Hey Becky,

Thank you for checking in. It actually jogged my memory about an experience I had last night.

I was having a kind of restless night and coming in and out of sleep but at one point I woke myself up quite suddenly by needing to cough.

Immediately I was filled with this paralysing horror that I had the Corona virus and was probably going to die.

I can’t even describe how crazy my mind was going imagining the worst and my heart was pumping with adrenaline, but then I thought about the breathing exercise we had done.

So I took a few deep breaths and instantly felt myself growing calmer.

By bringing my mind back into the present I was able to disengage myself from the overriding panic.

I realised that my body felt healthy and strong in that moment and, what my mind was playing out for me, was based on fear rather than reality.

After a few more breaths my heartbeat slowed and I was calm enough to fall asleep again. 

Anyway, I wanted to say thank you for giving me the breathing technique.

I feel very up and down with my thoughts and feelings surrounding this time we’re living through, but staying in the present, which I do find incredibly hard, is one of the most helpful ways I have found of keeping myself less anxious. 

Take care and see you soon,

 

Abra Hunt

England, 2021