Let's talk about anxiety

thoughts from someone who has been there in a big way...

Anxiety, stress, nervousness, etc...... Call it what you will, but anyone who has suffered from anxiety &/or depression calls it hell on earth.

I was always an anxious child, stressed about everything. Dentist, Doctors, storms, it seemed like I was fearful of everything and would get so worked up I would end up making myself sick. I tried many different medications, therapies, and coping mechanisms over the years but nothing ever seemed to quiet the constant nagging in my head saying that I wasn't good enough, I was crazy, and worst of all that my family would be better off without me.

At 10 years old I was diagnosed with scoliosis, & when I found out that I needed to wear a brace .... I lost it. I fought every step of the way and ended up "winning" that war. No brace, my life wasn't over...

Cut to my 20s when I was first prescribed narcotics for the chronic back pain that had taken over my life.... I was told by my doctors that they were relatively safe, although they did have a potential for addiction they were the best option for me to control my completely out of control pain. Never was I told that opiates have so very many devastating side effects. Organ damage, out of control mood swings (for which they tried to prescribe even more meds), digestive issues, and the scariest of all was the brain damage and something called opioid-induced hyperalgesia. The opiates were making the pain worse.

As you might have already read in an earlier post (read that post here), after being told by a pain specialist I would never be off of the meds and needed to be on Fentanyl or Morphine, I was fed up with the medical system and made the decision to quit taking the meds completely. I would find another way. I was fully prepared for the pain and possible withdrawal that would come with this decision, what I was not prepared for was the extreme anxiety that would flood in without warning. For years I had been unknowingly medicating my underlying anxiety disorder with the narcotics I was using to control my pain. Opiates make you numb to nearly everything in your life so it makes total sense but I was completely unprepared for the tsunami of anxiety and depression that threatened to consume me.

On one hand I was 100% determined to never take another pain pill, but on the other I was all of the sudden crippled with all of these dark and scary thoughts, & all I wanted to do was curl up in a ball and disappear. The thought of even getting up to walk to the bathroom seemed too much to accomplish Several times the panic would set in so much that I literally thought I was going to die. What was wrong with me? All I wanted was to feel normal again and all my brain kept saying was "This is it.... This is your life now... You will feel like this forever".

When I tell you that CBD saved my life, that is not a metaphor it's exactly what it did. Even though it took months for my brain to heal from the years of poison, little by little I could feel the changes taking place within me. I taught myself new coping mechanisms, learned the foods and vitamins my body needed to heal, took my CBD consistently and religiously, and rose like a Phoenix.

I'm telling you this story to let you know that you can overcome pain and anxiety. It takes some work, sheer force of will and CBD is an amazing and non toxic tool to help your body do what it was designed to do. Don't be afraid to take your life back & your health into your own hands.

