I have received a few requests to repost this, so I am going to. I believe in giving and helping. I believe it can heal everyone. Just relating to others and having a strong sense of community and feeling like you can say anything without fear of judgment.
I’m so glad this helped I’m more than willing to post this a million more times if it will help anyone at all. Love you all! Xox
his is a little story I have saved on my phone that I occasionally go back and read when im feeling stuck / trapped / hopeless or when I truly feel like I can't go on living the way I live. It always changes my focus, assists in changing my perspective and just makes me feel safe and okay.
ITS YOUR MINDSET
As my friend was passing the elephants, he suddenly stopped, confused by the fact that these huge creatures were being held by only a rope tied to their legs. It was obvious that the elephants could, at anytime, break away from the ropes they were tied to but for some reason, they did not. My friend saw a trainer nearby and asked why these beautiful, magnificent animals just stood there and made no attempt to get away.
"Well", he said, "when they are very young and much smaller we use the same size rope to tie them and at that age, it's enough to hold them. As they grow up, they are conditioned to believe they cannot break away. They believe the rope can still hold them, so they never try to break free." My friend was amazed. These animals could at any time break free from their bonds but because they believed they couldn't, they were stuck right where they were. The powerful and gigantic creature has limited its present abilities by the limitations of its past.
Like the elephants, how many of us go through life holding onto a belief that we cannot do something, simply because we failed at it once before?*** How many of us refuse to attempt something new and challenging because of our so called MINDSET?
Your attempt may fail, but never fail to make an attempt.
***I am in recovery for panic disorder accompanied with agoraphobia I "***"ed the third to last sentence because as much as that entire story completely resonates with me, that line is what I really need to work on. I currently am having trouble being in the now because my vision is being blurred by my past. My panic disorder developed because I started associating physical places with panic attacks based on where I was when I had one, or even what clothes I was wearing or the situation (OCD ASPECT) The first time I had a panic attack at school in elementary school I correlated school with panic and had to suffer panic attacks until I graduated high school. I got to college life was perfect until my first panic attack six weeks into class. panic attack at grocery, movies, driving, galleria, airplanes, avoided all of that until I didn't leave my house with my survival kit around me. the past is literally over. it doesn't exist anymore. this week I am going to work on not associating past experiences with what might happen, ill just try to go with it. hope this helps some of y'all!!!
xx
Kirby Lynn
Written by
Klbtc
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you will get through it. I know you will just because you were able to say "I'll keep pushing forward and will get through this" and having the ability to say those words during such a hard time is admirable and brave. so I know you will get through it. sending healing vibes your way!
anything I find that helps put things in perspective for me, and cheers me up I try and make time to post because helping others heals me!!! glad you enjoyed it!
That's a great story kirby, thanks,. I had the same kind of experience with my panic attacks as you describe. I had my first attack in D.C. and that represented a hurdle for years. Also I picked my clothes based on my better experiences. As an example I always selected my blue shirt with the same tie whenever I had to travel. Also my shoes had †o be polished. However in the waiting room for a plane going to the east coast I had a good experience. Somehow I thought that in my heightened anxiety state while waiting for the plane that I would exhibit physical symptoms and embarras myself. Not the case! As I looked around at all the other people waiting, nobody was looking at me. They couldn't care less about me. It shows how we magnify our symptoms way beyond the reality of the situation. Sorry to ramble on but that moment really changed the way I felt about myself.
No! I love when people ramble on!!! im the queen of it!
that story is amazing considering I know I and I'm sure most people on this can relate to the anticipating getting on the airplane where we are about to experience a manifestation of every physical sensation we are terrified of, unless we are prescribed meds that make us sleep (like I am, considering I was about to say that I was a threat once just because I was I having a panic attack and I NEEDED (I felt I needed) off that freaking plane) so after the almost threat I ended up screaming saying I was having a heart attack get me off the plane...after that I have meds for planes hahah
I also hardcore relate to the picking out clothing. If I had a bad experience wearing something I won't wear it again. recently I tried wearing these simple leggings again to try to brush off my ocd and I experienced just not worthing going into it then two more times... anyway, I'm sure I brought it on myself bc of the leggings but I get it/
ALSO thank you so much for sharing because it does help everyone gain perspective. I agree 100%. when I am helping other people with anxiety I ask them (depending on the situation) like at school (where I have had plenty of panic attacks) this girl was experiencing what looked like one of her first panic attacks. she looked more freaked concerning the fact that people were looking at her, but I could tell nobody was looking at her like at all but her face screamed like "omg- everyone is staring at me"
I walked up to her (this is where it relates to what you said... see I ramble too) and I asked if she would walk outside with me and sit and so she did, I turned on my calm app that breathes with you and I acted like I was doing it in a way where I didn't want her to see it, and I turned it up loud enough so she could hear it, and I breathed with it and I asked her "what would you do if you saw a girl or guy you didn't know having a panic attack?" and she said she would help them.. and I said well you would probably bc you have experienced them or know someone with them, but some people who don't know what they are, they might take two seconds to look at them - then see that someone is helping them and they might help or they might just go to the next class. but do you think they would think about it all day? or associate it with the random person they saw having a panic attack and judge them and take time to think about them? or would they probably forget about it by the time they got home bc they have enough shit of their own that they are going through and dealing with?
and we laughed, she asked if I could turn up my app, she breathed with it and realized in the moment we may think everyone is watching us and its mortifying but really everyone is just trying to get their stufff done and trying to make it home, nobody cares enough to like stop and point and laugh or video it or even care really. I know I am rambling for a fact but its so important for people to realize, especially the people that have a great fear of being humiliated by a panic attack so they get; more anxiety through this worry because nobody really cares. they will only care to help if they know how but nobody is going to judge you or look at you weird 95% of the time.
so thank you so much for sharing your story and how it changed so much for you!!! because its true we make it way bigger of a deal in our head then it actually is.. love your story thank you so much
Awww thank you, you too☺ this post and story has really changed the way i see things. I will share it with others when i can because it can make a difference with people with mental illness❤
What an awesome story! And so true. I am guilty of this get in a mindset where I think I cant get out. With that mindset the depression only seems to get darker. Yesterday I started to work on myself drinking more water,exercising and giving up soda. Not even 24 hours I have noticed a difference in how i feel. Thanks for sharing that story. What a beautiful motivation.
I've been trying to do the same things!!!! I need motivation to go out and exercise and fight against my anxiety from leaving my house! And eating more healthy and drinking water and stop drinking soda!!!!😄 you can do it👍
I feel like I'm just starting to find my way and break my ropes and chains that's weighing me down💪 i love this post, so inspirational and motivational💎 Everyone needs to read it❤
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