Stress Center Peer Support

So I have been having a few really great days lately. The holidays have always filled me with positive affirmations and being with loved ones always brought me joy no matter what I was dealing with at the time. Well I am on my second time through the program and I am proud to say I have conquered panic attacks. So for those of you still working on this, If I can do it so can you. Well today I was on my way home from work and I started to feel really anxious. I began my relaxation response and was doing everything right, yet something felt off. I began to get worried and obsess. I felt like I couldnt get control. Well I got home and kept obsessing about the same things a lot of us do. From how long will it last to the fear of hurting others or myself. Well I told my father I wasnt feeling well and he thought it was indigestion from the holiday food haha. Well I began to do my relaxation response and practice being mindful. After all it is only anxiety and it always goes away. Well I was in the kitchen still feeling like I wasnt as in control as I thought I ought to be. As I was pouring water into a cup I noticed the fruit juice bottle my co-worker bought us just before I left. It was a Vitamin Water. And I looked at the label and it sais " Energy drink with Guarana" I said, THATS IT!!! Thats why I felt an unusual amount of adrenaline. It was the energy drink. I know my genral anxiety and how much nervous energy I normally have. So I knew something was off. What a wonderful lesson in how foods and drinks can affect your anxiety. Yet what a great lesson I learned about myself. Despite my physical symptoms, despite my anxiety, despite my obsessive scary thoughts, and despite the extra help my anxiety recieved with the adrenaline boosting energy drink, I STILL KEPT IT TOGETHER. I still managed the episode and I feel so much confidence because of it.

I came up with a saying

" I feared I was losing control. But now I feel better. Not because I regained control. But because I realized I never lost it in the first place"

God Bless and Much love,

Eddy J

Eddy,

" I feared I was losing control. But now I feel better. Not because I regained control. But because I realized I never lost it in the first place"


Oooh... profound! Great story and wasn't it a relief to know your mind hadn't "turned" on you? I've done something very similar with too much dessert (sugar)

Your saying is going on my fridge... thanks!

Hey Hot Rod,

The sugar thing has happened to me too haha. Im glad you liked it! That made my day thank you


Eddy J

EddyJ I know you said it's a funny story, but sometimes it's not so funny how people don't really believe that food has any association with their well-being. That is very cool how you figured that out though!

Last night my kids all had decaf coffee and they were singing and carrying on for many hours after that. Even the minute amounts of caffeine in decaf can have an effect.

Sometimes all it takes is a little bit of something like what you had or even the slightest bit of caffeine or refined sugar and BAM it triggers excitement an/or anxiety.