The Dark Side of Anxiety

There are several dark sides to anxiety - well known ones at that. The depression, self-harm, panic attacks. I could go on but that’s not quite the dark side I’m talking about.  I’m talking about nightmares. Or rather bad dreams. Apparently, the difference between a nightmare and a bad dream is nightmares wake you up,…

3 a.m. Panic Attacks are Awesome!

That title...is sarcastic as hell. There is nothing about a 3 a.m. panic attack that's fun. Especially when it's a mother of a panic attack. My amazing husband, to his credit, remained calm even in the midst of me seriously starting to freak out. I've read plenty of articles saying that when people are going…

It’s Okay to Not Care

It's been a week...and it's only Tuesday. This week started out on a serious high which could be why I'm crashing so bad right now. I opened up a novel I'm working on to crowdfunding which, in itself, is extremely anxiety provoking. I usually hang onto my work until it's finished. At work, I'm constantly…

Guilt, you’re on the bench…Anxiety, you’re up!

I had the best laid plans for getting this post done over the weekend...and week..and a week after that intended day to post. But turns out that a week back to work after a summer off and a switch to an entirely different work setting the following week with it's own rules and regulations to…

Unprofessional Tips for Coping with Panic Attacks

I’m going to start off with a little necessary disclaimer. The advice I’m about to give is not professional advice, nor is it meant to be taken as such. It’s advice based on my personal experience with panic disorder and with the incredibly not fun attacks that come with it. I recently posted an article…

Para on a Soapbox

All teachers, paraprofessionals and school case workers want to and expect to make a difference on some level.

Bucolic

Okay followers, like I said in my previous post, I’m going to work harder at being more consistent with my posts. Of course, they probably won’t have much direction...a reflection of my scattered brain. Seems fitting, right? Last week was a quiet one but we were making some adjustments on our modest farmstead. My parents,…

I Wish I Didn’t

I struggle with anxiety. It sucks. It sucks the big 'ol suck because there's not a whole hell of a lot I can do about it. A few years ago it was at its peak. I ended up hooked up to a 48 hour heart monitor to figure out why I was having heart palpitations…

Acting Normal in Abnormal Sitautions

Part of my role as the Program Coordinator of Abound Counseling at Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota, and a part I’m learning more about as I go, is to coordinate video conferencing events. We’ve started a series called the Brown Bag Lunch series where the Fargo based group of amazingly talented clinicians I am…