Tag: anxiety

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“The Darkness Within: Navigating the Complexities of Depression”

Depressed girl sitting next to window, looking sad and lost.

I. Introduction

A. Explanation of what depression is: Depression is a complex mental health issue that affects millions of people around the world. It’s characterized by feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a loss of interest in activities that once brought joy. Depression can have a significant impact on an individual’s quality of life, relationships, and overall wellbeing.

In recent years, the conversation around mental health and depression has grown significantly. More people are opening up about their struggles with depression, and the stigma around seeking help is slowly diminishing. It’s important to understand that depression is not a personal failing or a weakness, but a mental disorder that requires attention and treatment.

B. Why depression is a relevant and an important topic: This blog will provide an overview of what depression is, the causes of depression, and its symptoms. We’ll also explore different treatment options available to those struggling with depression, and discuss coping strategies to manage depression. The aim of this blog is to provide guidance and support to those suffering from depression, as well as to create awareness and understanding about this important topic.

II. Understanding Depression

A. Overview of the different types of depression: Depression is not a one-size-fits-all condition, and there are many different types of depression that one can experience. Major depressive disorder, persistent depressive disorder, substance-induced mood disorder and seasonal affective disorder are just a few examples of the different types of depression. Each type of depression has unique characteristics and requires different treatment approaches.

B. Causes of depression: Depression can be caused by a variety of factors, including genetic, environmental, and psychological factors. It’s often a combination of these factors that lead to the onset of depression. Stressful life events, such as the loss of a loved one or financial difficulties, can also trigger depression.

C. Common symptoms of depression: Depression can manifest itself in a variety of ways. Common symptoms include feelings of sadness, hopelessness, low energy and concentration, psychomotor slowing, decreased sleep, early morning awakening, decreased interest in activities, anhedonia, guilt, suicidal thoughts, isolation and irritability. It’s important to recognize these symptoms and seek help if you or someone you know is experiencing them.

By understanding the different types of depression, their causes, and their symptoms, individuals can gain a better understanding of what they may be experiencing. This knowledge can help guide them towards seeking help and finding the right treatment approach.

III. Navigating Depression

A. Seeking help: There are a variety of treatment options available for depression, including therapy, medication, ECT, TMS and lifestyle changes. Seeking help is an important step towards managing depression. Therapy can help individuals identify and change negative thought patterns, while medication can help regulate mood and alleviate symptoms.

B. Coping strategies to manage depression: Coping strategies can also play a key role in managing depression. This can include self-care activities like exercise, spending time outdoors, and practicing mindfulness or meditation. Engaging in hobbies and spending time with loved ones can also help alleviate symptoms.

C. Understanding the role of medication: Medication can be an effective way to manage depression, but it’s important to understand the role that medication plays. Medication can help alleviate symptoms, but it’s not a cure. It’s important to work closely with a healthcare provider to find the right medication and dosage.

D. Building a support system: Building a support system is also an important part of navigating depression. This can include seeking support from loved ones, joining a support group, or working with a therapist. Having a support system can help individuals feel less alone and provide a source of encouragement and understanding.

By understanding the treatment options available for depression, coping strategies to manage depression, the role of medication, and the importance of building a support system, individuals can take proactive steps towards managing their depression and regaining a sense of control over their lives.

IV. Overcoming Depression

A. Embracing a positive mindset: Overcoming depression often requires a shift in mindset towards a more positive outlook. This can include practicing gratitude, reframing negative thoughts, and focusing on personal strengths and achievements. A positive mindset can help individuals feel more hopeful and resilient.

B. Developing healthy habits and routines: Healthy habits and routines can also play an important role in overcoming depression. This can include regular exercise, getting enough sleep, and eating a balanced diet. These habits can help regulate mood and provide a sense of structure and stability.

C. Continuing therapy and medication as needed: While therapy and medication can be effective in managing depression, it’s important to continue these treatments as needed. Individuals should work closely with their healthcare provider to determine the best course of treatment and make any necessary adjustments over time.

D. Finding purpose and meaning in life: Finding purpose and meaning in life can also be a powerful way to overcome depression. This can include pursuing a passion, volunteering, or setting meaningful goals. Finding purpose and meaning can help individuals feel more fulfilled and give them a sense of direction and motivation.

