Holy Basil Tea for Anxiety (Tulsi Tea)
31 Jan 2012 5 Comments
in Anxiety / Panic Attacks Tags: anxiety, Holy Basil, Tea
Jill at PanicFreeMe.com wrote about Holy Basil Tea and how it helped with her anxiety. I’ve had it a while but had not given it a real try until today.
I did drink it before, but only on really stressful days, days that I also took ativan. So I didn’t really know if it was helping or not.
This is the week my hormones are in overdrive and I feel like my skin is crawling. This is the hardest week of the month. I really don’t want to depend on ativan every day this week! So I made myself some tea this morning.
I love it! I will definitely be drinking this more often!
This is the link to what I bought on amazon: Organic India Tulsi Tea
I have no idea why it is called both Holy Basil Tea And Tulsi Tea. I could probably google it but don’t really care to I guess. Ha. All I know is it was nice. It was not like I got a buzz or anything like that. I just felt calmer soon after I drank it. That’s all. And that’s what I needed.
Now, wondering where I can buy this in bulk…. It’d be nice to find it some place local.
Jill also mentioned that you are supposed to be able to chew on the holy basil leaves too. Strangely, I think I’d like that. I like chewing on sunflower seed shells, so why not tea leaves right?
I might have to try some thing like this: Loose Leaf Herbal Tea with Holy Basil
Thanks Jill :)
Clearing My Head
30 Jan 2012 Leave a Comment
in Anxiety / Panic Attacks, Health & Happiness Tags: Quiet Time, slow down, venting
I want to post but what shall I say?
I have been too busy. I often think of things I want to blog about it. By the time I’m able to sit down at the computer though – it’s like my mind is blank. I feel rushed all day long. I think that is the main problem. I’m not even giving my brain down time. If I do have some time to sit and browse the internet mindlessly, I feel guilty the entire time because I should be doing XYZ. Whatever that may be.
I really need to clear my head. The problem right now is that it is the end of the month and I have too many work projects with January 31st deadlines. So it will slow down soon. 2 days left – ack!
Work is busy. So busy I am staying up too late and not getting enough sleep.
What else? This is week #3 of me getting up earlier in the morning. My goal is to be up before the kids so I can have some quiet time. Most mornings this has worked. I’m pretty proud of this, especially since I have been working late too. And I need my sleep! I am not usually a morning person. Well I used to be. I haven’t been for a while though. I’m trying to change that. If you are interested, here is a little motivation for getting up earlier in the mornings: Maximize Your Mornings
Morning quiet time has been awesome though. I am reading through a daily devotional by Joyce Myers. It works through the Bible app on my ipod touch. (Link here: http://www.youversion.com/reading-plans/promises-for-your-everyday-life)
I haven’t read my bible daily in years so I’m feeling good about this. The devotions are short and take just a few minutes, which is probably why it works for me.
I have also been attempting to do meal planning for the week. This has been interesting because we are also doing our own version of the “Pantry Challenge” right now too! Info on the Pantry Challenge idea can be found here: http://goodcheapeats.com/2011/12/join-me-for-a-pantry-challenge/
Our freezer was overflowing – as in I had to put paint cans on top of it to keep it closed – and who knows what was way down deep in there. So we are trying to eat out of there as much as possible and avoid grocery shopping as much as possible. I still shop weekly though I’ve found. Fruit and veggies, milk, eggs, etc. But I can close the freezer now without the help of the paint cans so that is a plus. The main thing in my freezer? Shredded Zucchini! I do that every year with the garden surplus. It’s great for bread, muffins, crab cakes. Yesterday I found a package marked 2004 though! Ick. Anyway, it’s been interesting.
Oh – and a great accomplishment that I set up about 2 weeks ago! We now have a “command center” in our home. Sounds hokey I know but that is what the organized internet world calls it :) It is great! We always have piles all over the kitchen counter – mail, school papers, magazines, etc. Drove me nuts. And I constantly lose things in that pile! So I rearranged my office some and put a desk, filing box, & bulletin board in one corner. It is beautiful and organized. I did take before pics of the counter and of the new space. If I remember to get those off the camera soon, I will post them.
Basketball is still in full swing for Kid3. Lots of practices, games, and scrimmages for me to attend and hope that the exposure therapy works in my battle against anxiety & panic attacks.
Hubby? He’s still good. Most days :)
Hopefully this post broke the ice, or writer’s block, or whatever my problem was and I will get back to my blogging therapy.
Happy Monday all.
Lovey Dovey Couple Update
18 Jan 2012 2 Comments
in Marriage Tags: Marriage is Hard
Remember the lovey dovey couple that made me sick?
I am so sad for them. Turns out that there was an affair. Their neighbors split up last summer. These families were good friends. They had back yard barbeques together, their kids are friends, they were nice neighbors. Too nice apparently. I’m sure you know where I’m going with this. Neighbor hubby walked in on his wife and lovey dovey guy doing the hanky panky.
