Panic Attacks

How to Thrive & Deal

Recently, I spoke to a friend about my history and current experience of panic attacks, depression, and anxiety. They were surprised.

However, the truth is that many of us experience this in silence. Suffering happens alone, and the sentiments around anxiety and panic attacks appear to be crippling and a lonely state. There is not always someone to reach out to, and the feeling that others might not understand is overwhelming.

How often do you feel off and think no one would understand?

Or check out social media and believe others’ lives are more perfect than yours?

The truth of the matter is that people don’t want to share their depression because it’s depressing. Who wants to be the one at the party that brings the vibe down?

For many high-functioning people, there doesn’t appear to be time to break down, so the anxiety is built up from consistently “moving forward” for the sake of continuing life. And for those who break down and can’t keep going forward, there is shame for being unable to “do life better.”

Another aspect of anxiety exists inherently in our culture where the to-do list is endless, the pressure to perform is present, and the idea of going slow and being an artist is pushed down.

Artists are the backbone of our lives. Look around you; someone made everything you use from their creative mind. We exist because of art. Art pushes our culture forward, changes the dynamics, responds to adversity, and carves the path for new expression.

The nugget – WE ARE ALL ARTISTS.

This isn’t the case; we are all winners and deserve awards. It’s the truth about humans’ existence. When we choose to live as creatives, we begin to combat the anxiety and pressures to perform ridiculous outcomes that society is pushing upon creative, sensitive souls.

I’ve learned from my time here and from the passion of working with those to curb their addictions, anxieties, and panic attacks one central truth.

The sooner someone realizes they’re creative, sensitive, and have a propensity for wanting to create a good life on their terms – that they’re able to heal, accept, and move forward from crippling addiction, anxiety, etc, into a person who can thrive in our fast-paced world.

Artists don’t need to quit their jobs or upend their lives. Artists change how they view the world and their mindset and honor their sensitivities to create a family, integrate the intensities, and craft their healing.

As a psychedelic herbalist, plant medicine is the uniting force of all the tools and modalities. When you have a plant that can support the ease of physical and emotional symptoms, you begin to have space to unravel and practice the modalities that guide you into holistic health.

The following are some steps I contemplate to process and honor panic attacks and anxiety:

1. When you rest, you must fully surrender to the act. There is no blame for taking the time for relaxation.This can be one of the hardest lessons to implement and fully surrender to. I have found this to be the most vital in my practice. Herbs that support my rest and stop my mind from ruminating on thoughts have made this practice easier.

1. Rest can look different depending on where you are and your life. Try not to classify HOW it must look.Sometimes, rest looks like lying down on the grass and watching the clouds roll by in a busy parking lot, taking a dance break in line at the grocery store when I’m waiting, or sipping hot cup of tea while watching my friend’s kids play. The point is to honor the moments you view the world as creative and recognize when there is ease in the moment. The more you stack up experiences that validate your creative side, the more you begin to see the world as a place of joy rather than suffering.
2. The best way forward is to listen to your emotions. What are they teaching you?Journal, journal, journal. Through voice memos or written. The reflection on your emotions is valid and necessary for breakthroughs and insights into why anxiety and panic attacks are present. Write down how you have responded to high anxiety/panic attacks in the past; what worked and what did not work?

1. Our society has a hard time with the way of the artist, but artists build our culture – so surrender to your art.
2. Most importantly, nature has all the answers. It’s the ultimate artist. Find someone who knows this and utilizes nature’s medicine in all ways and co-creatively without extraction and conditional love.
3. Trust yourself and what you’re being communicated. You know yourself better than anyone else. Have faith you CAN respond.
4. Breath is the key to our vital life force, and it is helpful to employ breath awareness when panic sets in.
5. Honor what you need to be safe in situations. Do not put your safety in other’s hands or feel as though you have to explain constantly. Take action, and do not apologize for honoring yourself.

Every day, I’m consistently surprised by how much the herbs support my healing and growth in this decades-long change from crippling anxiety, addiction, high-functioning alcoholism, stress, depletion, and being inauthentic.

Let me support you. The spaces to work with me are filling up, and I would love to discuss a way forward.

If you’re ready to create lasting change, claim your spot now before they’re gone.
Journal Prompts
What way can you view the world as an artist today?

I would love to hear from you, so please reply to this email with the answers to the journal prompts.