[Fleury29]

I had a pretty frightening experience Sunday when I had to go to the ER to have one of my tonsils drained, I couldn't eat or swallow or breathe very well for a couple of days before hand. I went to the doctor, he sent me straight to the ER. I'm mostly healed up from the surgery and the swelling, but it's like I'm always nervous for no reason at all. It's kind of annoying because normal things that didn't use to make me nervous suddenly I get easily spooked. Especially any time it feels like I can't breathe again, so I'm wondering what I can do to stop freaking out about every little thing? this bothers me immensely. By the time I got to talk to the people who were going to help, I couldn't talk anymore. How do I relax? These are like little mini panic attacks, not so much worry over anything.

[Skeezyks]

Hello Fleury29: I'm sorry you had this frightening experience! The Skeezyks had a kidney stone about a year ago now... (first time!) It was incredibly painful! I didn't realize what it was at first & it was a Saturday night when the pain hit. I ended up going to the ER too. It does take a while to get over an experience like that.

Personally I employ a Buddhist technique called "transmutation practice". It involves first acknowledging what one is experiencing. Then taking (3) conscious breathes. One then leans into what one is feeling (focusing on it), paying attention to the feeling in all of its aspects, breathing into it. One does not speak nor act. Rather, one simply embraces & becomes one with the energy embodied within the emotions one is experiencing. Then, at whatever point it feels right, one simply relaxes & moves on. It is a practice I learned reading the Buddhist nun Pema Chödrön's book: Taking the Leap- Freeing Ourselves from Old Habits and Fears