My beautiful daughter!
How were your holidays? Did the Holidays stir panic or anxiety for any of you? For me the thought of driving out to my parents made me cringe, and sick at the same time. So my family came in town to us. It was slightly less convenient bc they always have waaaaay more presents than us so to haul all that in was kind of annoying BUT they did it for me. I have a great family! Other than that, I had no crazy panic attacks or anything which I am so thankful for!
I just had another appointment with my psychologist yesterday. He was pleased to hear that I had been doing so well, especially since I hadn’t been able to see him for two weeks. (Christmas week he was scheduled full and then the next week my grandma passed and I had no way of getting to the appointment) So we were picking up where we left off before Christmas. Which reminds me I need to bring you all up to speed on the whole hypnosis thing.
HYPNOSIS: as defined by the American Psychological Association Division of Psychological Hypnosis, is “a procedure during which a health professional or researcher suggests that a client, patient, or experimental participant experience changes in sensations, perceptions, thoughts, or behavior.”
I like to think of it more as Guided Meditation. My psychologist has me turn my chair away from him and recline it. I then listen to him speak to me in a soothing voice for approximately 10-15 minutes. He will start with number 10 and slowly count down to 1. In between each number he suggests to me to relax my body from the tensions of the morning, the day, and the week and to go to a scene of tranquility that we spoke about before starting. In my case I chose the beach, in autumn, with the sun shining, alone. He helps me create that scene in my mind. When he finally reaches 1 he then stays quiet for approximately a minute for me to relax myself even further and just enjoy the feeling. I do not feel “out of it” in anyway. i just feel relaxed. This week was my third time doing this and it gets easier to relax myself each time. The first time I was anxious and could not get relaxed. After the 1 minute of quiet time he will then suggest to me that it will get easier and easier for me to reach this state and sometimes he gives me scenarios of only slightly uncomfortable situations. Such as a crowded waiting room. If i feel anxious I shake my head yes. He then tells me to go back to my beach scene and relax. Then he takes me back to the waiting room until it no longer gives me anxiety. Then he counts from 1 to 5 in about 1 minutes time and arouses me from the relaxed feeling. When he reaches 5 I turn my seat back around and we discussed how I felt. How relaxed I was, if there was any tension. How quickly I was able to feel relaxed. I do think it is very helpful. This will help me to release tensions when I am faced with the actual situations we discuss. Slowly we will work our way through all situations that upset me until I feel no anxiety about them at all.
i am still taking the 20mg of lexapro. I stopped taking the xanax but have the prescription just in case I need it. I feel like upping the lexapro from 10mg to 20mg has REALLY helped me. Side effects: I do feel hungry a lot but I watch what I eat so I can try not to gain any weight. I have had trouble wanting to have sex but I do know that this feeling will pass soon, as it did when I was just on 10mg before I took myself off lexapro. Other than that I feel pretty good right now! Soon I want to try to start driving around town with my husband or mom with me as my safe person. I cannot wait to get my life and my freedom back!
Please leave comments, concerns, and questions for me as I do enjoy reading other people’s journey. If I can help just one person on their journey with Panic and Anxiety then my blog has served it’s purpose!!!
Staci
mypanicjournal 