Rustic Oils CBD Of Lee's Summit LLC Blog

By Rachel Crawford January 28, 2026
We’ve all had that moment.... . During a belly rub, you feel it—a new "lump or bump" that wasn't there last week. Your heart sinks, and suddenly, nothing else matters than the health of your fur baby This is where the ancient wisdom of mushrooms like Turkey Tail and Reishi steps in. Think of them as nature’s quiet protectors. I have given them to Abbey for a couple of years but I so wish I would have started from the beginning. Turkey Tail is the "Immune Architect." It’s packed with beta-glucans that help the body’s natural defenses recognize and respond to cellular changes. It’s like giving your dog’s immune system a pair of glasses so it can see exactly where it needs to go to work. Reishi is often called the "Mushroom of Immortality," but for our pups, it’s the "Mushroom of Zen." It supports longevity, helps manage the body’s response to occasional stress, and provides much-needed relief for those pesky seasonal allergies. When we combine these in our homemade treats or as a food topper, we aren't just feeding them; we’re fighting for more "zoomies," more tail wags, and more years of companionship. Why We Trust Verdant Leaf When it comes to our pets, "good enough" isn't an option. That’s why I’ve always been uncompromising about the brands I bring into the shop. Verdant Leaf is the gold standard for clean, reliable supplements for a few very specific reasons: Purity First: Their powders are free from the fillers, grains, and "fluff" that often plague commercial pet supplements. You are getting 100% functional mushroom power. Transparent Sourcing: They prioritize high-quality extraction methods, ensuring the beneficial compounds (like those vital beta-glucans) are actually bioavailable for your dog to absorb. Tested & Trusted: Every batch is held to rigorous standards, so you can feel confident that what’s on the label is exactly what’s in the bowl. Using a clean brand like Verdant Leaf ensures that your "fur baby" is getting the support they deserve without any of the junk they don't. Here are links to Verdant Leaf Turkey Tail & Verdant Leaf Reishi Recipes you can make at home! I actually use these powders as a topper for Abbey's food or I make a mushroom broth for her to drink, but you can also create these yummy treats at home for pups that are a little pickier "Immune-Boost" No-Bake Peanut Butter Balls Best for: Quick prep and masking the earthy mushroom taste. Ingredients : 1 cup Oat flour (or blended rolled oats) 1/2 cup Natural peanut butter (ensure it is Xylitol-free) 1/4 cup Unsweetened applesauce or mashed banana. Verdant Leaf Powder: 1/4 {1/8 tsp each species, or 1/4 tsp if you are using only one species} tsp per 10 lbs of dog weight (totaled for the batch size) Instructions : Mix the mushroom powder into the peanut butter and applesauce until well-blended. Stir in the oat flour until a dough forms. Roll into bite-sized balls based on the dog's daily dosage needs. Store in the fridge for up to a week or freeze for longer. Sweet Potato & Reishi "Cookies" Best for: Dogs with sensitive stomachs or allergies. Ingredients: 1 cup Mashed cooked sweet potato 1 1/2 cups Brown rice flour (or whole wheat flour if tolerated) 1 Egg Verdant Leaf Powder: Calculate total dosage for the number of cookies (e.g., if making 20 cookies and the dog needs 1/2 tsp daily {1/4 tsp each species, or 1/2 tsp of any single species}, add 10 tsp to the batch). Instructions : Preheat oven to 175°C (350°F).Mix all ingredients into a dough. Roll out and cut into shapes. Bake for 20–25 minutes until firm. Golden Mushroom Bone Broth (Liquid Topper) Best for: Older dogs who might enjoy a warm topper on their meals. Ingredients : 2 cups Low-sodium beef or chicken bone broth (onion/garlic-free) 1/2 tsp Turmeric (for extra anti-inflammatory benefits) Dash of black pepper (needed to activate anti-inflammatory benefits of turmeric) 1 tsp coconut oil, beef tallow, or fish oil Verdant Leaf Powder: Whisk in 1/4 {1/8 tsp each species, or 1/4 tsp if you are using only one species} tsp per serving. Instructions : Warm the broth slightly (not boiling).Whisk in the mushroom powder and turmeric until dissolved. Pour over kibble or freeze in ice cube trays for "pupsicles." MUSHROOM DOSING GUIDELINE * Daily Maintenance Dosage (Give once daily for general health) Under 20 lbs: 1/4 teaspoon 20 to 50 lbs: 1/2 teaspoon 50 to 90 lbs: 3/4 teaspoon Over 90 lbs: 1 teaspoon Therapeutic/ Loading Dosage (Give for "lumps and bumps" or the first 2 weeks of use) Under 20 lbs: 1/2 teaspoon 20 to 50 lbs: 1 teaspoon 50 to 90 lbs: 1 & 1/2 teaspoons Over 90 lbs: 2 teaspoons *The statements made regarding these products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The efficacy of these products has not been confirmed by FDA-approved research. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. All information presented here is not meant as a substitute for or alternative to information from health care practitioners. Please consult your health care professional about potential interactions or other possible complications before using any product. The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act require this notice.
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