ENcourage Connection

I think if I were someone who's never had panic, and stated a title such as "Panic is not a monster" - we'd get our panties in a bunch real quick. But I do have panic disorder and it sometimes has me, but it will never be called a monster by me. Viewing it as such gives it power, makes it scarier then it ought to be.

The whole Lizard - Reptilian brain - may very well be appropriate - but let me repeat - it is a physical, small part of our core brain. It is not esotheric nor "out there" boogey man - it is flesh and nerve. It is centered between the right and left hemisphere of our brain. Brain surgeons who perform surgeries where the patient has to be awake, can poke (stimulate) that part of the brain and the patient feels fear. When they poke other parts, of what documentary I've seen, sometimes the patient says "I smell burnt toast."

There isn't any burnt toast, nor is there a monster living inside of us.

The Lizard will not go away, unless you want a lobotomy, then you might start drooling on your keyboard and never be able to email...Short of performing a Lizardectomy, it will be the way we deal with our primal fear that will lead to wholeness again.

Accepting its existence lessens its drama.

Dedramatizing its needs loosens our hold on it.

Loosening its hold on us leaves us feeling whole again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Case in point - I had a big day yesterday. My usual M.O. is to be nervy nerve beforehand, pack things, make lists, be all rigid, poop myself silly, lock my jaws and try to CONTROL the inner turmoil.

Instead I opted to take a nap before my outing, slept late, forgot things, giggled at my dog trying to throw himself in the car so eager he was to go go go! The inner turmoil was rolling around in there, but hey, I let it be, and it let me be.

Do I always succeed in letting it be? No. In fact it is a rare occurance. But when it happens as such? I know there is no monster in me.

Carry on
Kate

• Very wonderful. Very. :) (n/t) 23:07:39 08/26/2009 Pat at ENcourage (0)
• Re: My, a day late, to post day (22nd)....Panic is not a monster. 10:30:35 08/25/2009 Vita Luna (2)
  • Re: My, a day late, to post day (22nd)....Panic is not a monster. 10:32:19 08/25/2009 Vita Luna (1)
    • YOU A FREAK WOMAN!!! I am giggling myself silly - thank you you goose! (n/t) 06:01:15 08/26/2009 Kate_1 (0)
• Amen, and Amen....... (m) 13:00:38 08/24/2009 Debbie IN California (0)
• Re: My, a day late, to post day (22nd)....Panic is not a monster. 14:20:27 08/23/2009 Judy (1)
  • I like that analogy Judy - thanks. :) (n/t) 06:46:38 08/24/2009 Kate_1 (0)

In Reply to: My, a day late, to post day (22nd)....Panic is not a monster. posted by Kate_1 on August 23, 2009 at 09:15:43:

(no text)

In Reply to: My, a day late, to post day (22nd)....Panic is not a monster. posted by Kate_1 on August 23, 2009 at 09:15:43:

I just had to..... :)

In Reply to: Re: My, a day late, to post day (22nd)....Panic is not a monster. posted by Vita Luna on August 25, 2009 at 10:30:35:

I just had to... :)

Trying this again.....

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In Reply to: Re: My, a day late, to post day (22nd)....Panic is not a monster. posted by Vita Luna on August 25, 2009 at 10:32:19:

(no text)

In Reply to: My, a day late, to post day (22nd)....Panic is not a monster. posted by Kate_1 on August 23, 2009 at 09:15:43:

(quote)

Accepting its existence lessens its drama.

Dedramatizing its needs loosens our hold on it.

Loosening its hold on us leaves us feeling whole again.

In Reply to: My, a day late, to post day (22nd)....Panic is not a monster. posted by Kate_1 on August 23, 2009 at 09:15:43:

Hi Kate, Your post reminded me of a statement made by a therapist I saw for awhile. There is no lion ready to attack. We just anticipate one lurking to devour us. He also refused to call it a panic attack; rather preferred to say it was an episode, therefore giving it less importance. Food for thought........AJ

In Reply to: Re: My, a day late, to post day (22nd)....Panic is not a monster. posted by Judy on August 23, 2009 at 14:20:27:

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