Part 1: Mica Tries Therapy for Panic Attacks and Resources for Starting Therapy
/Storytelling is such a powerful way of learning, we thought we would embed the principles that we promote into a storyline. The people in this story are fictional; any similarities to real people are by chance. At the end we provide commentary and material that you might find interesting. We are continuously looking for ways to help you and the people you connect to be at your best. This is a new approach for us; your feedback and engagement will help determine if we continue in this new format.
Mica remembers having anxiety her whole life. Even as a little kid, she was always worrying about her family. When her mother drank, she would yell at Mica and her sister about being stupid and lazy. As Mica made her way through school and then started working, she has been able to control her anxiety or step through it. However, five months ago her mother died suddenly of cancer. Mica was there when the doctor gave her mother the diagnosis. As cancer took control of her mother's body, Mica was the one to care for her. Her older sister, Luca, lived in another state and came as often as she could.
At first, Mica was grieving, which she understood. However, two months ago, Mica had her first full-blown panic attack. Now the panic attacks are starting to happen weekly, and her anxiety is so much higher than she ever remembered. A close friend referred her to her trusted therapist, Tanya.
Mica was nervous about the first appointment. However, just walking into the office seemed to help. She was taking action and asking for help. After getting through the initial paperwork, Tanya opened with "Over the phone, you said that you were hoping therapy could help with your anxiety and panic attacks. Can you tell me a little more about what’s been happening and when this all started?"
As Mica explained about the loss of her mother, the stress of care-taking, and the onset of the panic attacks, her words came faster and faster, her breathing shallower and shallower. Tanya found the right moment and said, "I’m so sorry about your mother. It sounds like the last six months have been really hard. You’re doing a great job bringing me up to speed, and I can see that it’s tough for you. Can I ask you some questions about your life today?"
Mica, feeling like she had been holding her breath, took a deep breath before answering "Sure, that would be fine."
Tanya said, "This may seem off-topic, but I’m wondering what you typically eat in a day. How we fuel our bodies has an impact on how our brains process information and how we feel in our bodies."
Mica was surprised by the question and somewhat relieved because it wasn’t about her Mom. "I used to be pretty good about having 2-3 meals a day. And when I was caring for Mom, I would eat with her to help her get calories in because she was losing weight so fast. But now, I’m never hungry. I usually eat small snacks like muffins, candy, and chips sometime during the day. After work, I stop and get a sandwich or salad, and ice cream. I eat most of the salad or sandwich. Now that I think about it, ice cream is my main meal...”.
Tanya asks, "Have you had anything to eat today?"
Mica replied, "No, not really."
Tanya looks compassionately at Mica, "Can I offer you some juice and nuts? I think part of why you might feel anxious right now is that your brain is not fueled very well. Meeting a new person can be stressful, some fuel for your brain might be helpful. Generally, juice and nuts help people to feel better in about 5 to 10 minutes. Would you like me to get you some?" Mica recalled now that there was a basket of juice boxes and little bags of nuts in the waiting room. She thought to herself; those must be for the other anxious people who see Tanya. Mica replied, "Please, that does sound helpful."
In this starting story about Mica and Tanya, Tanya offers Mica a lizard brain treat to help fuel Mica's brain and body. Since Mica has not eaten all day, her body is likely using hormones to stimulate her liver to create glucose for her brain. One of those hormones is adrenalin. The adrenalin is shifting her from her smart-responsive cortex brain to her reactive-limbic-lizard brain. This could be accelerating Mica's anxiety.
The basics of a lizard brain treat are that they contain an easily absorbed sugar that will quickly reach the brain and turn off the demand for glucose, reducing the adrenalin and supplying the body and brain with a fast-burning fuel (juice that contains sugars). Following this with a slow-burning fuel (nuts that contain protein) will help people stay in their smart-responsive cortex brains longer, which provides a more stable filter for thoughts and emotions. Here is a link to more information about lizard brain treats.
If we were sitting together having a warm beverage, here are some questions I would be excited to ask:
How do you feel when you’re around someone who is in their reactive-limbic-lizard brain?
What lizard brain treats have you tried for yourself and others? Were they helpful?
Are there times or places in your life where you might be able to help someone by offering a lizard brain treat?
Do you have a way to carry, store, or offer lizard brain treats to offer to people who might be in their reactive-limbic-lizard brain?
If you have the time and want to share with us, we’re curious about your experiences with the questions above. Also – do you have questions about providing lizard brain treats to the people you connect with who might have anxiety, irritation, or agitation?
More Resources:
I am often in the position to refer people to mental health professionals both in my professional life and in personal life. Helping someone like Mica understand how to find a therapist and what is going to happen in therapy are important parts of getting them to take action to get help. I have included some useful articles that may help you or someone you connect to.
11 Things You Must Know About Starting Therapy by Dr. Greg Kurshnick
How To Find the Right Therapist for You by Andera Peterson
Research:
Here is a link to one of the most important studies that shows diets high in processed food are a contributing cause of depression and anxiety