This is an excerpt from my upcoming project: From Fear to Faith. A book about my bout with anxiety and my many attempts out of it. I would love to hear what you think! Please note that this has not been edited. 

“ Knowing what is a root cause of something doesn’t mean that you get healed. I think so many times we hear that we need to get to the root of something in order to heal it. I believe that knowledge is key, but it does not mean that having knowledge makes you understand how to apply that knowledge. Having an understanding of what it is that causes my anxiety doesn’t free me from it. And sometimes having done years of work on it doesn’t either. This is not to say that there is not a route to freedom from the fearful behaviors. It is to say that the road is going to be different for everybody.

 I can offer all of the ways that I explored and attempted. I can share with you what worked and what didn’t. This doesn’t mean that I’ve done the work so that you don’t have to. Hopefully, you will listen to my story and create a great ending of your own. Don’t skip the traveling part. Even at the crappy times, it still was movement.

 Throughout these years, I have loved and I have lost. I have had my heart broken and mended…and broken some more, and finally mended by me. The road has been long and weary. I am standing on another one now and it’s not full of crap like the old one. It hasn’t been easy, and certainly hasn’t always been fun. This is life though! We forget sometimes when we are anxious, or depressed that life is happening all the time! We really can create our own destiny, but this means we can easily create our own hell. It is not intentional, and sometimes it is biological. It is up to you to figure out your triggers, and your source of relief. And when you do find your relief, don’t let anyone tell you that it is not the best choice. Along this road there will be many people giving you the ‘answers.’ It is up to you to listen to them, and then feel what resonates within you as something that you wish to pursue. This also applies to what I have to share.

 I took the long road, many times over. I am not an authority on how to heal. I have learned though how to keep trying. I have learned that settling for a crappy existence is a fate worse than death itself. I have also learned that there is something at the end of the rainbow, but you must be willing to ride the ride and slide down to find it. Life is full of surprises, but it is how we handle and view those surprises that counts.

When we are in a space of anxiety or depression, none of that seems to exist. For me I felt like I lived in a glass house, always afraid that it would shatter. I did not enjoy myself very often and when I did, I would follow it up with some sort of dooms day voice inside my head. I felt like life was a series of tally scores and anytime that I would go up, the other shoe would have to drop. That’s such a shame to feel that way.”

There are too many times when we don’t know what health care practicioner to go to when we have an issue. The best way to get treated properly is to know who treats what conditions.

Here is a list of what I think might help with that:
 
Physiology-Anatomy in motion. A physiologist tests your body on the various physiological processes including cardiac, exercise, and respiratory physiology.
 
Chiropractic-Stresses the body’s natural recuperative abilities. Emphasis is on the alignment of the spinal column and its effect on the nervous system.
 
Orthoedic Medicine-Specializes in the treatment of joints, bones and muscular system. Usually associated with sports medicine.
 
Osteopath-Emphasizes the body’s ability to heal itself. Stresses proper functioning of the body’s nervous system and musculoskeletal systems as well as the  body’s fluid systems to flow properly. Fully licensed to diagnose, prescribe drugs and perform surgery.
 
Podiatrist-Deals with issues in the feet and lower extremity.
 
Physical Therapy-Deal with a wide range of conditions. Uses physical medicine techniques-exercise, myofascial release/massage, hydrotherapy (water-ice/heat), ultrasound, joint mobilization. Works with post operative cases, neurologic conditions, stroke and paralysis cases and more. I like this work the best for post injury, operations.
 
Occupational Therapy- Use of work, self-care and play to prevent disability. Occupational therapy is specific to a population which has sustained injury, or born with certian inhabiting qualities that limit movement in daily life. Its function is to teach or re-teach tasks to achieve independence and a better quality of life.
 
 
Physiotherapy-Also referred as Physical Therapy is within conventional medicine. It is basically the same thing as Physical Therapy and generally practiced only by Physical Therapists. In some states it is associated with a Doctorate of Physical Therapy.
 
Acupucture-Chinese Medicine. Works with the whole body, mind and spirit. It is used with needles and herbs to treat the whole person. Many times when Western Medicine can’t treat something effectively, Acupuncture can. This can address so many different ailments it’s difficult to put into one catagory. Can help with serious illness, pain, auto-immune disorders, nausea, infertility and much more.

