New to the program, TERRIFIED
I just started the program yesterday, so today's day #2. I've suffered with anxiety for as long as can be but the panic attacks just started in august. Rarely tho. Since November they've been constant. I feel like i live every moment in fear. I'm always afraid i'm dying of something, that maybe they missed something at my trips to the ER. This program is my only hope. Im terrified of medication but they gave me ativan to calm me down if i begin an attack. So far day 2 my magic moment has been simply to realize that I CANNOT DIE from a panic attack. Still, i get afraid that it's something else. I know, it will pass. Has anyone every tried the good day vitamins that they reccomened with the kit? I just got them today. Thought I"d try them out but wondered - as i'm even afraid of vitamins - if anyone else has tried them. Did they help. Certainly can't make things worse right? BTW also had a terrible reaction to the ssri's. They made it worse. I'm in therapy and this is like i said - my new and i fear only hope. Please, i need lots of encouragement. I mean, TONS. Anyone and everyone that can encourage me - well, i need it. I've got two beautiful boys i need to take care of. So please, all help, advice and encouragement is helpful. I tried it yesterday and had a terrible panic attack. Maybe because now i'm thinking about what's causing my anxiety and having to face it and deal with it. Any thoughts? How long until i can go at least two or three days without the racing panic? Anyone had enlarged pupils with a panic attack? They told me it was from the adrenaline. I've been afraid it's something terrible i"m dying from - even though my bill of health is 100%. Help me get through this. i don't have regular internet access, but I will try desperately to check back.
C_Anne, I am Rod.
Welcome to the program! You will fell much better very soon! I ditto what rod6603 said and also say do the homework, but also read every word in your workbook, there is a lot of information there. Read lesson 2, it was a big part of helping me relax because I realized what was going on in my body (adrenaline and cortisol being released because I was fearful).
All of us on here have had the concerns of health, always wondering what's wrong, WOW I wish I had back all the money I spent on heart doctors and tests!!
Right now your body and mind is overly -sensitized, you will be learning how to de-sensitize and not overthink (Obcess) things.
A friendly bit of advise, dont quit in the middle of the program. I felt better and walked away from program....WRONG thing to do but rather redo the program when your finished because we always miss something the first time. Let me also say YOU ARE OK and you will do well in the program. Be patient with yourself.
Take care,
Rod
Welcome to the program! You will fell much better very soon! I ditto what rod6603 said and also say do the homework, but also read every word in your workbook, there is a lot of information there. Read lesson 2, it was a big part of helping me relax because I realized what was going on in my body (adrenaline and cortisol being released because I was fearful).
All of us on here have had the concerns of health, always wondering what's wrong, WOW I wish I had back all the money I spent on heart doctors and tests!!
Right now your body and mind is overly -sensitized, you will be learning how to de-sensitize and not overthink (Obcess) things.
A friendly bit of advise, dont quit in the middle of the program. I felt better and walked away from program....WRONG thing to do but rather redo the program when your finished because we always miss something the first time. Let me also say YOU ARE OK and you will do well in the program. Be patient with yourself.
Take care,
Rod
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Guest
C_anne
Just keep in mind that the panic attacks will get fewer and fewer as the weeks go on. This will be the worse you will be right now. Just stick with the program. I can tell you that 10 weeks ago, I was curled up in a ball and trembling. I dreaded going to work and the mere thought of leaving the house made me feel like I was going to go insane. I'm on week 10 now and I can tell you that I wish I did this program years ago. I'm beginning to love life again. Stick with it.
Just keep in mind that the panic attacks will get fewer and fewer as the weeks go on. This will be the worse you will be right now. Just stick with the program. I can tell you that 10 weeks ago, I was curled up in a ball and trembling. I dreaded going to work and the mere thought of leaving the house made me feel like I was going to go insane. I'm on week 10 now and I can tell you that I wish I did this program years ago. I'm beginning to love life again. Stick with it.
