Rain, Rain, Go Away… Actually, let’s use the RAIN Technique to Overcome this Anxiety Attack, why don’t we?

Journey With Jenney
Sep 8, 2018 · 3 min read

Recently, I watched this brilliant video by The Mighty on “Things Students with Anxiety Wish Their Teachers Understood”.

As an older and wiser student (of life) now, I am hoping I continue to learn how to thrive and function despite things that might hold me back, such as anxiety.

I live life always looking at the positive side of everything. I’ve learned that it has been a defense and coping mechanism of mine, because I didn’t and sometimes don’t have the life I want.

It doesn’t take away from the genuine joy I feel.

It also doesn’t make things magically better.

Recently, I’d been experiencing some severe panic/anxiety attacks.

They’re C-R-I-P-P-L-I-N-G.

They prevent me from being able to follow through on and accomplish goals I’d set for myself, promises I’d made.

Finally, I’ve been learning methods to actually work through and process these moments, rather than hiding or pushing them away or wishing them out of existence.

The more we resist, the more we let them consume us.

Instead, this is why I want to share this RAIN Technique I’ve come to embrace. It’s been so helpful when I otherwise may have succumbed to nothingness.

I learned about the RAIN technique, suggested by Anna Rowley, Ph.D., a psychologist and performance consultant, from an article in The Shine called “In Honor of Mental Health Month, Let’s Get Real About How We Feel”.

When I was younger, as a student in high school and college, I’d often experienced anxiety attacks, but I didn’t know then that that’s what they were. I’m not even sure now if that’s what they were, I’ve never been officially diagnosed.

I was always very high functioning, overachieving in everything I could and accomplishing more than I probably needed to.

I had wished that someone would have just told me to chillax a bit more back then.

Well, now that I’m older, I can tell myself that now, and that nothing is really that bad, ever.

It’s all in my head.

And, if I can allow myself to just process these emotions, recognize them for what they are, explore the causes of them, address the situation, and realize… that it’s always just temporary.

Like a rain storm.

We can weather it out and appreciate it for what it is.

At the end of the day, there’s always a rainbow :)

With joy and gratitude,

Jenney

Please feel free to connect with me on Facebook or Instagram at journeywithjenney.

Journey With Jenney

Written by

I live life fully with enthusiasm + joy. Changemaker. Marketer. Investor. Marathoner. Uplifter. Find me on FB+IG @journeywithjenney to join me on my journey :D

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade