Sunday Thoughts

There were two things of interest this week, the first one is that the blog is now 12 years old. Twelve years of ups, downs, and everything in between. I’ve really enjoyed writing the blog and I hope you’ve enjoyed reading it. I try to keep it varied, just like life is 🙂

The other thing was it was four years since my first panic attack, I’m very grateful that I haven’t had one for a couple of years, they are really awful things. I was posting on twitter about my panic attacks and I was asked how I got over them – well I don’t think you ever get over them but I’ve learned somethings along the way and they might help you too, not just with panic attacks but with anxiety in general:

Don’t believe what your head tells you, it lies.
Listen to your body, if it tells you to rest make sure you do. You can’t pour from an empty jug.
Don’t feel you have to do things you don’t feel comfortable with.
It’s OK to leave a place/an event/a shop and even a job.
I hate this saying – No Matter How You Feel Get Up Dress Up Show Up and Never Give Up. Do what you feel is right. I used to force myself to live by that saying and I ended up feeling exhausted and miserable.
Find the things that bring you joy.
I found having a notebook at hand and writing how I was feeling really helped me cope.
Try to relax. Easier said than done I know, but if there’s something that relaxes you do more of it.
A balanced diet can help – and I don’t mean a cake in one hand and a gin in the other. I certainly feel better when I eat better.
You don’t owe anyone anything.
Surround yourself with people who care about you. There are quite a few toxic folk out there who almost revel in the drama, if you know what I mean. Look for the people who believe in you, even on the days you don’t believe in yourself.

I hope these things might help a bit. It’s all a real learning curve and I tried so many different things, some helped a bit but the majority didn’t. I’m so much better than I was and I feel I’ve learned a lot about myself.