08 January 2010

my life has been changed...

by Jesus <3
Im not really one to share a lot of personal information on my blog :) It's mainly here as a creative place for me to inspire and to be inspired by other bloggers who read.
Sometimes, I really feel led to share some of the more personal things in my life, in hopes that it will inspire my readers in a different way.
I also like to think that it may help someone who stumbles upon my blog or shows them that they aren't the "only ones" dealing with certain things.
So, today,i felt the need to share :)

Im not sure how familiar you all are with panic attacks and panic disorder but I am very well acquainted with them.
After college, my grandpa died (who I was really close with), a long relationship ended, and I was moving back home after three years of living away. One day, bam, panic attack, and that was it...

Medicinenet.com shares these quotes from people who have experienced them:
"All of a sudden, I felt a tremendous wave of fear for no reason at all. My heart was pounding, my chest hurt, and it was getting harder to breathe. I thought I was going to die."

"I'm so afraid. Every time I start to go out, I get that awful feeling in the pit of my stomach and I'm terrified that another panic attack is coming or that some other, unknown terrible thing was going to happen.
"

It also explains panic attacks, the best way that I have seen:

the symptoms of a panic attack appear suddenly, without any apparent cause. They may include:
racing or pounding heartbeat (palpitations);
chest pains;
stomach upset;
dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea;
difficulty breathing, a sense of feeling smothered;
tingling or numbness in the hands;
hot flashes or chills;
dreamlike sensations or perceptual distortions;
terror: a sense that something unimaginably horrible is about to occur and one is powerless to prevent it;
a need to escape;
fear of losing control and doing something embarrassing; and
fear of dying.
A panic attack typically lasts for several minutes, is one of the most distressing conditions that a person can experience, and its symptoms can closely mimic those of a heart attack. Typically, most people who have one attack will have others, and when someone has repeated attacks with no other apparent physical or emotional cause, or feels severe anxiety about having another attack, he or she is said to have panic disorder.


Trust me that I know how easy it can be for some people to completely write this type of disorder off as something "made up" or just "in their head." unfortunately there are people who are really close to me who still beleive this.
Can you imagine experiencing, "one of the most distressing conditions that a person can experience," almost daily?
not fun :)
I have had a lot of missed opportunites, lost friendships, and many other things because of this fear.

BUT, this blog is not supposed to be a downer because I want to celebrate the fact that I have been panic attach free for a looooong time now :)
Amazing!
Life changing.
The only person I can credit this success is Jesus and His love for Me :)
I have realized that everything that happens to me and the trials that I go through are all part of God's plan. There are some who go through life comstantly asking the question, Why? Why is this happening? Why can't I do this, etc.
I am glad that I can finally put all of those whys behind me and push the off on my home-boy upstairs :)
Seriously, just that realization has been so ife changing for me
I was the queen of what-ifs. Now, I am more of a whatever kind of girl :)
Matthew 6:25 tells me that the same God who created me can certainly be trusted with the details of it.
Matthew 6:26 explains that worrying about tomorrow hampers all of my efforts for today
Matthew 6:31-32 worrying shows a lack of faith in God and for what he already has in store for me
Ephesians 2:10 For WE are God's masterpiece (believe it my friends) created anew in Christ Jesus so that we can do the good things that he planned for us long ago.
So, in conclusion, stressing about what might happen, waiting for another panic attack, trying to create my own plans in life...not happening!
not necessary!
There were things planned for me a long time ago.
The good, the bad, and even the ugly are all part of it.
Little stops, bumps, and detours along the way on the awesome path that God has chose for me!
Don't worry :)
You don't have to!
Seriously, is there anything cooler than that?
Could God be anymore rad?

21 comments:

  1. Oh, Janel, I love this! Thanks for the Bible passages. Those are great to remember! What a great post!
    Jesus IS Rad. I need that on a shirt too. =) I'm so glad you haven't had to experience these feelings in a long time! I hope you never ever do again! Love you! xo

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  2. You know, being Jewish, I see God in a different light than you. I don't mean that as a bad thing at all. I think it's important that we take Him in a ton of different ways. But He is pretty rad.

    onecraftylibrarian.wordpress.com

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  3. absolutely Brianna!!
    I totally agree :)
    xo
    janel

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  4. Thanks for your post Janel, I totally agree...it was very well put!

