Karen -
So glad you have found this thread useful. Regarding your question, yes, my manager, supervisor, and company have been extremely flexible with me. They've gone to great lengths to get me back on my feet and I am so grateful for that. Fortunately, they have seen me when I'm at my best and they want to keep me on board. I just hope that I can recover quickly before their patience runs out.
If you're thinking about going back to work, there's nothing wrong with just trying. If you get a job and aren't able to keep it, you're no worse off then you are now. But if things go well, you will have made a great step forward.
All my best,
Jamie
One More Step
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manofmusic
- Posts: 711
- Joined: Wed Jul 01, 2009 12:07 am
- Location: Canada
Jamie - I don't think Victoria Secret panties would look good with the suit jacket and running shoes....
Hot Rod - How could you think that Jamie was a woman ? Just look at those legs ! LOL
Sounds like there's a lot of progress going on here ! I was good with the caffeine and sugar ......until this afternoon, but it wasn't my fault.....really. I had a craving for a coffee. So, I decided to try a decaf coffee. I find out after I finished it that it was caffeinated. I found out because I started to get really faint tremors in my hands. My heart felt like it was going to beat out of my chest. The whole thing lasted for about 2 hours. I'm fine now. Now for the sugar.....I gave in and had a doughnut. I'm not going to beat myself up over it. I'm going to treat tonight as a clean slate. I'm going to go for one more week with cutting out caffeine and sugar. I'll wait until the following week to kill the extra salt. I've actually cut down a bit on the salt this week, but I can do much better with it.
This weekend I want to get back into the regular exercise. It's been a while since I went for my walk down at the river. I'm going to start that up again this weekend. I feel so much better after that.
OK so do we have it now ????....SeaRunner's a boy and Hot Rod's a girl.
Hot Rod - How could you think that Jamie was a woman ? Just look at those legs ! LOL
Sounds like there's a lot of progress going on here ! I was good with the caffeine and sugar ......until this afternoon, but it wasn't my fault.....really. I had a craving for a coffee. So, I decided to try a decaf coffee. I find out after I finished it that it was caffeinated. I found out because I started to get really faint tremors in my hands. My heart felt like it was going to beat out of my chest. The whole thing lasted for about 2 hours. I'm fine now. Now for the sugar.....I gave in and had a doughnut. I'm not going to beat myself up over it. I'm going to treat tonight as a clean slate. I'm going to go for one more week with cutting out caffeine and sugar. I'll wait until the following week to kill the extra salt. I've actually cut down a bit on the salt this week, but I can do much better with it.
This weekend I want to get back into the regular exercise. It's been a while since I went for my walk down at the river. I'm going to start that up again this weekend. I feel so much better after that.
OK so do we have it now ????....SeaRunner's a boy and Hot Rod's a girl.
Jamie,
LOL! I can just picture the horrified looks on the VS sales staff as you and your entourage came in to collect! Great story, had me laughing all day.
And YES! Little rest areas for the phobic a are a fantastic idea! I drive a truck and when I get too bad I always find myself thinking, "I'll make my own damn spot if I have too!" Grrr! Yeah, hear me roar, right?? lol I always wonder about folks I pass (when I do) that are going too slow, gripping their steering wheel in a death grip, and looking straight ahead with that look in their eyes. I always want to honk and give them some kind of encouragement but I'm afraid it'll scare them half to death.
Okay, by my calculations, you would have been out on the freeway June 3rd... so?? How did it go? Did you kick some asphalt? No matter what happened, that you are willing to get out there and face this is the very definition of "bravery" Seriously.
