My anxiety has had peaks and valleys over the years, but I really wanted to dig a little deeper and reveal how bad my anxiety got. Not to scare you, but to shed light on how bad anxiety CAN get and how you can still pull yourself out. I also share the different things that enlightened me in the darkest hours. 

I met Ron when I was so crippled by my phobias (fear of flying being the main one) and reached out to him on a whim. He was the key to unlocking my fear of flying, but what I didn't expect was how this knowledge would also open up huge doors in my life altogether. He specifically talked about the brain and it's role in anxiety. It's everything. And understanding WHAT my brain was doing and WHY, shifted everything for me. Knowledge is power. Known as Capt Ron to many thousands of fearful flyers he has helped since 1987, he is an internationally recognized fear of flying expert. As a recognized authority in human factors and pilot performance, Ron designed and delivered programs to reduce the likelihood of aviation accidents due to human error. His love of aviation and curiosity about the role of psychology in pilot performance led him to an M.A. in Professional Counseling and a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Human Resources.  Ron has devoted most of his adult life exploring learning technologies to understand how adults best learn. Captain Ron is also the author and creator of Chicken Soup for the Soul Presents The FearlessFlight Kit®. He is a keynote speaker on fear of flying, conflict resolution, performance management, and the paradox of personality.  As an aviation industry expert, he has been featured on The Today Show, Weekend Live, NBC's Nightly News, CSNBC, and MSNBC. He has also been featured in nationally recognized publications like USA Today, the Washington Post, and the Wall Street Journal.

To medicate or not to medicate? It can be such a controversial decision and discussion. In this episode, I tell you my experience with medication and the huge epiphany I had 5 years ago that truly changed my life. 

In this episode, you'll find out who the heck I am and why I'm doing this podcast. Hopefully, you'll also find a soft place to land and feel a sense of community. I struggled with panic attacks and anxiety for nearly 30 years, which ultimately manifested in a diagnosis of Ulcerative Colitis 5 years ago. I am currently in remission from both. I share my story and offer tips and tricks to handle panic attacks and start feeling better TODAY.