My palms were slick with sweat, and I felt like there was a monster who had his arms wrapped around my chest with every intention of squeezing until the world ended. Stepping out of the crowd filled room I searched desperately a place to get away.
As I made my way away from the main party I passed friends and strangers who smiled and looked at me. I pulled out my phone so I could pretend like I was just stepping out for an important call.
I ended up going out the front door, and then putting my phone up to my ear I began to walk to my car muttering to myself about a fictional emergency that I needed to get to in case someone overheard me.
I had parked about a block away and it was a warm August night. As I got closer to my car I let me phone slip away from my ear. “Why do I do this?” I asked myself in frustration. Why do simple little things like a party, where I know I can have fun and have a good time, end up causing my mind and body to feel like they’re being overloaded?
image credit: Intographics
What I didn’t understand at the time was that I was dealing with social anxiety. Had you asked me if I was an anxious person I would have definitely said “No, not at all” But there were times…
Since then I have learn much and more about the mind, and how it processes the myriad of items on its to do list. I’ve learned how one simple thought, or emotion can pick up like a runaway train and go on a seemingly endless loop. I’ve watched people who have a runaway train running through their mind all the time, not letting them rest, keeping them up at night, and driving them away from their friends and families.
I’ve also learned how to help.
I stumbled quite accidently across hypnosis, and I quickly recognized its powerful ability to help quell the monsters of anxiety, restlessness and nerves. I saw how using hypnotic techniques I could focus my mind into a laser direct myself into more healthy and helpful responses to stress, and anxiety inducing episodes.
Over the years I learned more and more about hypnosis and the mind, and even became a certified hypnotherapist.
Now I help people with myriads of problems, but dealing with anxiousness is definitely one that I feel close to home.
If you find yourself struggling to quell your nerves, I understand. If you don’t think you can see yourself stepping out the cycle, I get it. But just know that there can be help and hope. If you want to talk, I would be happy to talk with you.
Just head over to https://www.changestatetherapy.com/ and fill out the contact form.
God bless, and I’ll see you around the block.
