I once believed that my acute anxiety was my winning strategy in life.
It was my rocket fuel to keep me hyper-vigilant and sharp.
Early in my career as a television executive, I channeled that anxiety into productivity.
I thought it made me a badass in managing my busy life.
But it was NOT a sustainable strategy, because one day the record scratched.
I was sitting in a meeting, as I had done a thousand times before, when two writers came in to pitch. As they were talking, I had trouble focusing on what they were saying. Admittedly, it was not a good pitch, but even so, it was as if they were speaking in a foreign language.
I remember feeling confused, then I felt like I couldn’t catch my breath, and then was I afraid I was going to pass out.
Somehow I managed to get through the rest of the meeting, but I remember thinking something was very wrong. The tightness in my chest and the inability to catch my breath finally subsided after everyone left the meeting.
But it kept coming back. There was no rhyme or reason, it would just show up as an unwanted houseguest.
I went to see a doctor who ran a whole battery of tests and came up with nothing. He said I was perfectly healthy, but then asked, “Have you had any big changes in your life recently?
“Um, well, maybe just a few….”
At that time, I had been recently divorced, newly remarried, sold my old house, purchased and remodeled another home, had a new baby, and was sharing custody of my other children with my ex-husband.
Oh, and I had a really stressful career.
The doctor just smiled. He, then, went on to inform me that the incident in my office was a panic attack, and ALL of my symptoms were stress-related aka anxiety.
My “winning strategy” had gone from jet fuel to jet fumes. I had gone over the proverbial speed limit.
I wish I could tell you that I immediately changed my lifestyle to reduce my stress, but that would be a lie.
Instead, I managed my symptoms (headaches, muscle aches, stomach aches, shortness of breath, etc.) by running to chiropractors, physical therapists, acupuncturists, massage therapists, and other medical professionals.
It was like a sick game of “whack-a-mole,” because I was not learning how to manage my stress, I was only reacting to the symptoms.
Years later, I started implementing better daily habits and eventually discovered the benefits of proper diet, meditation, journaling, and exercise. Learning to manage my anxiety, and not use it as an operating manual, was a game-changer.
When I discovered tools to manage my mind and body, I became happier and more content in my life. This was the impetus for me to become a Life Coach. Now I teach others how to reduce their stress and enjoy their lives more.
If anxiety or stress has been your winning strategy, and it no longer seems to be working for you, I can help. I have a program that teaches you a better and more sustainable strategy for life.
Let’s set up a time to chat, my consultations are free. You have nothing to lose except the stress.
