Coping With Anxiety And Adrenaline

Adrenaline is one of those amazing hormones that your body creates when you are scared, angry or excited. Your body makes it when it thinks you need it, like a boost of energy and confidence to get through something. Unfortunately, when you have Anxiety, your body may misinterpret the signs and create adrenaline when it is not needed. When adrenaline is released into the body, it quickens the heart beat, strengthens the force of the heart's contraction, and opens up the bronchioles in the lungs, among other effects.

Some people refer to some activities as "an adrenaline rush", and seek them for the buzz that it can help you feel. I remember the adrenaline rush of our wedding day and it kept me warm in my sleeveless gown well into the night. My husband also refers to adrenaline when people ask how he copes when attending accidents with SES.

These examples are fleeting in their longevity, and do not compare in any way to the adrenaline I felt through Anxiety.

I would be emotionally and mentally exhausted, and battling several other symptoms of Anxiety, but my body would still be ready to go.

I would go to sit down in the late afternoon, or prepare for bed in the evening, and my body would fight it, trying to tell me that it was ready to take on more. I would be laying down shaking all over, from my chin right down to my toes. As much as I tried to stop it, my teeth would chatter, but I was not cold.

It was what I termed Adrenaline Shakes, and to experience it is quite disconcerting.

I had started medication, but knowing that it would take weeks to take effect, I wanted to do whatever I could myself to aid in the journey to recovery.

I was doing two forms of exercise a day. During the day I would pop in my earphones, put my head down and would take a fast, lengthy walk. Between dinner and bedtime, I would do a workout that would eat into that build up of adrenaline, such as an hour of Kick Boxing.

I have found exercise to be a fundamental part of treating my Anxiety, for using up the adrenaline, but also to keep me fit and able to cope both physically and mentally.

Palpitations were a complication of too much adrenaline too. I had numerous episodes, both at home and in the presence of medical practitioners. I used breathing, relaxation and ice packs to the head and face to try to slow down my heart rate, but eventually I had to be prescribed a Beta Blocker to control the palpitations until my other medication became effective. After a couple of months I was able to come off the Beta Blocker.

I was also aware that if I could limit my Anxiety by any other means, it would reduce the amount of adrenaline I was building up. I actively sought any forms of relaxation like breathing, massage, listening to music, yoga and progressive muscle relaxation.

I would love to know how Adrenaline has impacted on you and your methods of coping?

Beware The Long, Bold Word In Capitals: PHENYLALANINE

We have been label reading for a while now. Mostly, we are checking labels for limited sugar, salt and fats. My daughter has been having an allergic reaction for a few weeks which has included a rash all over her face, dizziness, headaches, and feeling anxious. So we have gone back to the label reading, this time looking at the ingredients in the products she eats.

After quite a lengthy elimination process, some research and weeks of comforting the girl and administering anti-histamines and anti-itch cream I have solved the mystery.

Ironically, in an effort to limit sugar in the kids diets, we occasionally bought some Diet Lemonade as a treat. Unbeknownst to us, the artificial sweeteners are just as toxic as sugar, and in many cases highly allergenic, causing severe ongoing problems if ignored.

This artificial sweetener, in this case, is Aspartame and is also know as 951. It contains PHENYLALANINE, which often appears on the product label in big, bold, capitals.

Up to now, I have never noticed it on a label.... maybe it should be printed in red?? In fact, when I went to this site to research the different additives, 951 also known as Aspartame, IS in red!

PHENYLALANINE is an amino-acid and appears as one of the building blocks of protein foods like fish, meat, cheese, eggs and milk, but when it is added to other foods the body can become overloaded, and this brings on the reaction.

Ski Soleil Yoghurt

Once I started looking, I found it in too many of our foods. Firstly, was the diet Lemonade, and any other diet drinks, then we found the Sugarfree Chewing Gum, my instant hot chocolate, cereals, sauces, potato chips ..... no wonder she was getting such a build up in her system.

I apoligise for the quality of the photos, but  I wanted to show the products and where the ingredients were listed. The Ski Soleil Yoghurt lists 951 as one of the added sweeteners, while Pepsi Max displays "CONTAINS PHENYLALINE" in bold, enlarged print, as does the Jarrah Choc o'lait.

Pepsi Max 

Jarrah Choc o'lait

Now, that we have eliminated these products from her diet, the rash is receding, and Miss 9 is feeling better.

Posted via BlogPost

Starting The new Year With A Bang

I feel like I start every New Year on the back foot. I always have a list as long as my arm of things I want to do and achieve. On that list, you will always find 1. Lose weight, 2. Improve Fitness and 3. Eat Healthier. 2013 is different my friends. This year, I have a head-start.

2012 saw the introduction to a healthier me, with more exercise, a dramatic decrease in Sugar in my diet, and as a result, I lost 6.2 kilograms, 6 centremetres from my waist, and 5 centimetres from my hips. I am happier, more energetic and so much fitter, not to mention more comfortable.

Anxiety: Stress hormone overload combat

By clicking on Anxiety Disorder on the Labels list in the sidebar, you will be shown my posts included in this series. I aim to write posts about my experience with anxiety, as a way of recording, a way of understanding and a way of hopefully helping others. 

You may have heard about the fight or flight response? This is the modern description given to the natural reaction of the body when exposed to threat or danger. When a person is stressed or anxious, this response kicks in, causing the release of adrenaline and cortisol hormones. This is the bodies readying to either fight or run. When the threat is gone, then things return to normal.

Now I have kids, I know I can!

There was a time (pre-kids) when I did less, expected less of myself, pushed myself less.

image source

It's amazing the things I have discovered that I am capable of since becoming a Mother.

I can still function on a few hours sleep.

I can do many tasks with a heatpack clenched to my body.

I can carry a child capable of walking and multiple shopping bags.

I can step strategcially around toys covering the floor, with coffee in hand and not spill a drop.

I can fully strip, wipe down, and re-dress a screaming, sick child on the side of the highway in no time at all.

I can cope with 4 in the bed. (if absolutely necessary)

I can tune out irritating, high pitched screaming.

I can get the toughest stains out of clothing. (again and again)

I can get medicine into a distressed child without it coming back up and covering me.

I can be imaginative and creative with play, cooking, discipline, and excuses.


I can mop the whole bathroom from floor to ceiling after every bath.

I can nurse a feeding baby, whilst surfing Facebook and interacting with the outside world.

I can have my camera ready in a split second.

I can pack bags for 2 children and 2 adults for a weekend to the beach in half an hour.

I can host a birthday party, make cake, decorate entertain and clean up. All before collapsing in a heap.

I can feed, dress and groom 2 children, drop them in 2 different locations with appropriate attire and lunch, say my loving, encouraging words, and get to work with 5 minutes to spare.

I can kiss a graze and make it feel better, wipe away tears and put a smile on a face, and remove the worst grime with a little "mummy spit".

I can, I have discovered, do many things I would have even dared pre-kids. I have learned some tricks along the way. I've also discovered many ways that things should not be done. It's a work in progress, but I know I have have a go.