Anxiety Series- Thrown

May 11, 2018  •  1 Comment

Anxiety Series

"Thrown" May 2018

 

I deal with a little social anxiety here and there. This photo however, is more about my experience with anxiety attacks. For me they come out of no where. Most of the time I have no idea what sparks it. One minute I'm fine and then the next I am hit with this wave of emotions. My body physically has a reaction. My heart starts to race, my chest feels weighed down and all my concentration goes to focusing on breathing.

I wanted to show what this feels like. I was super committed to doing just that. When I originally draw up my concepts I don't think about the "how". I knew I didn't want to fake it with photoshop. I wanted to really throw myself backwards. So I got out a cushion(that I got years ago when I thought I wanted to pursue newborn photography....it's finally found a purpose) and added a pillow on top to soften the landing. 

I quickly learned that this wasn't going to be easy. It turns out I am not a very graceful jumper....as you can see below. I also learned that I need to exercise more! The next day I felt like I had been in a car accident 😂

    

 

     

For those of you who deal with anxiety/panic attacks what steps do you take to calm down?


Comments

Jon Allen
I have words to describe one of the worst states of being, in the iron grip of anxiety: I remember walking to the kitchen to do something routine, feeling like I was walking on stilts, leaning forward slightly. My physical vision was above my head. Thinking: I would certainly lose my balance and fall forward. Finally arriving (only seconds) to the kitchen - POOF! I forgot why I came. I stood frozen, trying to remember. This would repeat over and over, in somewhat different forms - for years. Thankfully, those kind of moments are behind me now.
Calming down is possible. Breath control, I have found, helps a lot. Also, the awareness that time keeps moving forward, moving to a point out of the realm of anxiety's grip. I can at least push it out of the spotlight. Mentally listing things that bring me happiness and/or pleasure and peace. Many of them are only in my childhood but, of course, just as relevant. ...I have come a long way, to where I am today. Detoxing from bad relationships was a big one. With that, I noticed improvement in short-term memories, better temperament, a sense of general well-being and the desire to self-care; being able to enjoy individual moments more - not 100% yet - but noticeably more. I hope these ideas help whomever may benefit :-D
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