Stress Center Peer Support

Hello everyone,
I'm on Session 5 and have been doing really good. Then yesterday...WHAM...an anxiety attack, which I believe after thinking on it a while was from me thinking negatively. I didn't jump right on my Two-Four breathing and positive dialogue right away so my anxiety started building. I had to give in and take half of a Klonopin. Then I listened to my relaxation tape 3 times and then to my "What to Say When You Talk to Yourself" tape that I made. Then I followed up with some positive self talk. After all that I did feel a little better. But the anxiety was still there and I was struggling with it when I went to bed. I woke up this morning and started in with thinking too much again and negative thinking. I was ill with my family...so here I go again. I don't want to lose my momemtum with the program so any opinions or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Inside Man

Hang in there, Inside Man!

You are followingthe suggestions in the program and doing great with that, but you also nee dto not beat yourself up for having an anxiety attack...and the resultant feelings that come afterwards. Could part of the problem be that some of your negative thoughts are that you "shouldn't" be having the anxiety...or having it as much now that you're in the program and "doing it"?

Do you know where your anxiety came from? You said it was about you thinking negatively...was there a particular issue that you were thinking about? Sometimes the positive statements that we make to ourselves might not completely address the negative thoughts we were experiencing.

Remember that your negative thoughts didn't start happening to you overnight - it is going to take some time to recover from this...but it WILL happen if you are patient with yourself and keep up the excellent work that you are doing.

One thing that I learned from the program that helped me with the "after the fact" issues - like feeling bad for being ill with my family (by the way - you must be from the South...I don't know any other area that uses "ill" like that ) was that I tell them up front - "Listen, I am in a bad mood today, but it's not about you. It's something that I need to work out in my head. I am not mad at you though. I just want you to know that. I just need a little space today until I feel better, OK?" Any variation of that would work - but I'm sure you see what I'm getting at.

You are obviously very committed to healing and recovering from anxiety. That means that your desire is up where it should be...is your belief that you CAN recover up there too?

You can!

Be patient with yourself - you can do this! You are CERTAINLY on the RIGHT TRACK!

Blessings,
Dawn

Hi Inside Man,

I think you did a great job on handling the anxiety attack. Don't feel bad or think you gave in because you took a klonopin. That is what its there for. Klonopin is just another tool. You went through all your tools and it took all your tools......but the positive focus is that YOU GOT THROUGH IT and a thumbs up to you for that. Most people don't recover adn regress back......but you didn't. I like what Priv said....Just because you have the program everything doesn't just disappear....the thought programming is a muscle that you are working and perfecting. I'm also on session 5 and I lost my relaxtion cd but I'm ok....and I do take xanax as a tool....but only after I use all my tools. Sometimes I don't go through my steps or tools...each moment is different...no 2 moments are alike....So only you know what is best for you during that moment and no one is anyone to judge you. I'm proud of you and you did great. Keep progressing and watch how much more you grow and even more stronger. But also be gentle to yourself.....you deserve it!

That happened to me today too .I woke up with an axiety i tried to breath talk my self out of it somehow it couldnt i got really nauseas but i have that always anyhow but today was bad i had to take a ativan 0.5 my last ativan was mon so i went from monday to sat with out ativan. But i was taking them everyday so i guess thats not too bad i hope!!!

Prv31Mom,
To answer your 1st question, I guess I sometimes feel like I shouldn't have anxiety since I'm doing the program even though I know that's not realistic.
To answer your 2nd question, I believe my anxiety came from over thinking things and over analyzing things in general.
I am from North Carolina and around my house "ill" is what we say when we're aggravated or upset!
To answer your 3rd question, I believe I can recover but sometimes I do have doubts.
Thank you for your comments and suggestions.

Sanmannn,
Thanks for your words of encouragement and I see that you are on Session 5 as well. May we both grow stronger thru the program!

dlcottage,
I hope you are doing better. I am doing better today. Are you on the program? You went from Monday to Saturday without ativan. That's a big step! You're doing good!

Inside Man

Hey Inside Man -

First off - I KNEW you had to be from around the same neck of the woods as me! LOL We are "iller than a snake" a lot around here! Do you "cut lights off" too...and "mash the gas"? LOL Those are DEAD GIVEAWAYS to being from NC!

Now - and more importantly - don't be so hard on yourself. I know that while we are working on this program we feel like we should be "fixed" quick! But that, as you said, is just not realistic. You are making very, very positive steps...and it sounds like good, steady progress. Just keep with it. Some people say that their panic attacks disappear in the first two sessions, som keep them through the program...some occasionally have them even after completing the program...the key is HOW we handle them. And it sounds like you are really developing your skills! Good for you!

Keep believing you can recover...because you CAN! And trust me, we anxiety-types...we are ALL over analytical! It comes with the territory! We just have to keep learning how to deal with those thoughts and feelings...and there are so many good sessions in this program that deal with specific issues relevant to that.

Best wishes!
Dawn

Hi Inside Man,
I was thinking as I was reading your post your thoughts sound familiar to me. I get so disappointed with a set back. I am trying to recover "perfectly". I get upset with myself for the one step backwards and I should be applauding myself for the two steps forward. Roll with it and this too shall pass. Set backs are just reminders that we are moving forward!!! You're in my thoughts keep on keeping on. Kathleen

Hello Kathleen,
I also am trying to recover perfectly and as I was thinking on this that could be part of our problem. Take the 'perfect' out of it and take the pressure off and just give it our best instead. That's really all we can expect from ourselves.
All my best,
Inside Man