Psychologist-A theraist who does not prescribe medication but does help you get to the root cause of things. There is no hands on in this practice. It is talk therapy based. Trained in counseling.
 
Psychiatrist-A Doctor who does prescribe medicine for issues in the brain and thought/behavior patterns.
 
Hypnotherapy-Can allow you to escape from typical response and behavior that are not in your best interest by using light hypnosis. Know that when you go for hypnotherapy, you are still concious. You do know what is going on around you. It is way of reprogramming the responses to habits. It is commonly used for cessatin of smoking, weight loss, and release of trauma.

Naturopath-Based on the body’s abiliity to heal itself. Naturopaths use modalities such as herbs, homeopathy, acupuncture, massage, hydrotherapy, nutrition, exercise.
 
Shaman-Native American medicine person. Can use many techniques for healing. Herbs, soul retrival, extraction, prayer, and ritual. Can heal many root issues and help you to serve the Earth as your best self.
 
Massage Therapy-Manual soft tissue manipulation to positively effect the body. Massage has two main types of effect: Mechanical effects-direct physical effect on the tissues treated, and Reflex effects-indirect effect on the body functions and tissues through the response of the nervous or energy systems of the body.
 
Neuromuscular Therapy-Soft tissue manipulation involving ischemic compression on or near trigger points, gliding thumb strokes, skin rolling and stretching movements. A trigger point is noted when there is referring pain-meaning that when a certain muscle or soft tissue has pressure applied, there is pain radiating to another part of the body.
 
Rolfing-Developed by Ida Rolf. This is a method to realign the body in relationship to gravity. It frees up fascia and chronic tension patterns. It is considered a bit rough in its delivery, but highly effective. If your body has issues with chronic misalignemts, this is ideal.
 
Reflxology-Originated with the Chinese Zone Theory. It works with the feet to access and effect organs throughout the body.
 
Shiatsu-A modern Japanese system based on the Meridians and Asian Philosophy. It involves pressure on acupoints and various other physical manipulations to effect the flow of energy.

Acupressure-refers to any number of treatment systems that manipulate acupoints. Philosopyh comes from traditional Chinese Acupuncture. Includes touching, pressing or rubbing pressure points. Does not use needles or herbs. 

Manual Lymph Drainage-Developed by Dr. Emile Vodder is a series of gentle, rythmic movements to move protiens and tissue fluid to lymph nodes that are fully functioning. This is used for sinus issues, swelling, sprains, strains and lymphedema. Also for pre-post surgery to reduce swelling, bruising and scarring.
 
Polarity Therapy- Developed by Randolph Stone, Naturopath, Chiropractor and Osteopath.  Combines both Eastern and Western practices. Includes Diet, Exercise, and Thinking practices. Works with energy balancing.
 
Theraputic Touch-An energy practice used most commonly by nurses. It is well accepted in the medicine field. Works soley with the bodies energetic field, balances and heals.
 
Reiki-Developed in Japan and used in hospitals in Japan to this day. This is much like theraputic touch. It is a laying of the hands to balance and realign the energy channels of the body. I use this practice to help people get to an emotional release. The energy can help you release things that do not serve your highest good, and replenish the areas with unconditional love. The facilitator is simply a channel from spirit to you.
 
Alexander Technique-Movement education to relearn postural and movement habits.
 
Feldenkrais Method-Somatic education using awareness through movement, and functional integration.
 

*Chi/Ki/Prahna-Life force Energy

*fascia-Strong connective tissue covering muscle bundles.

*meridian-there are 12 chennels of Chi. These correspond to the main organs in the body.

Thai Massage-Assisted stretching. This is done on a mat on the ground. For the practicioner it is passive. The facilitator does all the work and you feel all the results!
 
Thai Yoga Therapy-A system that incorporates thai massage with yoga practice. It involves yoga postures, twisting and stretching led by a therapist.  

Ashiatsu-Used with the feet. The therapist holds on to the bars on the ceiling and is able to deliver a lot of pressure with their feet.