What Exactly Is This Feeling Called Again?

Tonight, I was at a social event and my heart began racing, I was sweating, and I felt like I was going to come out of my skin. There were times when I thought I was going to scream, and I did. Fortunately, the event was my son's playoff game for the local baseball championship. This experience made me remember one of the most important things that people can do when facing anxiety symptoms, and that is to reframe the experience as a positive one.

Excitement is a GOOD thing!


Is a racing heart cause for alarm, or simply a byproduct of excitement? You decide, because it can come down to a simple choice on your part as to how you are going to view the situation. Back in the old days, if I felt my heart racing or my stomach in my throat, I automatically associated the symptoms with anxiety, and proceeded to have a panic attack even if I was having a good time. Then I realized that all I was feeling was excitement, and made a conscious effort to flashback to my teenage days when a racing heart meant I was having fun.



Running the Bulls
When I was about twelve years old, my best friend and I played a game that in retrospect wasn't very wise. We would walk out into the pasture until we saw a bull, wait for it to notice us and come our way, and then run like crazy with the bull following fairly close behind. I ruined many shirts snagging them as I quickly scooted under the barbed wire fence, but the recriminations from my mom were apparently worth it, as we played this "game" over and over again. What were we after? Why the rush, of course! The exhilaration of a racing heart, a healthy sweat and the relief of having come out of the pasture unscathed.

Pretend You're In Love
Perhaps for you, the thing that causes your heart to race and the butterflies to do flips in your stomach is speaking in front of groups. Or driving alone. Perhaps it is the prospect of attending a party on your own. All of these things can be interpreted as being exhilarating, rather than scary. It is simply a matter of how you choose to view the situation. After all, being in love can also make your heart race, your palms get sweaty, and if you are head over heels, you might even lose your appetite! Yet most of us would not choose to avoid the person we love because of the symptoms that love (or lust) can cause. So choose to love the thing that you dread, and you may find yourself experiencing excitement rather than fear. Go ahead, fall in love with public speaking, or at least pretend to!

When we reframe our negative experiences as positive, exciting ones, it zaps the fear. So don't fight your feelings, go with them, and enjoy the ride.