Feel Better Live Better Stories Overcoming Anxiety – Jennifer’s Story

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    Scott Shuster,
    Founding Director,
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    Ken Blanchard,
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    The One-Minute Manager and Gung Ho

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    Steve Stephenson,
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    Boeing Commercial Airplanes

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    Jim Moore,
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    Workforce Development & Organizational Effectiveness,
    Hewlett-Packard Co.

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    Claudia Welss,
    Director, Berkeley Center for Executive Development,
    Haas School of Business,
    University of California, Berkeley

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    Lucius C. Tripp, MD, MPH,
    Division Head,
    Occupational Medicine, Henry Ford Health Systems;
    former Regional Medical Director,
    General Motors;
    Principal, Wellness Group Inc.

  • "I was becoming desperate. I did not know what to do because my blood pressure readings were consistently around 155/95 with some readings as high as 170/110. It has now been 4 months since the seminar. I have witnessed my average heart rate drop by nearly 10 points. My blood pressure is consistently below 120/80 and I have even measured it at 97/75. I canot recall readings like this in over 20 years."

    Terry Miller,
    Sr. Manager,
    Process Engineering,
    Hewlett-Packard Co.


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    David Hardy,
    Business Creativity/Employee Involvement,
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    John Quinlivan,
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  • "This is a great set of leadership tools. I can now recognize and deal with stress as it comes. I find myself much more aware of when I have become angry or frustrated... I recognize and use the tools to restore balance and a more positive attitude. Another benefit of using Heartmath is I don't wake up tired anymore. I plan better, and am able to be more direct with people."

    Sam Ruffing, MS, RN,
    Vice President,
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    Bob Morgan,
    President,
    Bottom Line Partners, McLean, VA

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    I suspect this would have a significant impact on safety as well by improving focus and engagement and reducing the stress reactions that can divert attention and care.
    I have recommended this to my staff."


    Fortune 500 Vice President,
    Aerospace Mechanical Manufacturing

  • "Today's global business culture is fast paced, competitive and requires long, focused hours. The HeartMath Executive training has given me essential tools for operating effectively in this climate while maintaining my performance, health and control. I have appreciated a growing ability to be calm and energized at the same time, taking things in stride while keeping the multiple priorities in perspective."

    Gunder Creager,
    Senior Vice President
    Colliers International

  • "The HeartMath program has allowed me to easily de-stress myself amidst the numerous challenges and opportunities that are part of any leader's daily regimen. Since the HeartMath training, I find I can respond to the deluge of demands and priorities with more focus and near absence of agitation, and therefore far more readily make well-reasoned, thoughtful decisions."

    Jack Peterson,
    Vice President,
    Performance Improvement & OD Services,
    Sierra Providence Hospital Network (a Tenet Hospital)

  • "I took the private HM executive training and found the tools to be very effective. I have experienced a reduction of stress, increased focus, improved communication skill and awareness. I find the tools helpful in dealing effectively with challenges. The tools and software are easily applied during the day, and provide added clarity and insight. The Heart Mapping tool is a great idea generator, especially for solutions involving people and team dynamics. In today's high pressure global climate, I see HeartMath as required skills for advanced executive performance."

    Steve Krise,
    General Manager,
    Space, Land & Sea, Hamilton Sundstrand

  • "Thank you for the excellent contribution the HeartMath program has made to the Stanford Executive Program over the past seven years. I have seen that the HeartMath tools provide our executive participants with very important and highly relevant skills for managing large, complicated organizations anywhere in the world, and for managing oneself. In this increasingly competitive global environment, the skills you have taught these leaders provide them with both the confidence and the strategies to transition back to their environments with a minimal level of stress and an optimal level of effectiveness."

    Beverly H. Smith,
    Administrative Director,
    Stanford Executive Program

  • "I first discovered the simplicity and power of the HeartMath tools in 1994 while directing the Emerging Technologies Center at Motorola. In several projects there, we found that the HeartMath tools and technology provide an essential -- and measurable -- platform for the next advance in leadership and personal development. While the concept of coherence applied to performance improvement is exciting, seeing new solutions emerge from complex issues creates hard value. HeartMath has become as essential to my personal and professional life as any management skills I have ever learned."

