Dear Gaia:

Yes, Kobe Bryant, his daughter and seven other people were killed yesterday in a helicopter crash. Kobe Bryant used to live in Italy and spoke fluent Italian, and I know news of his death reached Italy. It affects me too, emotionally, because I used to live in Los Angeles where he lived throughout his 20 year Lakers career and followed his games during the latter part of his career.

What did your uncle die from?

Interesting you mentioned your left arm feeling numb and fearing it was a result of a heart attack. Two weeks ago I slipped on ice and hurt my chest and back muscles. Later at night my left hand went numb and I was afraid that it was a result of a stroke. That night I walked to the bathroom and felt so bad that I fainted. I thought I was going to die. I had to talk sense to myself: that I my head didn’t hit the frozen ground, that I was hurt badly but not that badly. As I calmed myself the morning after I felt better and experienced improvement every day, still hurts, but it won’t kill me.

What I am trying to say is that anxiety makes everything worse. It attaches fear to every pain and an arm going numb or whatnot.. scary. But often it is just fear, we keep living.

anita