EP 156 – Meg’s Anxiety Success Story

The Highlights

• Meg THOUGHT she knew what a panic attack was … until she started actually having them.
• When the panic started, Meg retreated, which she now knows was not a good move.
• It certainly did not help things to have a string of very difficult life situations thrown at her in rapid succession.  Anxiety issues are hard enough without also dealing with family crises one after another.
• Meg’s “fear of fear” became attached to food.  She stopped eating, and was even misdiagnosed as anorexic as a result. This is a good illustration of how the irrational fear of an anxiety disorder will find any convenient target to stick to.
• Therapy was less than effective for Meg, primarily because she had a difficult time finding a therapist that knew how to effectively treat an anxiety disorder.
• A key motivator in Meg’s continuing recovery is her family.  Meg refuses to let her anxiety issues rob her kids of life experiences.
• Meg knows that it never “feels like” the right time to do an exposure, but she does them anyway.
• Meg’s recovery really began to move forward when she learned to roll with her physical symptoms  – passing through them rather than fighting them or trying to get away from them.
• Meg is taking her mental health experience and putting it to good work, with plans to become a working therapist helping other people with their anxiety problems.  Go Meg!

Find Meg online on Instagram.  She’s a fine human being.  Give her a follow.