Well, not in real life. Although that would be the best and wait until you see the photos of when that happens.
A biggest lesson I learned in 2012 was that it didn’t matter so much why I had mild to severe situational anxiety at times – it was how. How I coped while feeling anxious, and how I prevented more anxiety from happening right then and there, and into the future.
This gift was a lightbulb over my head. It was like that moment in 11th grade “Human Behavior” class when my teacher, Mrs. Rizzo, told us to stop memorizing and to start learning. Why I hadn’t figured that out earlier, I’ll never know, but my vocabulary, science and math tests were all A’s after that.
I’m what you’d call a “silent sufferer.” Real-life friends and family, this does not mean I was always suffering when you saw me. This does mean, however, that I may have been at times and I was probably frustrated and upset to learn that I never knew when it would happen and I didn’t always know how to stop it and ask for help. I don’t know if you can completely stop mental illness..
..but I do know you can fight it tooth and nail. Especially when it takes you away from what you don’t want to be taken away from:
Remember that feeling of mobility you get when you passed your driver’s test? Find out how battling anxiety gives me that same feeling..of feeling possible. And I haven’t gotten Tom Petty’s “Learning To Fly” out of my head for days. Join me at Ilene’s blog today to read more about it.
Post here..
I'll see you at Ilene's!
Yay, thanks!
Thank you for lighting up my page today. And happy "almost" birthday!
Thank YOU. It was like two birthdays in one. Three birthdays if you count last week.
Headed over right now…can't wait to visit one of our fave bloggers in one of our fave spots! :)-Ashley
Ah, you're so good to us! P.S. John Bender!
I am heading over – see you there!
Thanks, Kim. Loved your supportive tweet too.
Headed there now!
Thanks, friend!
I'll visit you at Ilene's!
So glad you made it!
Can't wait to read your guest post! Two of my favorite bloggers together makes for a great hump day!
Aw, thank you! Throw in your dresses in red and blue and it's the making of the best birthday eve ever.
I'll visit you there! Know what's funny? I've had his song Free Falling in my head all week! 🙂
Great minds think alike!
It's a beautifully touching story, Tamara. Thanks for sharing it.
Thank you, Rabia. Was so happy to have Ilene's space to tell that story.
In recent years I have realized I have way more anxiety than I would like to admit. A lot of it comes on whenever I head to visit where I grew up. It's hard to hone in on the source at times and it's even harder to talk about.I'm also that silent sufferer {although my husband can always tell}Thank you for sharing mama … can't wait to read the rest!¤´¨) ¸.•*´ (¸¤ Lanaya | xoxoRaising-Reagan.com
That happens to me too! Or it used to happen when I went to Jersey.
Thanks for sharing Tamara. I believe talking about what's going on helps me release some anxiety. Headed over to Ilene's now.
Thank you, Ida!
This intro to your post was so touching – heading over to Ilene's place now!
I'm sorry that you have had such a struggle but so happy that things are better now that you are in treatment!!!
Love this topic. I'm heading over to read it now!
Heading there now! Happy Early birthday too!
Heading over there now! I have suffered from Anxiety attacks as well, NO FUN! – Jennifer
so so great, you did a fantastic job Tamara!
Thank you – your comment SO made my day.
I've read your post at Ilene's. Anxiety issues is not fun. Thanks for sharing your experience. http://herweightlossdiary.blogspot.com
Thanks for reading!
Thank you so much. And thanks for visiting – I visited you too!
Much better – and thank you!
Me too, and I remember reading a similar story years ago and keeping filed in my mental storage.
Thank you, Leah!
Right – I had one in Disney once! I think it was just heat exhaustion but anxiety made it worse.
I'm doing this backwards since I already read the post. It was beautiful. Thank you for sharing your story!
I'm so excited to see you over at Ilene's!!! Heading over to read it now. 2 of my favs in one place!
I have a friend who deals with anxiety. I didn’t even know it for the first few years. I know it’s a struggle for her. So glad you’ve been winning the battle. Heading on over to see the rest!
I'll visit the other blog 🙂