C_anne
I am a father of two wonderful boys of my own, and found myself in a position of having panic attacks so bad that I honestly felt like I was not going to be able to survive another minute. I was so scared I was losing my mind, or I had developed a tumor on my brain or a massive heart attack, or anything else I had read on the internet or could fabricate in my mind. I worried myself to the point of finding myself setting in front of the emergency room in my vehicle in case it was something serious, I would not have far to crawl. It is all too funny now, but not at the time, I was very very scared. After my wife bought this program for me, I immediately felt better after watching the first video. For me, just knowing I wasn't alone has helped me beyond belief, and it just kept getting better as I went through the course. So when I say "You are not alone", and "I can assure you that life will certainly get better", I am speaking from personal experience. There is lots of help on these pages, so,
Good Luck and Welcome to a New Life without your anxiety/Panic issues.
I am a father of two wonderful boys of my own, and found myself in a position of having panic attacks so bad that I honestly felt like I was not going to be able to survive another minute. I was so scared I was losing my mind, or I had developed a tumor on my brain or a massive heart attack, or anything else I had read on the internet or could fabricate in my mind. I worried myself to the point of finding myself setting in front of the emergency room in my vehicle in case it was something serious, I would not have far to crawl. It is all too funny now, but not at the time, I was very very scared. After my wife bought this program for me, I immediately felt better after watching the first video. For me, just knowing I wasn't alone has helped me beyond belief, and it just kept getting better as I went through the course. So when I say "You are not alone", and "I can assure you that life will certainly get better", I am speaking from personal experience. There is lots of help on these pages, so,
Good Luck and Welcome to a New Life without your anxiety/Panic issues.
I hear your desperation. Please know that you are not alone. There are SO many of us here who know EXACTLY how you feel. I struggle with keeping hope but, like RodH, I made the mistake of stopping the program when I started feeling better. I think two of the biggest keys are:
1) Patience (I know, it is SO hard. I still struggle with this. I just want to feel better NOW)
2) Stick with it! Like I said, I started feeling better so I stopped...BIG mistake.
Try doing something every day to further your recovery.
1. Work the program homework
2. Practice relaxation (breathing, meditation)
3. Read books about recovery (What to Say When You Talk to Yourself by Shad Helmstetter is my current read)
4. Write in a journal
5. Practice replacing your negative thoughts with positive thoughts...every time. I wear a rubber band around my wrist. Every time I have a negative thought, I snap the band and think of something positive.
6. Exercise...go for a walk
Those are just a few. I'm sure everyone on here has a few suggestions of their own.
I truly believe that if you work on recovery, it will work! Recognize small accomplishments. Don't be hard on yourself. Keep telling yourself that you WILL make it (even if you don't believe it right now, say it anyway!).
Good luck. You CAN DO IT!
1) Patience (I know, it is SO hard. I still struggle with this. I just want to feel better NOW)
2) Stick with it! Like I said, I started feeling better so I stopped...BIG mistake.
Try doing something every day to further your recovery.
1. Work the program homework
2. Practice relaxation (breathing, meditation)
3. Read books about recovery (What to Say When You Talk to Yourself by Shad Helmstetter is my current read)
4. Write in a journal
5. Practice replacing your negative thoughts with positive thoughts...every time. I wear a rubber band around my wrist. Every time I have a negative thought, I snap the band and think of something positive.
6. Exercise...go for a walk
Those are just a few. I'm sure everyone on here has a few suggestions of their own.
I truly believe that if you work on recovery, it will work! Recognize small accomplishments. Don't be hard on yourself. Keep telling yourself that you WILL make it (even if you don't believe it right now, say it anyway!).
Good luck. You CAN DO IT!
"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose." -Dr. Seuss
You can steer yourself any direction you choose." -Dr. Seuss
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OldeCodger
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Wed Dec 17, 2008 2:53 pm
Guys, thanks so much. It does make me feel so much better just knowing you're all out there and going through the same thing. Having cheerleaders makes it so much easier to cope. Today is a good day. Day 3. I actually feel somewhat better knowing what anxiety is and what the panic is and that it can't hurt me. I'm not as afraid of them, and i even think i could get through it without a trip to the ER. Pretty sure at least. Not daring it to happen by any means. Still, that's major for me. The turning negative thoughts to positives has been the biggest challenge for me. The rubber band idea is a great idea. Thanks guys, again. We're in this journey together. I love that idea.