E. Staying connected and maintaining a support system: Maintaining a support system and staying connected with others is also important in overcoming depression. This can include staying in touch with loved ones, attending support groups, or participating in group activities. A support system can provide a sense of belonging and help individuals feel less alone.

By embracing a positive mindset, developing healthy habits and routines, continuing therapy and medication, finding purpose and meaning in life, and staying connected with others, individuals can work towards overcoming depression and regaining a sense of hope and joy in their lives.

V. Conclusion

A. Recap of key points: Depression is a serious and complex condition that can impact many aspects of an individual’s life. In this blog, we discussed some key aspects of depression, including the symptoms, causes, and treatments available. We also explored strategies for managing and overcoming depression, such as seeking help, developing healthy habits, and finding purpose and meaning in life.

B. Encouragement and support for those dealing with depression: If you are currently dealing with depression, we want to offer our encouragement and support. Remember that you are not alone, and that there are people and resources available to help you through this difficult time. It’s important to seek help and support, and to be kind and patient with yourself as you work towards managing and overcoming depression.

C. Resources for further help and information: If you’re looking for further help and information on depression, there are many resources available. This can include online support groups, self-help books, and professional counseling. Don’t be afraid to reach out for help and to continue exploring different treatment options until you find what works best for you.

In conclusion, we hope that this blog has provided you with some useful information and strategies for managing and overcoming depression. Remember that depression is a treatable condition, and that with the right help and support, you can work towards regaining a sense of hope, joy, and purpose in your life.

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Metaverse and Mental Health

Metaverse and mental health - person's eye looking at city

Running Away from Your Anxiety

Imagine a world where reality no longer matters. People are no longer motivated to be successful, to educate themselves or to work hard. Some will even toss their morals straight out the window. Reality will no longer matter because virtual reality will become the norm. Whether morning, noon or night, in this world, people will have fallen in love with the metaverse. They will longer feel alive in the real world. Religion? Forget about it. Virtual reality will become their newfound religion. The metaverse and mental health are going to cross paths in many ways. This article will focus on the metaverse and anxiety.

With all the anxiety that we’re already experiencing since March 2020, the metaverse will become an escape for the masses’ mental health problems. Who needs antidepressants for panic disorder when you have the metaverse? Why see a shrink when you can put on a headset and escape reality? When you feel like rushing out of a room due to a sense of doom from your panic, you will instead put on a headset and escape into VR. For all the good reasons why one should have to take care of their mental health, they will all vanish in an instant when the metaverse will go mainstream.

Some will do it consciously while others will not pay attention to it; running away from anxiety will become the norm for many. It will be easier to enter the metaverse when feeling anxious and waste countless hours in another state of consciousness. When returning back to reality, people will feel miserable because their anxiety will still be present. They will do the bare minimum to get by, thinking all day long about the metaverse until the first opportunity to reenter it. Reality will become a hurricane of anxiety! People will no longer have any motivation to treat their mental illness; the metaverse will be their medication.

Metaverse and mental health - white woman wearing black virtual reality headset

The Metaverse is Not a Solution for Mental Illness

No virtual reality platform, video game or illicit and unstudied substance will ever be a proper treatment for mental illness. People will continue to use these avenues as ways to escape their suffering, but no shortcut has ever properly treated a mental illness. The treatment of a mental illness often requires three important factors:

  1. The courage and desire to seek help
  2. Therapy
  3. And oftentimes, medication

The metaverse and substances will never be a treatment for mental illness, but more of an escapism. It will be easier for people to enter another world than to spend countless hours with a therapist or take a chance with psychotropics. I am not here to blame the metaverse, but only to spark food for thought. Many people abuse substances to attempt to treat anxiety and depression, but drugs only make their symptoms worse. Who is to say that people will not attempt to treat their illness with the metaverse?

Use the metaverse for entertainment and psychiatry for your mental health concerns; don’t mix the two.

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My Experience with Acupuncture

Person placing acupuncture needles in skin

Can Acupuncture Help with Anxiety?

