THANK YOU FOR READING THIS WONDERFUL AND BRAVE STORY OF MY HOMEGIRL LAUREN.
IF YOU DON'T KNOW ALREADY, SHE WAS MY BANDAID FOR WHEN I FIRST STARTED HAVING PANIC ATTACKS. SHE WOULD ANSWER MY PHONE CALLS ANY HOUR OF THE DAY!
- SHE HELPED ME UNDERSTAND THAT I WAS NOT ALONE AND THAT SHE HAS BEEN SECRETLY FEELING THE SAME WAY FOR THE PAST 18+ YEARS.
I ASKED HER TO BE BRAVE AND TELL HER GHOST STORY... AND HERE IT IS.
LOVE YOU SISTA!
" Hi I'm L, A's big sister
WHAT I FEEL DEFINES ME: My trauma is hard to explain because it is self-inflicted as well as letting others traumatize me since I was young. Also, it has been mental and physical trauma, which can be hard to deal with.
STORY: My panic attacks manifest into other internal problems. Having asthma exasperates the attacks that make it really difficult to breathe which can spook me into thinking it’s worse than it actually is. I've been having them since I can remember, but dealing with them since I was about 15.
HOW DO I FEEL? I’m definitely a work in progress, as most people are. But I’m trying new tactics all the time to find the right fit.
HEALING: How I cope is through a lot of arts & crafts. They keep me focused long enough to block out things but aren’t particularly draining. Also, lots of “self care” things (hair masks, face masks, breathing exercises, and stretching)
BANDAIDS: I've tried lots of different medication and life style changes for my anxiety, depression, migraines, and fibromyalgia and none of them have been successful but I will keep trying with all the different avenues to just live a normal life. "
MY SISTER IS A BADASS AND A VERY KIND SOUL. SHE IS ONE OF THE STRONGEST (AND MOST STUBBORN) PEOPLE I KNOW AND THAT IS WHY I LOVE HER.
HANG IN THERE SISTA AND WRITE US WHEN YOU FEEL YOU NEED!