MY STORY
Early on, anxiety did not affect me much. However, once I graduated from high school and began college, that's when the panic attacks began to rear their ugly head. No realizing what they were, I sought out doctor after doctor because I was convinced I had some kind of serious illness. Over the next few years I began to develop other transient illnesses such as a sodium intolerance (just the slightest amount of sodium would make me feel unwell), sugar intolerance, and a host of other strange illnesses. which would land me in the ER. I had every medical test performed and the results were always negative. This did give me some relief as I now knew I wasn't dying. However, I was still frequently sick. At one point the doctor was going to put me on blood pressure medicine due to my consistently high blood pressure. All at the ripe old age of 25. The panic attacks and other health issues continued off and on for the next few years until I got an extremely bad case of gastroenteritis. Lying on the bathroom floor, sick again, I realized that I could not go on like this. After all, I had goals that I wanted to achieve. Places I wanted to travel. In that moment, I made the conscious decision that I was going to find a solution to this anxiety NO MATTER WHAT!
Over the next several years I read nearly every self-help book on stress and anxiety. Not much of the information I found was really helpful long term. I then decided to take a multi-dimensional approach -- researching areas such as spirituality, psychology, physiology, Christianity . . .until I was able to piece together those elements that really worked.
Today, I would not say I'm cured from anxiety. I still experience the physical discomforts of anxiety from time to time. The difference now is that I am no longer debilitated by anxiety. It no longer keeps me from achieving what I want to accomplish. It no longer rules my life. I finally have peace.
THE GOD FACTOR
Christianity and especially my relationship with Jesus Christ had, and continues to have, a profound effect on my anxiety and life in general. It was only through Him that I was able to overcome the last big fear that was holding me back in life. Through Him, I was able to move 1000 miles away from friends and family to live the life I've always dreamed.
MEET JEFF
After graduating Cleveland State University with a Psychology degree, Jeff entered the mental health field helping families and children with emotional issues. Passionate about health and wellness, Jeff transitioned into the fitness industry in 2001 as a personal trainer working at an upscale health and fitness club in Pittsburgh, PA. He earned his personal trainer certification through the National Strength and Conditioning Association. His love of learning motivated him to pursue a Master of Exercise Science and Health Promotion degree from California University of Pennsylvania. In 2016, as a way to help more people, Jeff expanded from in-person personal training to phone and video health coaching. In 2018 he completed extensive training in smoking cessation through the Florida State University Medical Center and AHEC in Tallahassee, FL. He recently graduated from an International Coaching Federation (ICF) approved school and has become a Certified Wellness Coach.
Aside from health and wellness, Jeff enjoys SCUBA diving, underwater and above water photography, and tennis. His love of the beach and ocean led him to Panama City Beach, FL where he currently resides.