I had a little victory this past Friday night. I mentor a group of teens and had 5 of my kid graduating. That means ceremony which means stadium seating and gads of people and that means TROUBLE. Not my favorite situation. The last time I had been in the risers (it was at our football stadium.. .you know where all things in Texas are done worth doing! lol) I had panicked. So, like a good agoraphobic, I have avoided them ever since. My kids try to understand why I don't go to their ceremonies but they don't. I don' t feel they are equipped to understand "anxiety disorders" and don't want to be one of those adults who shares too much personal stuff inappropriately so they are usually in the dark with my lame excuses "It's more for family" or "I have other plans" For 7 years now I have not gone to one single graduation ceremony. I have attended their parties however. Long story short (too late) I went! And I stayed for the whole ceremony! I did not sit in the stadium seats but stood off to the side by the fence line (with about 50 other people... other ags?? hmmm. Folks we need to develop some secret signal so we can identify each other..) Then the next day drove myself to the town north of me (20 miles) and back despite having a stomach virus. I really REALLY did not want to go but just said, "To hell with it" and went.
Guys, the relaxing/napping every day has really made a big difference in how I feel. I've had this pounded into me by a zillion therapists, by my own research, by Lucinda... and I still hadn't stuck with it. Now that I have a week of it behind me, I am hooked. This week I am going to try just relaxing, not sleeping and see if I get the same benefit. I think our poor minds need the break from the chaos and fear so much. I really felt like I'd done myself a huge favor.
ManofMusic, Good job on cutting all almost every single molecule of sugar from your diet! To go "whole hog" like that took some major willpower. So what you slipped once? ALL WEEK, and just one little slip? Our bodies can handle some sugar, it's just when we over do it that we get into trouble.
Goal for this week: continue relaxation once-twice daily and exercise 3 times this week.
LOL! I can just picture the horrified looks on the VS sales staff as you and your entourage came in to collect! Great story, had me laughing all day.
And YES! Little rest areas for the phobic a are a fantastic idea! I drive a truck and when I get too bad I always find myself thinking, "I'll make my own damn spot if I have too!" Grrr! Yeah, hear me roar, right?? lol I always wonder about folks I pass (when I do) that are going too slow, gripping their steering wheel in a death grip, and looking straight ahead with that look in their eyes. I always want to honk and give them some kind of encouragement but I'm afraid it'll scare them half to death.
Okay, by my calculations, you would have been out on the freeway June 3rd... so?? How did it go? Did you kick some asphalt? No matter what happened, that you are willing to get out there and face this is the very definition of "bravery" Seriously.
I had a little victory this past Friday night. I mentor a group of teens and had 5 of my kid graduating. That means ceremony which means stadium seating and gads of people and that means TROUBLE. Not my favorite situation. The last time I had been in the risers (it was at our football stadium.. .you know where all things in Texas are done worth doing! lol) I had panicked. So, like a good agoraphobic, I have avoided them ever since. My kids try to understand why I don't go to their ceremonies but they don't. I don' t feel they are equipped to understand "anxiety disorders" and don't want to be one of those adults who shares too much personal stuff inappropriately so they are usually in the dark with my lame excuses "It's more for family" or "I have other plans" For 7 years now I have not gone to one single graduation ceremony. I have attended their parties however. Long story short (too late) I went! And I stayed for the whole ceremony! I did not sit in the stadium seats but stood off to the side by the fence line (with about 50 other people... other ags?? hmmm. Folks we need to develop some secret signal so we can identify each other..) Then the next day drove myself to the town north of me (20 miles) and back despite having a stomach virus. I really REALLY did not want to go but just said, "To hell with it" and went.
Guys, the relaxing/napping every day has really made a big difference in how I feel. I've had this pounded into me by a zillion therapists, by my own research, by Lucinda... and I still hadn't stuck with it. Now that I have a week of it behind me, I am hooked. This week I am going to try just relaxing, not sleeping and see if I get the same benefit. I think our poor minds need the break from the chaos and fear so much. I really felt like I'd done myself a huge favor.
ManofMusic, Good job on cutting all almost every single molecule of sugar from your diet! To go "whole hog" like that took some major willpower. So what you slipped once? ALL WEEK, and just one little slip? Our bodies can handle some sugar, it's just when we over do it that we get into trouble.
Goal for this week: continue relaxation once-twice daily and exercise 3 times this week.
Focus on what you want, not what you fear...
