Wisdom from Priscilla Warner

“I think I had an unhappy childhood!” I announced to a therapist at the age of 58.

It’s amazing what my brain had done to hide that fact from me.

I’d developed a panic disorder at the age of 15. Terrified of the mental illness and sadness stalking my family, I’d self-medicated in high school, stashing a flask of vodka in my ever-present pocketbook. Over the next 40 years, however, with the help of anti-anxiety medication, I managed to build a wonderful life for myself. I married a loving husband, had two beautiful sons, and enjoyed success in several different careers.

In the skies above Oklahoma three years ago, in the middle of a book tour, I read about Tibetan monks who meditated so effectively that neuroscientists were studying their brains. “I want the brain of a monk,” I decided. I vowed to meditate my way from panic to peace.

I attended a retreat with a monk who’d cured his own panic disorder through meditation. I studied with other wise Buddhist teachers, and spent a year learning how to sit still. With the help of Somatic Experiencing and EMDR, two powerful therapies, I learned how to self-regulate and discharge the frightening physical symptoms of anxiety that had plagued me for decades….Continue reading at InspireMeToday.com.

Priscilla is the bestselling author of Learning to Breathe – My Yearlong Quest to Bring Calm to My Life and a co-author of The Faith Club.

Photo Credit: Gail Lynne Goodwin

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Despina V.

11:47PM PDT on Jul 3, 2012

Priscilla thank you for telling the truth and so glad you manage to find peace

July 3
send a green star

Mukesh R.

7:18AM PDT on Jul 3, 2012

thanks for sharing..

Marianne B.

8:35PM PDT on Jul 2, 2012

Hmm, I'll have to look up Somatic Experiencing and EMDR. never heard of them.When 2 of my daughters and their friend were teenagers, they had a car accident Memorial Day, and their friend died, the trauma of that day remains 30 years later. I had them in therapy afterwards, but May is still a bad month for them.(although, it was not their fault,the sadness and guilt remain).

July 2
send a green star

Emma R.

8:24PM PDT on Jul 2, 2012

I think everybody has some sort of panic issues..it is how you deal with it.... your body goes through many changes...if I feel panic I think of something else and try to relax.... IT WILL PASS eventually.

Mary M.

4:41PM PDT on Jul 2, 2012

Thank you for this beautiful article, you are an inspiration to all. God bless

Aditya n.

1:37PM PDT on Jul 2, 2012

great touching story..thanks for sharing

Shell S.

12:39PM PDT on Jul 2, 2012

Meditation is such a wonderful thing. Thanks for your story. : )

Nancy B.

10:12AM PDT on Jul 2, 2012

If we find peace within ourselves, we will find peace every where.

Michael M.

7:46AM PDT on Jul 2, 2012

Yes, way to go! There is nothing else as important as meditation to bring about both health and transformation. Yet it must also be added that meditation alone is not likely to cure mental illness, so it is great you added other modalities to your practice. What meditation will do is greatly accelerate whatever therapies you also use.

Norma V.

5:40AM PDT on Jul 2, 2012

Didn't most of us experience trauma or dysfunction growing up? It seems it takes decades before many of us are able to undo the damage. Way to go!