Stress Center Peer Support

Something wonderful and positive that has come from my battle with anxiety/panic- gratefulness!

Almost 2 yrs ago my panic was so bad ( I was having a nervous breakdown), I didn’t think I’d live or I’d end up in a mental hospital
forever. By the grace of God and by using this program, I have recovered so much. I do have little setbacks here and there but they are getting fewer.

What is so amazing is that when other kinds of problems arise in my life (unrelated to anxiety) they are so small in comparison to what I’ve already been through. It makes me so much more grateful everyday for the good days, for the days and weeks when I have little to no symptoms. When you have been to the bottom, everything else looks wonderful! I have such a new appreciation for life and for everything.

I look back from where I came from and I am just so thankful. Sometimes it is easy to focus on the negative and think things like “why aren’t I 100% better yet”? or “I wish I could go back to my old life before getting the panic dis., I’m sick of dealing with it”. But the positive side is that it has produced endurance, perseverance, patience and compassion in me. These are the fruits which I’ve always wanted in my life- and it takes ‘pruning’ to produce good fruit.

I just wanted to remind others of the good that does come out of this and also encourage those who are newer to the program that there is light at the end of the tunnel and that there is a purpose behind it all.

Pressing on and persevering with you all!

Thanks for the positive post. Its really good to read something so positive because we tend to only talk about the negative side of this. It makes me think that maybe someting positive will come out of this. Maybe making us stronger for other things that come into our lives. Thanks again.

CJR, you've taken the words right out of my mouth and you've hit the nail right on the head. Congrats to you for feelin this way. It's awesome to read posts like this. Keep it up.

Love your message!

I know that I am getting better slowly - but I am very excited about where I will be in 1 year - or even 6 months!

The fact one sees ANY positive change in oneself is incredible - because you are usually the last person to notice changes. So when I feel the progress is not as fast as I like, I remind myself that continuous progress means eventual recovery and peace.

Thanks for the positive note...

Last note:
Sometimes I think we need to go through anxiety and panic in order to be able to better help those around us. Going through the recovery process and fighting it teaches us how to teach others to help themselves. I love helping other people, and LOVE when people help me!

Heather

Thank you all for posting these messages. I just started the program and is having a hard time of it. But these posts provided the encouragement that I needed right now.

Thanks again!

It is so comforting to be able to come to this site and read all the triumps people have had with this program. I've suffered from anxiety and panic for 35 years. I managed to raise three children through it all, although it was like a living hell during some periods of time. I really had no support system, because when I began with this disorder no one, not even doctors knew what it was. They sent me off with valium and said I was just nervous. I always new it was something more. Years ago I saw Lucinda's advertisement on television for the program, but I didn't act upon it. Well, recently my anxiety and panic reached a new dimension. I don't know if I ever quite felt it so badly. I could hardly drag myself to work everyday. I knew so much about this condition because after having it for so long I had researched everything about it, but I couldn't get a handle on it this time. So, I finally took the step and ordered the program. I just received it and I'm on the first week. So much is making sense to me now. I am on a low dose anti-depressant at the moment, but I hope at the end of the program to be weaned off of it. I'm struggling at the moment, but I know that I must be very strong to have endured these feelings for so many years and to have had the success I've attained in life even with this horrifying disorder. I can only imagine how incredible my future can really be once I've mastered this program. Thanks for all your encouragement!!