How I found the secret to overcoming anxiety.
A new way to beat anxiety and panic.
I was 17 years old, taking a test in high school when I had my first panic attack. It started with the feeling that something was gripping my chest, tighter and tighter. My breath got shallow and I couldn’t breathe as my throat closed. The world around me slowed and my vision blurred. My heart pounded in my chest, I couldn't think clearly anymore. The sensation of being trapped overwhelmed me. I felt like I would faint, suffocate, or die from a heart attack all at once. I got up, handed in my unfinished test, and left the classroom. Within 1 minute, these terrible feelings went away. Was my body giving up on me, or was I just getting crazy?
This moment changed my life. I kept getting panic attacks and all I could think about was: when will it happen again? The more I feared it, the stronger the attacks became. At this moment it wasn't just the panic attacks anymore, it was a constant anxiety that had taken over my life.
6 months later I was diagnosed with an anxiety and panic disorder. The first thing my doctor told me was, 'You will never be able to overcome it, it's just something you have to live with.' It was a difficult time as I still didn’t understand what was happening to me. I didn't feel like myself anymore and the constant fear of those physical symptoms was taking over my life, controlling every decision I made. At some point, I even moved cities and bought a rusty old car, all to avoid public transportation. I felt like no one understood me, not even my doctor or therapist.
For years, I tried to cope with my anxiety using traditional methods such as exposure therapy, meditation, and distraction techniques. But nothing seemed to work, so my only option was (like my doctor told me) to just live with it. I avoided every situation that could trigger my anxiety. No more traveling, no parties, no public transport, no dinners, no cinemas, no elevators, and much more.
“Just live with it”
A discovery that changed my life.
But the problem was, my anxiety only grew worse. At some point, it got so bad that I even started getting panic attacks in my own house, the only place left that felt safe. Normal things like taking a shower became a challenge, and I knew something had to change…
Then I made a decision. I was so tired of being controlled by fear, that I put all my time and energy into studying everything I could find about anxiety, the brain, and the body. This became the number 1 priority in my life for months. Then I made a discovery that changed everything…
What everyone is getting wrong.
When you ask someone: What is the worst part of your anxiety? They'll say: dizziness, a tight throat, pounding heart, nausea, or any other of the terrible physical sensations. But never do they say: it's the thinking. It's those physical symptoms that give power to your anxiety. If anxiety was just a mental issue, it would be annoying but not life-wrecking. Simply overthinking wouldn't prevent you from living your life and doing the things you love.
Unfortunately, anxiety is still seen as a mental disorder and treated as such. They'll tell you it's all in your mind, but here's the thing: people think the mind is in your head, but that's a mistake. Your brain is in your head; your mind is in your whole body. Once you understand this, you can start using your body to change the state of your mind.
While studying this subject, I learned that many people were able to overcome mental disorders, simply by changing the state of their body. Think about this: if you no longer had the physical symptoms of anxiety and panic, would it still be a problem?
With that in mind, I made a huge list of all the possible solutions I could find and started trying them one by one. The change was incredible. After more than five years of suffering, I was finally able to see my friends, travel, and think about my future without anxiety holding me back. I became my true self again, and it only took a few weeks.
I've since spoken with many people who've done the same, getting rid of anxiety and improving other mental problems like OCD, depression or bipolar disorder, simply by using physiology. Now it's my goal to help as many people as possible to do the same.
So how does it work? It's actually really simple. The first step is to understand how anxiety works. This will give you a better idea what you’re dealing with and why standard methods don’t work.
The second step is something I call tool-stacking. Using the right tools will help you to get rid of the physical symptoms. This is different for everybody. Nutrients, body hacks, breathing techniques, exercises, and much more can be used to get your body in an optimal state. Once this is achieved, you'll already feel 90% better!
After that, it's time to focus on the mental aspect. When you've lived with anxiety for a long time, you've developed certain thinking patterns. Even though your anxiety is gone, your brain may still try to convince you to stay at home and be safe. But don't worry; this is very easy to fix. You can rewire your brain to adopt a new perspective, and then it’s time to finally start living a normal life again.
The solution.
3 steps to an anxiety-free life
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1 on 1 coaching
Online coaching where I’ll personally guide you in overcoming your anxiety and panic attacks. Coaching sessions can be done through text or calls, whichever makes you feel most comfortable.
Group coaching
A non-judgmental space for people to connect with others who are facing the same challenges while getting guidance as a group. Members have access to guest lectures, training video’s, panic attack support and much more.
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Free e-book
The first step towards getting your life back. This e-book will teach you how nutrition deficiency can cause a wide range of anxiety symptoms and how to fix these.
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A free source of information which takes less than 5 minutes to read, sent to your inbox every Friday. I’ll share all the tools that helped me get rid of anxiety and provides Q&A sessions, bonuses and much more.