A PH Tip

Nothing makes my heart start racing with immense anxiety when I am faced with something most people take for granted: stairs. Or, a hill. I immediately think, "Oh crap, I have to get up that! I'm gonna die!" It may sound silly, but I truly hate the feeling of a rapid heartbeat and being so short of breath I think I might pass out. And the sad thing is, I've been slowly increasing the grade on the treadmill at rehab so I can face stairs or a hill a lot better. I do think it's helped me a little, but I still have that fear of climbing!!

So, here's a PH tip for going up stairs: Go up backwards. Seriously, I have heard some PHers talk about this, but all I could think was how utterly ridiculous that must look! Well, I tried it several times this summer. And guess what? You look utterly ridiculous, BUT, it's so much better than going up the regular way! I would get to the top and realize I wasn't going to die! The shortness of breath was minimal, and my heart wasn't ready to pounce out of my chest! Whoo hoo! So I try to do that whenever I see stairs, and I also try not to care what people must be thinking!! Who knows, maybe they'd go try it themselves...when no one is watching, of course. 

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