I was sitting at a tennis club (similar feel to a small country club) chatting away with two men twice my age and a woman four years younger than me, about possible treatments for my neck pain. And right that very moment were the contents of acupuncture spilled on the terrace table next to my chicken Cesar salad. I was being informed of the benefits and good experiences that others had with acupuncture, such as relief of pain in a targeted region of the body. Here I was suffering from chronic neck pain for a year (many times the pain disappears or I don’t even notice it) and did not realize that it was an issue until 2-3 months ago.

I had tried stretching and a change in pillows with no luck. One random weekend evening, I decided to search for acupuncture clinics in my vicinity. Long story short, I arrive at the appointment and inform them of my neck pain and even show the doctor my poor range of flexibility with my neck from side to side. He senses right away after touching my neck that it’s very tight. He instructs me to take off my shirt and lie down on the sanitized table (I can still smell the alcohol from several minutes ago).

He then does a test run and sticks a needle in my anterior scalene muscles. He asks me if I felt anything and I told him no. As a matter of fact, of course you feel it but it feels like a pinprick; literally no pain. So then he instructs me to turn over and he starts going to work finding different meridian points on my body to place the needles. There must have been 6-8 needles in the back of my neck, some in my arms and right elbow region (I suffer from Tennis Elbow at times), and during this last session, in my ankles.

I’ve had four sessions thus far and feel quite satisfied. I noticed an improvement in my neck pain within several days of session #1. The best way I can describe the obvious physical difference is like this: it felt like the back of my neck had become numb; imagine applying a bunch of lidocaine gel. And here I was getting this effect from a few needles placed into my skin! He also instructed me to do some vertical and lateral neck exercises at home which I’ve been doing (sometimes not so consistently).

Overall, my neck feels much more relaxed, loose and tolerant of pain. I don’t think it’s 100%, but sometimes I wonder if I even know what 100% feels like anymore. I’m 31 and I’m expecting to have the body of a 14-year-old who never had to stretch after playing 2-3 hours of intense tennis on a Saturday afternoon. It’s just not realistic. I also enjoy playing tennis on weekends and have been doing so for the last three years while living in New York. The tennis takes a tole on my body and if I don’t stretch consistently, the low back pain that tends to come on after playing for two hours may end up lasting for 3-5 days.

And an interesting fact: acupuncture can help with pain by increasing the release of more endogenous opioids (known as endorphines) within your brain and cerebral spinal fluid.

Bottom line is this: if I want to remain fit and athletic, I must tolerate some pain along the way.

Oh yeah, and can acupuncture help with anxiety? Well, if you don’t consider pain anxiety, then I don’t know what anxiety means to you.

What’s your experience with sports, pain and/or acupuncture?

Are you Ready? (This is Defeating Stigma Mindfully)

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Acupuncture for Neck Pain

Person placing acupuncture needles in skin

Can Acupuncture help with Anxiety?

I was sitting at a tennis club (similar feel to a small country club) chatting away with two men twice my age and a woman four years younger than me. We were talking about possible treatments for my neck pain. That very moment the contents of acupuncture were spilled on the terrace table next to my chicken Cesar salad. Acupuncture for neck pain? I was being informed of the benefits and positive experiences of acupuncture, such as relief of pain. Here I was suffering from chronic neck pain for over a year with no solution in mind.

I had tried stretching and a change in pillows with no luck. One random weekend evening, I decided to search for acupuncture clinics in my vicinity. Long story short, I arrive at the appointment and inform them of my neck pain. I show the doctor my poor range of flexibility with my neck from side to side. He senses right away after touching my neck that it’s very tight. He instructs me to take off my shirt and lie down on the sanitized table (I can still smell the alcohol).

Acupuncture for Neck Pain: Needle Insertion

He then does a test run and sticks a needle in my anterior scalene muscles. He asks me if I felt anything and I told him no. As a matter of fact, of course you feel it but it feels like a pinprick; literally no pain. So then he instructs me to turn over and he starts going to work finding different meridian points on my body to place the needles. There must have been 6-8 needles in the back of my neck, some in my arms and right elbow region (I suffer from Tennis Elbow at times), and during this last session, in my ankles.

