One More Step

SeaRunner · Post by **SeaRunner** » Wed Sep 15, 2010 3:21 pm

Hello all -

How is everyone doing? I'm having a great week and want to share some positive energy. I'm realizing how important it is to catch anxiety and panic right from the moment it starts. It's amazing how much control we have if we react in a positive way right from the beginning. As we have learned in the Program, our internal anxiety is entirely due to our own thinking and reactions. Just by changing our thoughts we can turn a potential catastrophe into a positive experience.

Just in the last week I've had a number of opportunities to reinforce this way of thinking. I've started to panic a number of times while out driving and while bicycling. In these cases I really focused on catching my negative thoughts that seem to automatically come when I start to get anxious as soon as I realize I'm thinking them. By stopping my typical thought process and instead focusing on allowing myself to go through the anxiety without running away, I found that my panic response was much less intense and of shorter duration. It's really given me some new confidence to push myself.

Jamie

berengar · Post by **berengar** » Thu Sep 16, 2010 1:10 am

That is so terrific Jamie. We all need to remember that anxious feelings are not the start of a long cycle of depression and fear... they are simply practice opportunities. If we learn to stop anxiety and scary thoughts as you have been doing this past week, we will be more equipped to handle anything life throws at us throughout the years. If we practice and take 'growth spurts' as learning opportunities, we will be MORE equipped to handle very bad situations that those who don't suffer from anxiety disorder!

I have also been catching myself and stopping the scary thought cycle by recognizing it as soon as it begins. It's very important for me to catch a scary/bad/sad/'strange' thought and really say 'ok, what is bothering me? Work (or other situation) is very stressful right now, and I see that these issues really are sitting in the back of my mind. I am turning my feelings in on myself and trying to find a scary thought to blame my anxious feelings on'. What a powerful tool this has been for me.

Keep up the good work and everyone please continue to be proud of yourselves for every achievement, no matter how small.

SeaRunner · Post by **SeaRunner** » Thu Sep 16, 2010 11:23 pm

Thanks, Berengar!

That's great that you've been really able to focus on the root of your feelings. Like you said, that's a very powerful tool. So many of our feelings seem to be fueled by other emotions and thoughts that don't seem apparent right at the moment. But getting to the sources gets us one step closer to handling the real issue rather than just treating the symptoms. Good work!

Jamie

berengar · Post by **berengar** » Fri Sep 17, 2010 3:01 am

How have things been going for everyone else? I miss hearing from everyone this week

manofmusic · Post by **manofmusic** » Sat Sep 18, 2010 5:28 am

Bravo SeaRunner ! When you go out driving and biking, just picture all of us cheering you on.

The more you tackle the fears, the easier it gets. Now mind you, I've never driven in a huge city on a daily basis, but I'm sure that the fear of that can be beaten too.

Go Jamie! Go Jamie! Go Jamie! Go Jamie! Go Jamie!

SeaRunner · Post by **SeaRunner** » Sat Sep 18, 2010 6:43 pm

Music -

Thanks so much! I like the visual of the cheering crowd. Do I get theme music too?

Take care,
Jamie

jillzmind · Post by **jillzmind** » Sat Sep 18, 2010 7:16 pm

Here's a song for you Jamie!! It can be our StressCenter.com mantra

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cdk1gwWH-Cg

SeaRunner · Post by **SeaRunner** » Sat Sep 18, 2010 11:47 pm

Jilly -

Oh no you di'int!

Like the theme, but not a fan of rap. But, I did enjoy the blast from the past. Wow, MC's hair an pants were just too awesome! I totally got to find me some parachute pants.

I was actually thinking something more like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITuIM9ckdwY

Ha, ha, just kidding. I'm gay but not that campy! Plus I don't think I could run in that outfit, LOL ! Well, maybe just the hat.

Jamie

manofmusic · Post by **manofmusic** » Sun Sep 19, 2010 1:55 am

Jill - Now I can't get that song out of my head. Thanks.......

Jamie - Be grateful that one didn't get stuck in my head ! LOL

This is one of the songs I use as motivation.

They even provide lyrics for the ones that weren't born when the tune came out. (I remember buying the 45 in 1981)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNeXJg0Sh1Q

SeaRunner · Post by **SeaRunner** » Sun Sep 19, 2010 2:09 am

Music -

Good song pick. But a 45? It's craziness! In 1981 I was still learning the importance of not eating paste during art.

Ironically, the first CD I ever bought was for a song that also was pretty motivational. It was the theme song from the beginning of the movie Doc Hollywood with Michael J. Fox:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yjqb3AKndYc

It took me a while to figure out who sang it. Turned out to be a one-hit wonder and unfortunately, the rest of the CD was pretty bad.

Jamie