I came out of the womb with thin skin. No, I wasn't see-through. I had major sensory overloads and would constantly worry about everything.
I was the "offical member if the weenie club", my parents would tease. I always hated roller coasters, germs, airplanes, spiders, tight spaces, loud noises, and so on. Some say that it is normal for a kid to be sensitive and fearful to all these things, but they never went away. Even now, I struggle with some things and I just have to teach myself to get over it.
You know that feeling when your heart starts beating really fast out of your chest, your hands get sweaty, and you have a pit in your stomach? That's what I feel almost 60 percent of the time. I've never been diagnosed with anything mental. No "prescribed anxiety", that would just make me feel more anxious than ever. I don't take medicine, but I do think that a lot of it is just my obsessive personality can't handle too many things at once.
If you know me, you'd say that I'm one of the chilliest of cucumbers out there. My facial expressions are so laid back and calm. Looks can be deceiving, y'all.
It was never easy being Natalie.
When I wasn't being distracted by the sunshine and rainbows of life, I was a pretty introverted kid. I still am. I am trying to become more open to things and try new things. I just had duck egg and jellyfish yesterday! Call that for being introverted. I went on five roller coasters at Disney World last week. Call that for being introverted. I slept on a bus for 20 hours. Call that for being brave.
When my stomach hurts because of anxiety, and when I get that uncomfortable and familiar feeling, I have a few remedies and things I do to help. The first thing that I usually do, that I have recently discovered, is pressure points. I place my thumb on my cupid's bow and press until I feel calmer. I know it's weird, but just think of why babies suck their thumbs, same concept. Just grown up!
I also make sure to have some type of menthol or lavender scented thing with me. I remember bringing around a Mr. Sketch mint marker on airplanes to sniff (I don't condone inhaling markers) every time I felt anxious. You could also bring essential oils or chew mint gum.
I also have taken medicine like Dramamine on trips to settle my stomach. I normally take it when I am anxious, not just for motion sickness. Usually one helps and then if I need more I can always pop another one in. If there are any other meds or vitamins that any of you have used to help calm down, all tips and advice are welcome.
I know that the most helpful and easiest way to immediately calm myself down is to listen to music. Some Ellie Goulding or Mormon Tabernacle Choir never hurt nobody.
Food can also sometimes be the answer to an anxious stomach. I feel for anyone who doesn't like to eat when they're anxious when that's really all we need sometimes. You get the feeling that you need food, but your body hurts too much to consume literally anything. Sometimes you have to force yourself to eat like a granola bar just so that your stomach settles. Drinking water can help, too. Never caffeine.
I feel like my life can be one of those Lyrica commercials. Just one big list of side effects. I hope I can help relate to anyone who feels the same way. It's so hard not being able to tell someone that you're just not feeling good because of so many reasons you can't name. For all of my anxious fish out there, you're not alone.
