Stress Center Peer Support

Hi,

I am going through this program again and am starting week 3 this week. The positive talk is very difficult for me, mostly because I have been talking negatively to myself for so long. The funny thing is, I'm not really like a lot of the people on the cds. I am extremely ambitious and love to try new things. I have never wanted to just retreat into my house or been afraid of getting out in the world. I do have that intense feeling of fear, though, that there is some impending doom stalking me. I am always in a rush and can never seem to get everything done. I have ALWAYS been a procrastinator (ever since elementary school), but always a perfectionist (as mentioned in the sessions). I want to get better so badly! I cannot deal with the heartburn, racy heart feelings, chest pains, weird spacy feelings, inability to focus on anything, and frustration any longer. This condition or whatever you want to call it really stinks. I want to get on with my life so I can enjoy it. Any little annoyance can set me off and irritate me to a completely irrational point. I have a light in my classroom that squeaks and cannot be turned off - it DRIVES me crazy. When the kids next door play basketball I want to scream. As I drive over the overpasses on the highway every morning the change in pitch sound sends me into a panic. Does anyone else experience this or am I just weird?

Looking for others like me,

G

Hi G,

I responded to your previous post about it being your 3rd time.
I completely understand your irritability. When we're "reved" up and sensitized then we can be very irritable. It only makes sense.
You're wanting to fix it and that's what gets in your way; yourself!
I'm still working on unclenching my fist of "control", too.
I found that with Lesson 3 I tried too hard to say just the right things and when they didn't make me feel all better, I got frustrated and worried it wasn't working, etc. Sound familiar?

I'm not back for the 3rd time with this program. I even did it before with a coach. It certainly takes a long time to get over negative thinking. About the time you think you're doing better, BAM! There it is all over again. You get on a roll and don't even realize you're doing it. Oh, to be free of this. We must realize there are ups and downs always in life. As we continue working the program and talking to others on here who have received help, we WILL get help too. We have to believe it and NOT GIVE UP!

Hi Gidge980...It sounds like you are in a really sensitized state and I can relate. Remember what Lucinda said... in the first few weeks of going through this program you will feel heightened anxiety because you are no longer running...but really facing this head on...it's normal Here are some things that are helping me tremendously: 1) The breathing pattern....I do it all day long, and even have my office-mate doing it too! At the first sign of my adrenaline response I become very conscious of my breathing and try and use the pattern to slow it down. 2) I am trying to meditate every day either through yoga, or just when I am driving...instead of playing loud music I take the time to be still. 3) I am trying to do EVERYTHING at a slower pace. All my life I have been in hyper-gear, and I am telling myself that it's ok, that I can do things more slowly and thoughtfully. It is not always easy, but I always feel proud of myself for trying. 4) I did by the Positive Mood Day and Night Formula that was advertised on the website, and I do believe it is helping. But most of all, it is intensive, every day effort. You can do this! Give yourself a break, be kind to yourself, you will be ok