Nervous System Sensitization

 

My husband deals with a lot of people coming into the ER with anxiety-related issues. They think they are dying or having a heart attack, but he can instantly spot anxiety.

 

He would explain to me (and them) that you are either in FIGHT OR FLIGHT .... or you are in REST AND RELAX.

 

Until this "thing" happened to me. I basically got STUCK in the hypervigilant middle. I could NOT turn off the panic system. John watched it and realized ....

 

There is a third category.

 

No one seemed to understand what I was explaining to them. I couldn't turn my system off. I was in a constant state of alarm. I lost 65 pounds.

 

But I am now on my way back! Praise the Lord he provided me with the support and tools to get back into rest and relax.

 

If this is you, you do NOT NOT NOT have to live here. Yes, prayer and trusting God can help, but in my case, I needed some outside resources to heal my nervous system.

 

Please don't give up and think this is just who you are now. This is NOT a way to live.

https://www.facebook.com/byebyepanic

Daughtry & Switchfoot

John took all four kiddos to a concert -- beforehand they stopped by Lamplight Theatre in Kingsport to see Isaac's camp present a show. Then they all headed out for an adventure: Daughtry (with Switchfoot opening for him.) 

Fourth of July

Realized I never posted these pictures from the 250th birthday of the USA: 

Day out

Aunt Jan took Genevieve and Hannah (and her friend Laurel) out for a super fun day! 

What's going on in our lives

We are getting ready to go on our annual trip to Vermont which is always very exciting. What is going on in our lives right now?

John is working a lot due to the trips we have taken. He has some other projects in the work too that are a little bit "top secret." He never has enough time in the month to get everything done he wants to get done.

Wendi is continuing to work on my six-month anxiety recovery program. Some days are good. Some days are still hard. I have been learning a LOT and growing in the Lord a LOT. It's meant I have to be limited in my relationships with people to preserve my strength, but I'm doing it!

Isaac is finishing up a summer internship with Lamplight Theatres in Kingsport. He will be training with Blair Academy beginning in August in piano and voice as well as some musical theatre. He only has one high school class that he HAS to take for his senior year, but he plans to take a few dual enrollment classes as well (two with Liberty Online Academy and one at ETSU and one at Walters State) to help him lessen his load when he attends college in 2027-2028. 

Elijah is taking a second summer class. He will finish high school with his Associates' Degree. He has been working on his one remaining high school class (Algebra 2) and is working on the farm and continuing to train toward his black belt in karate which he is hopeful he can get sometime in the next year.  

Abigail got to have her cousin Baylee here for almost a month. It was a great time. She has a bit of a bum hip from ballet so she's been visiting the chiropractor regularly. She loves hanging with her friends. 

Hannah is always a lot of fun. She's enjoyed binge-watching old episodes of Boy Meets World and The Cosby Show this summer. She's super excited to go to Vermont. She also helped with a ballet camp this summer.