Man of Music -
Great job with your progress on changing your diet. I can only imagine what that unexpected caffeine did to you. That's one of my biggest fear when I go to Starbucks - that' they'll accidentally give me regular coffee and not decaf. Also, good job on not beating yourself up for slipping up with the doughnut. It's just one day and you can get right back into the groove.
Also, thanks for clearing up which one of us is a bow and which one's a girl. It certainly explains the hairy chest. I feel much better now, LOL!
HotRod -
First things first. That's super about attending the graduation ceremony. I know plenty of people that don't even have panic attacks that avoid large crowds, so kudos to you. Also, I'm so happy to hear that the relaxation is going well. I'm still trying to get myself on some sort of routine and am struggling a bit, so bravo to you!
Second, yes the 3rd would have been a freeway day. But I was panicking and wasn't able to go into work. I did go out driving trying to get there and made it most of the way, but never got into the office. I did however make a nice turn-around by Friday and drove myself to and from the office and stayed most of the day. I'm hoping that I'll get back into my rhythm again this coming week, which I guess is in just few hours. I really need to boost my hours and keep them up consistently.
SamCat -
You're post was pretty short so I'll just say "hi." Hope you and the family (including kitty) are all well.
Goals for this week (I'm copying you, HotRod):
1) Get into work every day.
2) Work 35 or more hours.
3) Exercise every day.
4) Do at least one relaxation session every day.
Let's go!
Great job with your progress on changing your diet. I can only imagine what that unexpected caffeine did to you. That's one of my biggest fear when I go to Starbucks - that' they'll accidentally give me regular coffee and not decaf. Also, good job on not beating yourself up for slipping up with the doughnut. It's just one day and you can get right back into the groove.
Also, thanks for clearing up which one of us is a bow and which one's a girl. It certainly explains the hairy chest. I feel much better now, LOL!
HotRod -
First things first. That's super about attending the graduation ceremony. I know plenty of people that don't even have panic attacks that avoid large crowds, so kudos to you. Also, I'm so happy to hear that the relaxation is going well. I'm still trying to get myself on some sort of routine and am struggling a bit, so bravo to you!
Second, yes the 3rd would have been a freeway day. But I was panicking and wasn't able to go into work. I did go out driving trying to get there and made it most of the way, but never got into the office. I did however make a nice turn-around by Friday and drove myself to and from the office and stayed most of the day. I'm hoping that I'll get back into my rhythm again this coming week, which I guess is in just few hours. I really need to boost my hours and keep them up consistently.
SamCat -
You're post was pretty short so I'll just say "hi." Hope you and the family (including kitty) are all well.
Goals for this week (I'm copying you, HotRod):
1) Get into work every day.
2) Work 35 or more hours.
3) Exercise every day.
4) Do at least one relaxation session every day.
Let's go!
"Common things occur commonly. Uncommon things don't. Therefore, when you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras." -- C.J. Peters
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manofmusic
- Posts: 711
- Joined: Wed Jul 01, 2009 12:07 am
- Location: Canada
Now THIS is a motivational thread !
Hot Rod - When I go into a crowded room or a new place and I start to get those old feelings, I get a good tune going thru my head. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes the tune is so good that I'll start to quietly sing along. My lips will start to move a bit and I'm sure that there have been people that thought I was talking to myself, but it's to the point now where I just don't care. That's the way uh huh uh huh I like it uh huh uh huh ! LOL
SeaRunner ! - My body took quite a hit with the caffeine jolt. I think my body was expecting more and sent another shooting pain in my head just to get back at me. Today was another caffeine and sugar free day.
I'm actually have fish for dinner. It's in the oven now. I haven't had fish in eons. I figure fish is brain food. If it can find my brain, then it can do what it wants with it ! LOL
The rest of the week will be caffeine and sugar free. I still think that the toughest part of this will be next week with the salt reduction. I may turn into a real a******. Ever since I was a kid, salty junk food was my weakness. That could be one of the reasons why I am the way I am today. PANICKY !!!!!! LOL...... also the Coke and the other wonderful soft drinks.
