Stress Center Peer Support

Hi, all
I went through the program approx 2 years ago and I continue to make progress. Each year, our family goes on a trip to Yosemite and each year I attempt to go to the top of the "Mist Trail" on top of Vernal Falls. It's not a far hike but it's straight up hill and the second half is on very steep, narrow stairs with a huge drop off on one side and "mist" from the falls (more like a rainfall!) is coming down. Right at the top of the hike, you walk along a narrow walkway that fits only one person at a time. Harrowing, to say the least. Well, this year, I did the hike all the way to the top with my 8 year old daughter! I can't believe I did it. It's the first time in 7 years I've been able to do it.

Also, my daughter has wanted to attend a camp that is located on the ocean (we live just north of San Francisco0, and I've never signed her up because I couldn't do the drive out there along the narrow, windy coastal road. Well, I signed her up this year and I drove it yesterday, twice, without any problem at all - in fact, I enjoyed it. What in incredibly freeing feeling!

You CAN get through this. A little over 2 years ago, I had trouble driving to the mall 5 miles from my house. I have now flown across country, driven roads I'd never have driven before, gone on trips with girlfriends without my family, hiked deep into the woods, driven over a ton of bridges (I used to hate bridges!), gone white water rafting, and more. Keep with it!

Joyce, what an amazing accomplishment! That's so wonderful! It's such an amazing feeling to accomplish something like that and its a great experience to have - memories you'll always remember and strength you'll never forget.

Ahhh Joyce you bring back memories of a time gone by for me and that is good! I've not always worked as a weather specialist for emergency management agency or website designer but as a National Park Ranger in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I worked many years "with" anxiety and panic attacks and some of those years I'd given anything to not have it.

My official title in the NP system was Backcountry Law Enforcement Ranger. Long title for I walked, enforced the rules of the park, and camped for weeks on end in literally the back country of the national park, in places where very few humans ever went, mainly hardcore hikers and poachers were the only people my partner and I would see on a daily basis and that was a rare sight many days. Sometimes we wouldn't see anyone for days then suddenly, around a bend or down a river we'd find someone either hiking or totally lost.

Ever have a panic attack 30 miles from nowhere? The only help was to call in a rescue helicopter and then only if we were near a place for them to land and if you did that you knew your job was over for good because they wouldn't send you back out again. So, I kept quiet, worked my way through it the best I could do then go on. Wish I'd had this program back then, (80's), but that was then and this is now. I too did the program 2 years ago and am now around 98% free of all anxiety and it feels sooooo good!

Anyway, if anyone would like to see where I "worked" I took a map of the entire park system, placed red dots for the outline of our territory and blue dots for the base camps we had, where we could at least get in out of the weather once in awhile + one large blue dot to show where my main ranger station was at Smokemont NC. Click the link below for the map:

<A HREF="http://www.fallsky.com/life/ranger.gif" TARGET=_blank>http://www.fallsky.com/life/ranger.gif</A>

Now, if I could do my ranger job with anxiety then the do the program almost 30 yrs later, anyone in the program now or thinking about it can do it too and succeed.

I haven't been back to the Smokies since I left 25 years ago, but I'm going back this coming October and I am going to walk/hike parts of my old routes and really "see & enjoy" the scenery once again.

Had to leave for a minute but wanted to tell you Joyce you made an amazing journey yourself!! Congratulations on making the trip up to the falls, the bridge, and every part of your "big hike". Feels great doesn't it and to feel such enjoyment yesterday is awesome. I am happy for both you and your daughter.

David

that is very awesome, good for you. I rock climb and do many outdoor things, but I now restrict myself from getting too far from cities because I'm paranoid something is going to happen. If I don't have cell service thats an attack waiting to happen. I'm glad to see someone has been able to overcome that and get out there. Good for you.