Fog

Oh hi!

Just me Dunky here on a beautiful frosty Sunday in Illinois. A few weeks ago I experienced some really weird weather. Mom called it "fog." It was wild! I went out into my yard to go potty and I could barely see anything in front of me! Good thing I've got an excellent nose to lead the way…well...ok…truth- I just followed my brother everywhere. :)

The fog reminded me of different periods of my life. Sometimes my brain has been so fuzzy (not in the cute-Muppet-sort of way, but in the nothing-makes-sense sort of way), it's felt like I'm living in a fog. Anxiety can overwhelm all of my senses and make me lose track of who I am. One time when I lived in Wheaton, IL my fenced-in back yard was being worked on, so I had to go potty on a leash in the front yard. Quite the inconvenience, let me tell you. Of all days, the weather decided to be a jerk and thunder and lightening while I was ON A LEASH IN THE FRONT YARD. Needless to say, that didn't go well. I freaked out so badly, I fought my way out of a harness (mom still isn't sure how that was possible), and ran. Luckily I just panic-ran to the front door and not into the busy road. Mom was a bit of a mess, but once she regained her senses, she ran over, grabbed my collar, and got me inside. I'm normally a super obedient dog. I love to please people. Except dad, sometimes I growl at him, but that's beside the point. The lightening and thunder put my brain into a fog and I acted like a different dog.

Those times are not pleasant, but once the "fog" lifts, it's good to take responsibility for my actions and seek forgiveness from whoever I hurt in the process. It's also good to identify the "trigger" that set me off and establish a plan for how I'll deal with it in the future. Struggling with anxiety will never be an excuse for bad behavior on my part. Excuses would keep me in a cycle of suffering. Anxiety can be an explanation with an action plan that follows, not an excuse.

What are some of your anxiety triggers lately? What plans can you make to handle them more effectively? Does anyone in your life deserve an apology for anxiety getting in the way of your relationship?