AnxietyBlog #2 The Anxiety Experience
I was in high school. I can’t recall the name of the class, when I was asked to read my paper in front of the class. Yup, just read my paper. My handwriting, paper right there in front of me.
I remember standing at the podium in front of the class, paper resting on the podiums light wood surface. I vaguely recall the students in the desks in front of me.
I do remember feeling suddenly very, very hot. I struggled to breathe. THe paper in my hand was shaking. The words on the page began to blur and swim across the page. I began to sweat. Then I started to stutter my words...
I don’t remember what happened after that, but I’m sure it was a sudden experience of overwhelming anxiety. Perhaps the teacher asked me to sit down. Perhaps I passed out, i have no recall of the rest of that class.
For years afterward I would avoid any kind of public speaking or standing up addressing an audience. If a class required putting your paper on the overhead projector even, I would transfer out of that class so fast my head would spin. I would also not explain to my friends why I was not taking the AP English class with the rest of my friends.
Five or seven years ago now, I was asked to present on Hypnotherapy and treating anxiety and PTSD at an informational presentation for veterans with PTSD. The presentation was at the State Theater in Traverse City, MI. There were over a hundred people in the audience.
As I waited to take the stage, alone, to present, my stomach began to flip-flop with butterflies.
I uncrossed my legs, put a hand on my stomach just below my rib cage. I began some slow deep “belly” diaphragmatic breaths. I counted 3 or 4 Breathes while affirming positively my enjoyment of speaking in public. The butterflies went away. I heard my name introduced.
I took the stairs to the stage and I enjoyed my presentation, being on stage and answering questions about Hypnotherapy.
Hypnotherapy works. Proper Relaxation Breathing techniques work, if you know the correct way to do it. I know from experience and you can too.