    Ron Cruickshank, Ph.D.,
    CEO, Thorlo, Inc.

Overcoming Anxiety – Jennifer’s Story

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Heart MonthJennifer

It’s interesting how things sneak up on you isn’t it? For several years now I’ve been dealing with anxiety. But I never admitted it to anyone, not even myself. So when I moved into a new neighborhood in Georgetown, I found I could no longer ride comfortably on the underground transportation system due to anxiety – I absolutely could not get on the Metro. Anxiety was keeping me above ground – Since everyone at work rode the Metro, it was a simple little symptom that I could point to when asked why I didn’t ride it. So I did. For three years until I’d finally had enough.

Last spring I went to visit Dr. Kogan at the Center for Integrative Medicine. He had been referred to me by a mutual friend who was also a Physician. Later I found out that she had spoken to Dr. Kogan about me in terms of “slight agoraphobia.” This was much more to the point.

The first time I met with Dr. Kogan we spent hardly any time at all talking about the Metro. Instead he asked lots of questions about my childhood, my day to day life and the number of times a day I felt anxiety – any kind of anxiety. Slowly, as I answered his inquiries I realized the truth. Anxiety was (and had been) affecting me for some time. In fact, it had snuck up on me and taken over my daily routine.

He introduced me to the emWave system and several techniques including Quick Coherence®. I should admit that I was skeptical at first. I mean really, how was this tiny machine going to help? But Dr. Kogan was kind and patient. He explained that what he hoped to do was retrain my brain and my thought patterns through meditation and concentration. I promised to practice – but didn’t hold out much hope.

Every day I’d practice the techniques that Dr. Kogan taught me. At first I met with him every few weeks and we’d practice in his office as well. Then the appointments stretched out into monthly visits. Almost without warning, a funny thing began to happen. I suddenly began to catch myself NOT worrying. If you’ve never suffered from anxiety this won’t seem like a big deal to you. But trust me when I tell you, it’s a very big deal. Here’s an example. As I walked to work (or walked anywhere really) I used to mentally rehearse what I’d do if I stopped breathing or had a panic attack. Who would I call? Where was the nearest hospital? It was just as exhausting as it sounds. But after a few months with the emWave, this happened less and less. And then one day – it stopped.

One day I tried to explain it to Dr. Kogan – it was as if my brain was pointedly choosing NOT to worry. Like anxiety and panic were knocking on the doors of my mind and instead of flinging them open, they stayed shut. Dr. Kogan smiled when I finished. It was working.

And so we continued – I got better and better with the emWave and eventually level one and two became too easy and I concentrated on three and four. I was feeling stronger and stronger. Soon things (crowded buses, bad traffic) that had always caused anxiety before began to seem . . . well . . . not that bad.

After about six months Dr. Kogan made a dramatic pronouncement – he thought I was ready for the Metro. I seriously doubted this, but I also trusted him. So I picked a day, brought along my human support system (someone had to hold my hand after all!) and tried it. I rode twice, stopping at two stations each time. After three long years, I was back on the Metro. When we got off I smiled wide and half expected applause from the other passengers – I hadn’t felt that proud or that brave in a long time.

When I returned to Dr. Kogan’s office the next week he actually jumped out of his chair at the news. We were both happy and came to the quick conclusion that while I needed to continue my practices, I had come to the end of my time with him. He made me promise to check in and sent me on my way with a smile and a hug.

INow, almost a year from that first visit – I am a different person. Life is not perfect mind you. Anxiety is still an occasional visitor to my world – but (and this is the kicker) it’s not a daily one. And even more importantly, when it does show up, I am prepared. Dr. Kogan, HearthMath and emWave have given me relief from anxiety. But more than that – they gave me my life back.


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