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  5. LOVE YOU JANEL!!!!!!


    xoxo,
    Lindsay

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  6. I really liked your post, one of my favourite passages is proverbs 18 :10 it =)

    have a great afternoon!

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  7. Hi Janel. Im feeling really touched by what you are saying here. I've realized Im having panick attacks for about 2 months ago.
    Im taking medicine now, it has helped a little bit, but there's still long way to go.
    Im thankfull to read it here on your blog, that around the globe, people are feeling just like me. Im not alone.
    Its really hard to talk about, and not all of my friends knows about this.
    Thanks for getting my hopes up, and that it can be possible to get better.
    Marie, Denmark (Europe).

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  8. You are amazing! Thank you for sharing the Bible verses and your story. God is awesome!

    xoxo
    crissy

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  9. Amen to that, girl!

    My mom has had to deal with panic attacks since I've been little at least. So I know (even second hand) that they're not fun.
    But I'm really glad you haven't had them in a while...and even better that the coolest guy in the world, universe, EVERYTHING (Big G :D lol) is responsible!

    And it's awesome that He knows everything (even before you and I were even THOUGHT of!) about us and that all we need to do is give Him our problems and we're set! Praise Jesus! That's really something I need to keep remembering personally. :)

    Sorry if that's a little rambly! haha

    Love you Janel...and you keep on being amazing! :D

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  10. I keep writing out long comments about this and then deleting them. But to sum it up, I really understand what you are saying. I have dealt with panic attacks all my life but trusting God and giving Him my fears when they do attack has been the only thing that works for me! Thanks for writing this post!

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  11. great post! I have suffered from a panic disorder since I was in my earlier twenties so I totally feel you sometimes you have to just give it to God.

    Thanks for the great scripture

    Carrie

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  12. that's great Janel!

    Thanks for using your blog as ministry to others. Its a great tool!

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  13. I'm a christian and I suffer from panic attacks as well. Great scripture :). It's nice to know I'm not the only one

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  14. AMEN! How you talk about GOD(that he is your homeboy and rad)makes me smile, my brother always used to say that GOD was his Main Dude! So I want to thank you for 2 things in this post, the inspirational words and that you made me think of my brother and how fun and amazing he was! In GOD's Love, you will always find STRENGTH!!

    xoxo~Meg

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  15. He's touched my life in ways I can't even express. I'm so glad that you are brave enough to share what he's done for you!

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  16. Well said, Janel, and yes, I agree with you that Jesus is totally rad!

    I have experienced panic attacks a couple of times. One of the biggest was about a month after my sister died....out of the clear blue - for no reason - my heart was racing, I felt like I couldn't breath - I didn't know what I was going to do. Fortunately, the Lord brought me back from that and has helped me ever since. I KNOW how real they can be. I'm so impressed that you have allowed Jesus to help you through these - Praise the Lord!

    Thank you so much for sharing this - you have no idea how much it helps people....what a great witness!!

    Love you!

    P.S....I think it is totally cool that Brianna (who is Jewish) can say that He is pretty rad!!

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  17. Hi, i suffered from panic attacks for 10 years and they affected every part of my life...it is great to read your post and comments and know that i'm not alone. x

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  18. i know how you feel janel! i experienced that a few times last fall, and it's the scariest thing you can imagine. i can't think of what it would feel like to go through that every day! Thankfully, God is enough for all our needs, and he's got us in the palm of his hand!:) thanks for your honesty in this post...

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  19. I absolutely agree. I had more like anxiety attacks but close to panic attacks, and it was until I gave full control to God, it was like a miracle. At times it's hard to do what He wants, but then again, if I was never obedient, then I don't want to imagine my life without Him. Great post!

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Thank you so much for commenting!! xo