creative maverick

Yesterday as I was walking back to the officespace I sometimes work at, I saw a young woman collapse just ahead of me. Some people nearby rushed to help her into the building to sit down.

She said that she suddenly felt numb down one side of her body. It sounded like she was having a stroke and I urged one of the staff to call an ambulance immediately. The ambulance came within minutes and by that point the woman was feeling faint and completely numb on her left side.

I was shocked to witness someone falling so ill so quickly and was worried what would happen for her.

Today I discovered that it was not in fact a stroke or heart attack. She had suffered a panic attack; a sudden overwhelming bout of anxiety. Panic attacks happen when negative thoughts feed back on themselves and escalate to the point where some very startling physical symptoms occur - which in turn generate more negative thoughts.

A thought is a very powerful thing. If negative thoughts can produce paralysis, what can positive thoughts produce?

Choose yours wisely.