My journey with anxiety

During my teenage years I would suffer excruciating, chest tightening pains to the point that I would lose breathe, burst into tears and clutch at my heart area concerned that I was having a heart attack. After multiple doctors tests and days spent wearing machines that measured my heartbeat, all doctors could tell me was that I had an extremely slow heartbeat. Much to my dismay that solved none of the problems I was currently experiencing.

For the next few years I continued to suffer erratic chest pains. Doctors trialled me on medication, yet I would still continue to experience moments of uncontrollable panic, piercing pain and shortness of breath. I stopped telling my parents what was happening because I knew it would only worry them. I would erratically take my medication which was pointless in assisting anything and I felt like I was in a constant state of worry. 

I had seen so many medical professionals over the years who unfortunately couldn't get to the root of the problem, so I sought more holistic help. I sought help from a wellness professional. 

After a couple of episodes she sat me down and she asked me, 'are you a worrier? You mentioned that your Grandmother and your mother tend to worry, do you also?' Without a second thought I knew the answer was yes. I worried about absolutely everything.

She ran me through what she thought was happening. She explained to me that worrying can range in severity and what I was experiencing was anxiety. After much research it all made sense - the hot and cold flushes, the tightening of the chest, the snowballing of worries that quickly turned into an avalanche. At first it was hard to control. The panic would still come and go, but at least I knew why the pain was occurring. 

Eventually I developed steps and a routine that would assist with my anxiety. For any of my readers that may experience anxiety I thought it would be nice to share what worked for me. Although they may seem quite trivial and basic, it is often the simplest of tasks that make the biggest difference: 

-       Take time out

-       Breath deeply

-       Exercise daily

-       Sleep

-       Eat well

I have unfortunately run out of time and am rushing between jobs to get this up, so stay tuned as my next posts I will run you through exactly what I do to calm myself on a daily basis to get through moments of anxiety. 

For those of you out there not coping feel free to touch base, shoot me an email. I understand exactly how it feels and am always here to listen. In the meantime be calm, slow down your breathing and remember this too shall pass. 

Marlow Lou

xoxo

Protein Packed Pancakes

I never eat pancakes. When I say never I cannot even tell you the last time I ordered some for myself or took a bite of someone else's. I used to have an obsession with 'healthy foods' and pancakes was never on my healthy food list - saddening I know. 

I am still inclined to labelling foods as healthy and unhealthy - not a habit I would recommend nor is it a correct indication of how food should be consumed - however, I am getting better at stepping outside of my comfort zone. AKA I finally decided to make some pancakes (cue the percussion and cheers from the crowd). 

I still enjoy eating well so I wasn't going to gorge on a sugar laden and simple carbohydrate filled recipe. Instead I was going to source and make one full of delicious and wholesome ingredients that wouldn't leave my body feeling gluggy and my mind feeling guilty.


Ingredients

• 100g oats
• 2 free-range eggs
• 100g cottage cheese
•  1 banana 
• 1 pinch of baking powder
• 1 splash of your milk of choice (used soy milk)

Toppings

• Almond butter
• Honey
• Chobani yoghurt
• 4 Fresh figs
• 1 pear
• 1 apple
• 1 handful of pomegranate seeds
• (I used whatever fresh fruit I had at home which ended up being a pear, apple and blueberries)
  

Method

1. Pop all pancake ingredients (excluding oil) into a blender until smooth
2. If the mixture is too thick just add a little more milk
3. Prepare all your toppings into small bowls. 
4. I peeled and grated the pear and apple, then tossed with the blueberries. I then set the toppings aside until ready to plate. 
5. Heat a frying pan over a medium heat, brush with oil.
6. Drop heaped tablespoons of the batter into the pan and cook for three minutes, or until little bubbles start to from on the surface. 
7. Flip and cook the other side until lightly golden and cooked through. Transfer to plate. 
8. Layer the pancakes up with the fruit and almond butter, drizzle over the honey and spoon on the yoghurt. 
9. Now eat :D 

You&Me

~ Maybe the journey isn't so much about becoming anything. Maybe its about un-becoming everything that isn't really you, so you can be who you were meant to be in the first place ~

Unknown 

~ Like wildflowers; you must allow yourself to grow in all the places people thought you never would ~

E.V.

Outfit Details:

Jacket, slip dress and hat - Op Shop finds

Shoes - Diana Ferrari 

Photographer - H.Landford

SENSITIVE RESOLUTIONS

I am constantly searching for inspiration and motivation, regularly scrolling through pages of novels and websites for people, places and things that stimulate me. Last week I was doing just that and came across health and wellness blogger, Caroline Groth. I get so excited when I come across someone with a love of life, a deep honesty for hardships but an overall positive energy; Caroline is all of those things and more. Oh and did I mention her love for my favourite meal of the day, breakfast?!

I spent the day scrolling through each post, ‘stalking’ her Instagram, envying her amazing outlook on life, epic food posts and loving all the thoughts she cared to share with her followers. There was one Instagram photo (I can’t remember what it looked like probably some amazing photo of her in a tricky Yoga pose or of her delicious breakfast), anyway, the photo was followed by the following caption:

'I used to dislike being sensitive. I thought it made me weak. But take away that single trait, and you take away the very essence of who I am. You take away my conscience, my ability to empathize, my intuition, my creativity, my deep appreciation of the little things, my vivid inner life, my keen awareness to others pain and my passion for it all. Love who you are and every little bits that come with it'

This one post connected with me immediately as I am one sensitive soul. Like Caroline, I hated being sensitive and often viewed it as an extremely negative attribute to have, that was until I read this! I can say with complete honesty that yes sometimes I am WAY to sensitive, but her words made me take on a different approach towards my sensitive nature. Instead of viewing it negatively I could now see that this one trait did provide me with so many other things that I overlook. My empathy for others, my intuition into how people are feeling, my love for all things, my ability to understand and my passion for love and life.

I was dumbfounded that a single paragraph could change my whole outlook on the person I am. This has taught me to always keep my mind open to knew interpretations and everything can be made into a positive, we just have to see it that way.   

Check out Caroline's blog Greener Resolutions, and please note all images were taken from her personal Instagram which can be found here.

YOGA

I have weight trained for a couple of years now and although my strength has improved my flexibility has not. As important it is to hit the gym and to lift weights, it is also really important to stretch out those sore, tightened muscles (something I neglect to do on a regular basis).

I have started doing a 30 minute stretching/yoga class in my bedroom every day with the hope of loosening up my muscles, gaining flexibility whilst also creating a longer leaner body. Right now touching my toes is difficult however positivity is key and soon I will have my legs behind my head… Maybe not, but you get the point. 

Yogis I am coming for you.

This is terrible! But hey we all have to start somewhere ;)

peace of mind