I’ve had four sessions thus far and feel quite satisfied. I noticed an improvement in my neck pain within several days of session #1. The best way I can describe the obvious physical difference is like this: it felt like the back of my neck had become numb; imagine applying a bunch of lidocaine gel. And here I was getting this effect from a few needles placed into my skin! He also instructed me to do some vertical and lateral neck exercises at home which I’ve been doing (sometimes not so consistently).

Acupuncture model of person with meridian points

Acupuncture Conclusion

Overall, my neck feels much more relaxed, loose and tolerant of pain. I don’t think it’s 100%, but sometimes I wonder if I even know what 100% feels like anymore. I’m 31 and I’m expecting to have the body of a 14-year-old who never had to stretch after playing 2-3 hours of intense tennis on a Saturday afternoon. It’s just not realistic. I also enjoy playing tennis on weekends and have been doing so for the last three years while living in New York. The tennis takes a tole on my body and if I don’t stretch consistently, the low back pain that tends to come on after playing for two hours may end up lasting for 3-5 days.

And an interesting fact: acupuncture can help with pain by increasing the release of more endogenous opioids (known as endorphines) within your brain and cerebral spinal fluid.

Bottom line is this: if I want to remain fit and athletic, I must tolerate some pain along the way.

Oh yeah, and can acupuncture help with anxiety? Well, if you don’t consider pain anxiety, then I don’t know what anxiety means to you.

What’s your experience with sports, pain and/or acupuncture?

Are you Ready? (This is Defeating Stigma Mindfully)

Acupuncture for neck pain smiley winking GIF face
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Experiencing Panic Attacks

Millions of people all over the world experience panic attacks. These occur out of the blue and involve a great sense of doom, fear and sometimes even physical symptoms. Panic attacks can be treated with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and/or antidepressants. Don’t be afraid to seek therapy. Would you rather take a chance with therapy and medications or continue to suffer from panic attacks while in public?

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Panic Attack Symptoms

Beautiful anxious woman experiencing a panic attack
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5QJ6BVzKupPeZdqEPE1fWM?si=18f5e754699743a7

Millions of people all over the world experience panic attack symptoms. These occur out of the blue and involve a great sense of doom, fear and sometimes even physical symptoms. Panic attacks can be treated with cognitive behavioral therapy and/or antidepressants. Don’t be afraid to seek therapy. Would you rather take a chance with therapy and medications or continue to suffer from panic attacks while in public?

What are some Panic Attack symptoms?

The most obvious is fear. I still remember my first panic attack because the fear was insane. It was a Saturday night in Redlands, California the day after I drank a lot; typical freshman college weekend. I went to a Chinese store to order some food with a friend and while standing in line, started to experience fear. I had never just randomly experienced fear before. This time was different because there was nothing to fear besides fear itself. But then the fear started to make more sense. I was afraid of standing in line and being in the store.

Then there are the physical symptoms such as sweaty palms, lightheadedness, dizziness, tachycardia and shortness of breath. Some people also tremble. My physical symptoms weren’t as bad. I would only experience sweaty palms thankfully. But I can imagine how more intense physical symptoms can worsen the panic attacks, worrying the person into thinking that others are aware of their symptoms. For me, sweaty palms were a sign that I was getting anxious and that a panic attack was looming around the corner.

Then there are the symptoms of overthinking, a general feeling of anxiety, heightened vigilance for danger and wanting to escape your environment. Some people also get depersonalization and/or derealization. Depersonalization is when you don’t appear real in your surroundings while derealization is when your surroundings don’t appear real to you. I experienced some derealization but it wasn’t until in my late 20s. My panic attacks started when I was 20.

The Fear

The worst part of the entire experience is definitely the fear. It’s like experiencing a sense of doom like something really bad is doing to happen to you. This is accompanied by the thought that others around you could be noticing you having a panic attack. This further motivates you to leave the vicinity. I don’t believe that I ever walked out of a classroom or mall (the majority of my panic attacks occurred in college lecture halls or in the mall). However, I do remember being in an Italian restaurant in Pittsburgh with my mother once, and I had to get up from the table and go outside because the panic attack was too unbearable.

