Re: Empowering Group Program Run-through part4
Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2014 8:15 pm
Mary:
I was off of my psychiatric medications for over a year.
This was a terrible time for me.
I did not have an income or any other money, so I had to discontinue my medications.
I started back on small doses of psychiatric medications in September 2013.
Not too long after that I started attending support groups and learning coping skills.
This combination has been successful for me so far.
I too get into a panic when I am in panic !
Since entering recovery I have had one bad panic attack at home
and one bad depressive episode. I don't know why, but they always
seem to happen on Sunday afternoons.
Silly me, I thought that once I learned and started practicing all
of those coping skills that I would NEVER have another panic attack
or depressive episode ( crying uncontrollably and feeling really depressed ).
But this was not the case. It is very, very unrealistic to think that
because I am now entering recovery and learning healthy coping
mechanisms that I will no longer, ever, have panic attacks.
The difference between the old me and the new me is this,
now I have the skills to lessen the severity of the panic attacks.
They are less scary and not so devastating. I can use that positive
self talk. I can use the breathing techniques. I can use visualization
techniques. I can listen to quiet, relaxing music on my headphones.
Also a great thing to do when you are having a panic attack is
to talk to someone. I have not yet built up a support system
for myself, so I have no one really to call on the phone or talk
to in person. But hopefully some day I will.
When I had my recent panic attack I was able to lessen the
level of the panic. It did not ruin my entire day. Within a reasonable
amount of time I was able to work thorough it. It did not kill me.
I was not harmed. After I survived the panic attack successfully I was so
proud of myself. This improved my self-confidence.
Well, I am getting a bit chatty here !
LyndaLu
I was off of my psychiatric medications for over a year.
This was a terrible time for me.
I did not have an income or any other money, so I had to discontinue my medications.
I started back on small doses of psychiatric medications in September 2013.
Not too long after that I started attending support groups and learning coping skills.
This combination has been successful for me so far.
I too get into a panic when I am in panic !
Since entering recovery I have had one bad panic attack at home
and one bad depressive episode. I don't know why, but they always
seem to happen on Sunday afternoons.
Silly me, I thought that once I learned and started practicing all
of those coping skills that I would NEVER have another panic attack
or depressive episode ( crying uncontrollably and feeling really depressed ).
But this was not the case. It is very, very unrealistic to think that
because I am now entering recovery and learning healthy coping
mechanisms that I will no longer, ever, have panic attacks.
The difference between the old me and the new me is this,
now I have the skills to lessen the severity of the panic attacks.
They are less scary and not so devastating. I can use that positive
self talk. I can use the breathing techniques. I can use visualization
techniques. I can listen to quiet, relaxing music on my headphones.
Also a great thing to do when you are having a panic attack is
to talk to someone. I have not yet built up a support system
for myself, so I have no one really to call on the phone or talk
to in person. But hopefully some day I will.
When I had my recent panic attack I was able to lessen the
level of the panic. It did not ruin my entire day. Within a reasonable
amount of time I was able to work thorough it. It did not kill me.
I was not harmed. After I survived the panic attack successfully I was so
proud of myself. This improved my self-confidence.
Well, I am getting a bit chatty here !
LyndaLu