My amazing friend Sinead & I meeting for the first time ever in person at the KTS Conference in Minnesota! Even though I was meeting her for the first time in person, I felt like we had already been best friends for years. 

She is in the hospital right now and I wish so badly I could go to Canada and visit her and help keep her company. I can say with absolute certainty that she is one of the strongest, if not THE strongest, person I know. 

Is it Minnesota 2014 yet?

For me, the most troubling thing about anxious thoughts are that you can know they are completely irrational, yet they can still plague your mind as though they are an authentic threat. You carry these irrational fears around with you all day and everyday, in spite of knowing they most likely aren't going to happen. But, it's that 1% chance that maybe it could that keeps your mind glued to that seemingly endless stream of anxious thoughts. It's that 1% chance that keeps you going, and from there it can feel as though your mind is spiraling out of control.

While there are ample amounts of techniques to try in regards to quelling anxiety, I am going to just write about one in which has helped me; I first read about it online almost a few years ago and then further into my treatment heard about it more.

An anxious thought pops into your mind.
Your initial response may be to get upset that it is there in the first place. 

"Why won't these pesky thoughts just go away? I hate this, I'm never going to get rid of these and I will be plagued with them for the rest of my life!"

First off, the more you try and force them to go away, the more they won't. The energy you put into trying to quell their existence actually equates to the fuel that keeps them prolonged within your mind. So what can you do?

Accept that the thought/worry is there when it enters your mind. Tell yourself that it's okay that it's there, that you are actually welcoming that anxious thought and any that follow; you won't try to force it away, it is welcome to stay as long as it likes. By doing this, the thought eventually becomes less threatening; it loses some of its power.

Now you are beginning to regain control back.
It can feel so impossible and tiring when you feel as though you are constantly fighting against your own mind, as though it wants you to lose. But, there are cognitive techniques that can make life with those anxious thoughts a lot more bearable. 

This particular technique is not something you can do for a day and then quit, expecting that you will be all better. If you chronically suffer from anxiety in this way, it is something you will have to practice and work on for the entirety of your life. Some days you will get off track and the fears will get the best of you. It's okay. Regroup and then start all over again with accepting the thoughts, and inviting them to stay. We are all prone to a bad day from time to time, but the key is to not give up. Persistence is your best friend when it comes to anxiety and cognitive techniques.

For those of you who have chronic anxiety, I would seriously love to hear what cognitive tips have helped you in managing it. Please feel free to share ( :

I am in my second week of being back at school this semester and my mind has not been this stimulated in a while; not to mention, things are for the most part going fantastically with my KTS. 
When I think of where I was five years ago to now, I feel extremely blessed. During that period of time, I wasn't sure if my life was going to be like that forever, if I would spend every couple of weeks with infections; if the people I would consider my friends would be nurses who had me as a patient several times.

I feel so utterly privileged to be where I am at right now, I'm privy to so much wisdom and great learning. When it comes to new people and "normal" kids around my age, I tend to get very anxious socially and isolate myself. However, the good thing about school is that it forces me to have to interact with other students my age, whether it's group projects or talking after class. In situations like these, I find exposure therapy works the best for me.

I basically just want to say that for anyone going through a particularly hard time with their KTS right now, remain hopeful and optimistic. Things do have the ability to change and get better, and you'll be surprised where life can take you in regards to your health.