Lastly, the most important feature that distinguishes isolated panic attacks from panic disorder is the worrying about future panic attacks. People with isolated panic attacks have them too randomly to worry about future ones. But people with panic disorder constantly worry about future panic attacks; it becomes part of their daily thought content. This is another worrisome symptom because it can prevent you from going to places where you previously experienced panic attacks. For me, I was worried to go to the mall thinking that I would have another one. This symptom can get tricky because it can easily lead to agoraphobia, which will be discussed elsewhere.

Antidepressant medications for panic attack symptoms

So what do you do about them?

If you keep experiencing them, than what should you do? Honestly, what worked for me was an antidepressant called Prozac. I took about 20 mg once in the morning. Probably within six months of consistent use, my panic attacks significantly went down. The medication was like a miracle. How did I improve so much just from taking one pill every morning? The dose was low too. Prozac goes up to 80 mg. But I can’t complain. I started the medication when I was 20 and continued it until 28. I know, eight years is so long! But the problem was that I stopped taking it a few times and my panic attacks had returned.

The reason I tried to stop again at 28 was because I was ending medical school and had matched into a residency training program. I was in a good place mentally, free of panic attacks for many years and was ready to try going off the medication again. My recommendation is that you need to be in a good place in your life to try to go off an antidepressant for panic attacks. Panic attacks can be induced by drugs, alcohol, stress and genetics, so it’s important that you’re in the right state of mind when discontinuing an antidepressant. Overall, panic attack symptoms are brutal.

Have you had an experience with panic attacks?

Are you Ready? (This is Defeating Stigma Mindfully)

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Mental Pain

Topless sad woman holding head down with both hands

Positive Affirmation: I am Free of Mental Pain

“I am free of mental pain because I have learned to manage my negative emotions and redirect my attention on the positive things in life. When I feel sad, I allow the pain to surface without any hesitation; fighting back only causes the pain to persist. I give my pain room to breath but I do not identify with it because it is not really mine. The pain just comes and goes like passing gray clouds in the sky above. Just as I cannot feel the clouds in the sky but just observe them, the same applies to my emotional pain. I can’t physically touch my pain but I can observe it from the sidelines. Just as I can’t make a storm go away, the same applies with my emotional pain. I let the pain take its course until it evaporates into the distance. I am free of pain because I have learned how to respect my mental health and take care of it every day!”

Mental pain - green anxiety logo

Chronic Pain

“My chronic mental pain haunts me every day, but I do my best to keep my head above water. I can’t always identify the source behind my pain, but that does not matter. As long as I do my best to stay positive, I am happily moving forward. My mental pain comes at random times. Sometimes it haunts me first thing in the morning, while other times it surprises me before bedtime. I cannot avoid my mental pain because it sporadically appears when it wants to. The only thing I can do is learn to live with it and be happy in the process. How do I stay happy? By practicing positive affirmations and reminding myself that pain is temporary; it always eventually goes away.”

“Pain does not define me. I am not my pain even though it tries to trick me. It can be deceiving too, sometimes manifesting as anxiety, depression or intrusive symptoms such as nightmares. Sometimes my pain makes me avoid certain people and places. I have to constantly fight back to set my pain in its place. It can be a challenge to interact with it, but I often overcome it. I am stronger than my pain and have gotten this far in life. I will continue to flourish despite knowing that my pain will revisit me in the future. No one can prevent me from being the master of my mind; pain is only an uninvited visitor. I am strong and courageous.

Are you Ready? (This is Defeating Stigma Mindfully)

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COVID Depression

Depressed Hispanic woman crying while laying on gray furniture

Coronavirus – An Era of Depression

I have talked to so many patients who are sitting at home in a depressed state of mind since the pandemic started. The key word is at “home” because they are functional and not so depressed that they require a hospitalization. These people still experience some of the symptoms that come with depression. Even before the coronavirus, there were many Americans already depressed; now, that number has substantially increased. COVID depression is real and you are not alone.

Some of the symptoms of depression may include a decreased sleep, decreased interest in activities, decreased concentration, etc. Some people also experience a decreased appetite, guilt, loss of energy, slowing of body movements or even suicidal ideations. Many Americans experience at least a few of these symptoms while sitting at home with no agenda. The recurring theme is that they lost their job and are not leaving the house; they lack activities that can keep them preoccupied during the day.

Some people also become very anxious at home and anxiety and depression are often comorbid. They will complain that there’s so much negative news or that people in the neighborhood are not wearing masks. They complain, “people don’t care as if there’s no pandemic going on.” What’s important to understand is that we cannot force others to wear masks, nor should we expect them to. It’s a free world and people have the right to do what they want.

COVID depression - depressed white male sitting on wooden floor with head down

Are you Experiencing COVID Depression?

So why am I pointing out the obvious? Because clearly it’s making you anxious that others aren’t following health officials’ recommendations. But why are you getting hurt in the process? You should not be anxious or depressed because of external factors. You need to learn how to place uncontrollable external factors aside and focus on bettering yourself. Do your due diligence by wearing a mask and washing your hands but don’t expect others to do the same.

It’s not easy being home unemployed due to COVID. Some people work from home but still feel depressed because their previous routine of leaving the house and coming back in the evening has been taken away from them. They are not used to using their home space as a work environment after working away from home for over twenty years. As I have mentioned in many previous articles, depression is like a wave and many times you don’t see it coming; you just have to ride it out without falling down.

This pandemic is a similar wave but much bigger and deadlier. It may be harder to hold on but it’s definitely doable. So don’t allow this wave of depression to knock you off your surfboard. Many people are experiencing the negative emotions that you are; you are never alone in this. So maintain a positive mindset, keep yourself preoccupied during the day by finding work, taking long walks outside, reading, exercising and socializing. Don’t allow anxiety and depression to get to you and certainly don’t allow them to bring you down!

Are you Ready? (This is Defeating Stigma Mindfully)

COVID depression - smiley face GIF
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Depressed Americans

Depressed Hispanic woman crying while laying on gray furniture

Coronavirus: An Era Of Depression

I have talked to so many mental health patients who are sitting at home in a depressed state of mind ever since the coronavirus pandemic started. The key word is at “home” because they are functional and not so depressed that they require a hospitalization, but this does not mean that they don’t experience some of the symptoms that come with depression. Even before the coronavirus, there were many Americans already depressed; now, that number has substantially increased.

Some of the symptoms of depression may include a decreased sleep, decreased interest in activities, decreased concentration, decreased appetite, guilt, loss of energy, slowing of body movements or even suicidal ideations. Many Americans experience at least a few of these symptoms while sitting at home with no agenda for the rest of the day. The recurring theme is that they lost their job and are not leaving the house; in other words, they lack activities to keep them preoccupied during the day.

Some people also become very anxious at home and anxiety and depression often go together. They will complain that there’s so much negative news or that people in the neighborhood are not wearing masks, “as if they don’t care that there’s a pandemic going on.” What’s important to understand if you are a reader who identifies with these thoughts is that we cannot force others to wear masks, nor should we expect them to; it’s a free world and people have the right to do what they want.

So why am I pointing out the obvious? Because clearly it’s making you anxious and more depressed that others aren’t following health officials’ recommendations. But why are you getting hurt in the process? You should not be anxious or depressed because of external factors; you need to learn how to put uncontrollable external factors aside and focus on bettering your life. Do your due diligence by wearing a mask and washing your hands but don’t expect others to do the same.

It’s not easy being home because of the coronavirus and not having a job. Some people work from home but still feel depressed because their previous routine of leaving the house and coming back in the evening has been taken away from them; they are not used to using their home space as a work environment after working away from home for over twenty years. As I have mentioned in many previous articles, depression is like a wave and many times you don’t see it coming; you just have to ride it out without falling down.

This coronavirus is a similar wave but much bigger and deadlier. It may be harder to hold on but it’s definitely doable. So don’t allow this wave of depression to knock you off your surfboard. Many people are experiencing the negative emotions that you are; you are never alone in this. So maintain a positive mindset, keep yourself preoccupied during the day by finding work, taking long walks outside, reading, exercising and socializing with others. Don’t allow anxiety and depression to get to you and certainly don’t allow them to bring your down!

Are you Ready? (This is Defeating Stigma Mindfully)

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I Am Free Of Panic Attacks

Scared white woman crying while wearing face mask

Positive Affirmation: Free Of Anxiety

“I am free of panic attacks because they no longer control my life, my emotions, my presence in public and they no longer make me experience fear, uncertainty, doubt and sadness!”

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