Just Breathe — It Seems So Simple

Beating anxiety with the air that I breathe.

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When I first started getting panic attacks regularly it was over 20 years ago, there little to no information out there on how to deal with them and the internet was not the wealth of well being websites that it is today.

My first stop off point in trying to combat my new demon was the doctor, who simply prescribed me anti-depressants; that was it. It was marked in my records that I have anxiety and depression and I was sent to the chemist to fill my script. No other support was offered.

I was generally led to believe that anxiety came from lack of confidence. I had started to hide myself away from the world, but mostly because I didn't want to have a panic attack while out. It was embarrassing — the thought of being out in a pub or club while everyone else was having so much fun, I would be hiding in corner somewhere trying not to draw attention to myself.

A friend introduced me to tai-chi which was great, but I got really impatient with the slow movements. It wasn’t for me.

I enrolled in Mauy Thai boxing which was much more my pace, and I figured it would help with my ‘confidence issue’ — it did up to a point. However, I was still having panic attacks, and then, unfortunately after a year or so, I injured my…