucinations, anxiety or any other disorder that could be causing problems with your everyday routine.

If you are struggling with anxiety and wish to determine the severity of your condition, visiting one would be a good first step. Not only they will be able to make a determination on the gravity but also provide immediate treatment needed when dealing with chronic cases.

I found the help of a Psychiatrist paramount in dealing with intense and physical symptoms specially in the earlier stages of my developing condition. Although treatment may consist of medication for long term usage, I was particularly thankful for being able to count with options to help me cope with immediate challenges. I wasn’t thrilled about using sedatives or benzodiazepines but I was glad these were available to me when I needed them. Specially when searching for long term alternatives.

Like in many other mental conditions, pin-pointing triggers and deconstructing  traumatic episodes are tasks well suited for Psychologists. They have the professional training and clinical skills to help you cope with life issues. 

Psychologists can help a variety of people with scientifically proven methodologies for treating afflictions hindering their day to day life. Each individual is different and therapy is the starting point to identify the best approach to tackle the individuals’ illness.

Based on the premise that the way we think affects how we feel emotionally, Cognitive therapy is a form of therapy used by specialists towards solving depression, anxiety, substance abuse among other. With great emphasis on present thinking and understanding learning behaviors Psychologists aim to help patients shape the way they think by identifying distortions and biases in their train of thought,

Choosing between medication and therapy can be a distraction from the ultimate goal of managing with anxiety. The American Psychological Association tell us that for some conditions, therapy and medication are a treatment combination that works best. For people who benefit from medication, psychologists work with primary care physicians, pediatricians and psychiatrists on their overall treatment. Five states, New Mexico, Louisiana, Illinois, Iowa and Idaho, have laws allowing licensed psychologists with additional, specialized training to prescribe from a list of medications that improve emotional and mental health disorders, such as depression and anxiety.

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ANXIETY: GIVE YOURSELF TIME TO HEAL

 “A man watches his pear tree day after day, impatient for the ripening of the fruit. Let him attempt to force the process, and he may spoil both fruit and tree. But let him patiently wait, and the ripe pear at length falls into his lap”.

Abraham Lincoln

Anxiety is a game of patience

One of the precursors to my 2nd panic attack was my very first experience with a cast. I play soccer, I like it and was actually pretty decent at it. I play the goalie position and really enjoyed the thrill of the “last man standing” situation. I would fight balls and aggressively look for ways to stop bound-to-goal plays.

It was during a regular season game at my local league where I experienced a very difficult and painful thumb sprain. I never had one this bad and my Orthopedist decided I needed a cast for a month.

I’ve seen casts, I’ve signed a few and found them always intimidating. I didn’t realize until then my claustrophobic tendencies and the things I learned about myself the day I had to wear one. I had no idea how such a trivial episode would impact my life in the months to come.

Patience was something I needed to train myself to attain. I never exercised patience in my life nor I had to discipline myself in order to achieve it. Here I was, 4 hours after I had on my first cast when I started being dangerously obsessed with claustrophobic thoughts. With my hand immobilized, I still remember feeling hot, sweaty and completely powerless. I would look at my forearm wrapped in solid fiber-glass unable to even scratch my wrist. I was loosing my coolness. 

This tail ends with a panic attack: Sweat, hot flashes, light headed and blurry vision, drop in body temperature and shivering.That was it. I was in for a life changing experience. I had my first panic attack 2 years prior during a Hurricane, but that never lead to an anxiety disorder. (We’ll revisit this episode another time) The second panic attack was the kicker. The next several days after that, I experienced the most intense anxiety that wouldn’t go away. 

I removed the cast myself the next day, and that was also my first day with Anxiety Disorder.

Patience then, patience now

It is still interesting to think about the similarities between my precursors to anxiety and my current challenges to heal my anxiety disorder and how they all tie together. 

We want things and we want them now. I needed treatment for a thumb sprain but couldn’t take the demands of my doctor recommendations. Fast-forwarding to when I was diagnosed with anxiety disorder I was once again, wanting to rush the process. 

Days and days went by, but my negative feelings seemed to remain unchanged. I would over generalize and expected answers almost as soon as the questions arrived. Anxiety would find the perfect medium to dominate me under those circumstances. I wanted to heal, but it wasn’t happening or at least not fast enough. The most pressing question in my head was, “When am I finally going to heal?”

People would tell me, “You’ll be fine,” or “This too shall pass.” I listened to them, acknowledged their good intentions, and understood the message they wanted to convey. And yet, healing still seem like a far event in the horizon.

I was not able to heal until I was willing to be patient with myself and my emotions. I knew the questions, but never had the time-frame for an answer.

All I can say is, your question will be answered. More sooner than not. Just train yourself to wait. Allow yourself to wait. Do not despair. Repeat in your mind “One day at the time”

Not every case is equal, but they do share a common element. Exercise patience and you will see the light at the end of the tunnel approaching fast. Anxiety is a game of patience. It is a mental challenge like no other, one that will test the best of your abilities to cope. 

Remember when I said with anxiety you will have good days and bad days? This will become your mantra, whoever you are. Remember this, carve it in your mind and you will be on the path to rehabilitation. 

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ANXIETY: NOT A CONTEST OF VIRTUE

We get sick. That is the nature of human beings. Nothing of what we do or think will change the fact that at any given time in our lives, we may need help. Help of a different kind.

Anxiety by definition is often a healthy emotion. It is supposed to make us aware of the things we fear, the things that we cannot control. It can arise as our natural's body response to stress. It may indicate apprehension of what is about to happen. 

Anxiety permeates our daily activities in ways, sometimes, we ourselves can’t even detect. Anxiety can appear as quickly as a rush of adrenaline, or it may linger for a while while we achieve some closure. It is a normal part of our lives that we experience occasionally.

Persistent anxiety, seemingly out of control and overwhelming is considered a medical condition. My story is a story of of extreme anxiety. What specialists refer to as **Anxiety Disorder**. A mental health disorder characterized by feelings of worry and fear strong enough to interfere with my daily activities. 

When dealing with anxiety, cut yourself some slack!

Whatever you idea or understanding of what anxiety is, please remember that you are sick. Like any other disabling condition, it requires medical attention and patience. You may need medication and in most of the cases your treatment will involve some type of mental training though therapy, meditation or breathing exercises. 

For this reason, my first tidbit of information for you today is: Cut yourself some slack. Don’t be like I was at first. Extremely harsh and strict with myself. Not understanding that anxiety disorders require time to heal, may lead you to unreasonable expectations. It is important to trust the process. Depending on the severity of your personal experiences, this may take weeks or months; even years. Do not despair, you will get better. You just have to learn to be patient with yourself. After all, this is new to you.

Ride the waves to the best of your abilities. You are learning to deal with your condition and mastering something takes time.

When dealing with anxiety, you will have good and bad days!

The very first week when I started experiencing overwhelming anxiety, my cousin, who happens to be a doctor said something to me that would later become a friendly daily reminder and good coping mechanism. 

“You will have very good days, and days not so good.”

If you have an anxiety disorder anything like mine you will understand that anxiety does not have an agenda. It does not operate based on your schedule or expectations. Later we will talk about how your thoughts can shape your anxiety. For now, let’s say that uninvited thoughts will appear without notice. Even when you thought that you were making great process. 

Do not despair. The brain needs re-training and above everything else, time. Accept the highs and lows as part of your training.