I took part in a new experience yesterday, Reader. And if you know me, you know that new stuff can bring about some good old fashioned anxious feelings.

This most recent event took place at my chiropractic appointment; a usually harmless event where I leave feeling all straightened out (albeit each time I do feel like he may snap my neck and murder me right then and there).

This week he added in a new form of "treatment" in the form of traction. Now, this "treatment" device actually looks like it's made for torture so that didn't set me up well.

I laid down as directed and the tech proceeded to strap me to this table in a million places.

Now I do not suffer from any intense anxiety disorder. Just the good basic stuff that we all experience here and there. And the feeling of claustrophobia and not being able to move are probably my top triggers.

Needless to say, as he began to move the table up, down, and all around and my body began to bend in ways that did.not.feel.comfortable, I began to panic.

He could tell I was well, freaking out, so he stopped the adjustments fearful that he broke me somehow.

I reminded him it was my first time (go easy on me) and mentioned that it was more mental pain than physical (how very technical of me). He said he'd not push it as far as the back cracker prescribed and for that I was grateful.

But I was still pretty miserable. I was strapped down by my shoulders, hips, and chest. My head was literally hanging on a strap and my lower body was being both pulled away from the rest of me and pushed up simultaneously.

Okay, thanks for sticking with me through this montage; here's where the help comes in...

Throughout the 8 minutes I was pulled and pushed by this table contraption I dug deep into my toolbox. Here's what worked for me:

• closed my eyes (who wants to stare up at your torturer?)
• focused on slowing my breath down - really attended to its in & out
• reminded myself that this was in fact not torture and it had a greater purpose - to feel better!
• acknowledged my anxious/panic feeling - literally said in my head "I see I'm feeling anxious now. This situation IS uncomfortable."
• accepted the feeling - let it be there, didn't try to push it away, continued to do all the above steps too and let the anxiety hang out (without growing)

That last one can be the hardest but the most worthwhile. That's where we get to the good stuff. Did I feel 100% better and love the traction experience?

Hard no.

But I did get through it without my panic worsening and I may even let them pull me apart next time, too.

So Reader, next time you find yourself in a situation that leads to some yucky feelings, would you give these a try? I sure hope it helps.

xo

P.S. Don't forget to share my bootcamp session with a friend! It's the 2-hour jumpstart she may be looking for!