So the neighbor couple split up. Rumor has it that neighbor wife has shacked up with her meth dealer now. They have a lovely picture together on facebook. Laying on the bed together, glassy eyes and all. She will regret that picture someday. Hopefully someday soon.
Lovey dovey couple are sticking it out so far. When I heard this news from my friend, I told her about the track meet and how sickeningly sweet they were being with each other. She said lovey dovey wife is bound and determined to hold onto her man and make sure everyone knows they are still happy? or still together? or…? I don’t know what she wants people to think.
When did all this happen? Last summer. I don’t know if it was before or after the track meet. If it was before, then my guess is that lovey hubby was in “desperate to convince my wife not to dump me” mode. If it was after, my guess is that lovey hubby was in “Oh God I hope my wife doesn’t find out!” mode. You know, like when hubbies bring their wives flowers ‘for no reason’ because they are feeling guilty about something.
Either way, it was fake. I should have known better. It was too good to be real. Or too nauseating to be real actually.
Another lesson in not comparing my marriage to others.
Anxiety: Basketball Bleachers & A Dream
16 Jan 2012 3 Comments
in Anxiety / Panic Attacks Tags: anxiety, basketball, bleachers, panic attacks
So far this season I have attended 3 scrimmages & 2 Basketball Games.
I count them separately because they are at different locations and the scrimmages are easier. There are no bleachers at the scrimmages. We sit along the court on the floor or on fold-out chairs. I can sit wherever I want. That’s easier.
The first basketball game at the Y was rough. That was 2 weeks ago. Actually the car ride there was worse than the game. The game was at 4pm so I had all day Saturday to get my nerves in a flutter. And by the time we left, wow. I did take an ativan before we left the house. The ride there was very uncomfortable. Hubby was driving so I didn’t even have that to control. I had no control. I felt out of control. I felt like throwing up. Hubby was cold and was blasting the heat, I was sweating to death. I cracked my window for some air and tried to act normal. I pretended I was fine and that always helps.
Usually when we get there we have to wait outside the gym in the lobby until the game before ours ends. It gets SO PACKED. Well Praise God, the other game ended early and there was no waiting. We went in and found a seat in the bleachers. I excused myself to go to the bathroom and composed myself a bit - deep breathing and reciting everything I ever learned about panic attacks. I didn’t like where we sat but I didn’t get to pick the location and I was trying to go along with it instead of making a scene. The first 10 minutes or so were not so great. Those feelings of wanting to scream or puke or just get the hell out of there can be overwhelming, can’t they?!
But I persevered. And it got better.
Last weekend it was easier. The car ride was easier. The bleachers were easier. I am still not able to just sit still while we are waiting for it to start. I fidget and have to play with things – like my camera. Or my phone. Or dig in my purse for whatever. I want to get to that place where I am just content to sit & be. I remember how that feels. I took it for granted for years! Now it is a dream I am pursuing.
Blogging in My Head
13 Jan 2012 1 Comment
in Health & Happiness Tags: blogging, therapy
That’s all I seem to have time for…
It’s still good therapy though! I think things through. I tell the story in my head and it gives me a better perspective.
He thought it would be nice.
03 Jan 2012 3 Comments
in Marriage Tags: happy hubby, love languages, marriage improvement
Today hubby & I went on a lunch date. His idea. Yep! Nothing fancy but anytime we go somewhere and it’s just the 2 of us, we call it a date:) It doesn’t happen very often! (The kids went back to school today.) He was getting ready to go for tractor parts (of course) and I was on a work call. He kept pacing in the office waiting for me to get off the phone. When I got off the phone he started talking about how he thought it would be nice if we went to Subway for lunch. But then he decided we should just eat what’s in the fridge and save some money. He told me in detail what he was going to eat when he got back from the store. I was dressed but had not ‘done my face’ as my grandmother would say. Or my hair. And he was babbling on about leftovers so it wasn’t an issue anyway. He left for the store.
And then it hit me. My hubby had (kinda) planned a date for us! He NEVER does that so when I realized it, I felt horrible! I wished I had jumped for joy and went with him. (Even though he is the one who decided against it.) But this was huge so I couldn’t let it go. The fact that he even had those thoughts is wonderful.
So I text him. “Awe! I’ll go to Subway w u! That’s nice. Come back?”
And I went into the bathroom to put my contacts in and do my face. I heard the front door open and I peeked around the corner. He just smiled and sat down on the bench by the door to wait.
So we went to Subway for lunch.
He laughed about my text and told me he had thought of going to lunch that morning. He thought it would be nice. He thought I would like that.
Yep, I liked it.
As I’ve said before, my main love language is Words of Affirmation. His is Quality Time. This was quality time I could give to him. I still don’t get very many Words of Affirmation. BUT. The words he has been using in general are so much kinder than they used to be. That’ll work :)
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