Time to enjoy the fish now. Hope everyone had a good day.
Hot Rod - When I go into a crowded room or a new place and I start to get those old feelings, I get a good tune going thru my head. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes the tune is so good that I'll start to quietly sing along. My lips will start to move a bit and I'm sure that there have been people that thought I was talking to myself, but it's to the point now where I just don't care. That's the way uh huh uh huh I like it uh huh uh huh ! LOL
SeaRunner ! - My body took quite a hit with the caffeine jolt. I think my body was expecting more and sent another shooting pain in my head just to get back at me. Today was another caffeine and sugar free day.
I'm actually have fish for dinner. It's in the oven now. I haven't had fish in eons. I figure fish is brain food. If it can find my brain, then it can do what it wants with it ! LOL
The rest of the week will be caffeine and sugar free. I still think that the toughest part of this will be next week with the salt reduction. I may turn into a real a******. Ever since I was a kid, salty junk food was my weakness. That could be one of the reasons why I am the way I am today. PANICKY !!!!!! LOL...... also the Coke and the other wonderful soft drinks.
Time to enjoy the fish now. Hope everyone had a good day.
Jamie,
How did you know about my hairy chest?? Ha! Okay, sorry to subject you to my twisted humor. Isn't it strange how some freeway days are just too darn much and some days it's a walk in the park? I struggle with that too then get hung up on trying to figure out if I should or should not try. I think we are supposed to try no matter what (guess thats the point) and change how we perceive "defeat".
Hey, just an errant thought re: your goals. One thing I have learned is to build gradually. Otherwise Humpty comes tumbling down and makes a big ole mess. lol.. I just worry, are you biting off too much? Nothing wrong at all for setting a good goal, but I don't want you to set yourself up for a disappointment. NOT that I don't think you can do it...you have in the past and you will again. There just have been times in my past that my "want" certainly outpaced my "readiness".
Thanks for the congrats on the ceremony, everyone! I am proud of myself. It's a nice feeling.
ManofMusic,
Sheesh, I go and share one shameful episode of "booty shaking" with KC and the Sunshine Boyz and I can't ever live it down! lol... I love the suggestion of some music going through my head, though. I love music and sometimes it just carries me away. Unfortunately I will have a prime opportunity tomorrow night as I have to attend a City Council meeting. UGH.
Good for you on the fish! I eat salmon everyday and not only am I not any smarter (guess my brain went upstream?) but suspect that I am growing gills.... uh huh uh huh... wiggle.
The caffeine and sugar were probably your hardest withdrawals. If you made that, then I bet the salt thang will be a breeze for you.
How did you know about my hairy chest?? Ha! Okay, sorry to subject you to my twisted humor. Isn't it strange how some freeway days are just too darn much and some days it's a walk in the park? I struggle with that too then get hung up on trying to figure out if I should or should not try. I think we are supposed to try no matter what (guess thats the point) and change how we perceive "defeat".
Hey, just an errant thought re: your goals. One thing I have learned is to build gradually. Otherwise Humpty comes tumbling down and makes a big ole mess. lol.. I just worry, are you biting off too much? Nothing wrong at all for setting a good goal, but I don't want you to set yourself up for a disappointment. NOT that I don't think you can do it...you have in the past and you will again. There just have been times in my past that my "want" certainly outpaced my "readiness".
Thanks for the congrats on the ceremony, everyone! I am proud of myself. It's a nice feeling.
ManofMusic,
Sheesh, I go and share one shameful episode of "booty shaking" with KC and the Sunshine Boyz and I can't ever live it down! lol... I love the suggestion of some music going through my head, though. I love music and sometimes it just carries me away. Unfortunately I will have a prime opportunity tomorrow night as I have to attend a City Council meeting. UGH.
Good for you on the fish! I eat salmon everyday and not only am I not any smarter (guess my brain went upstream?) but suspect that I am growing gills.... uh huh uh huh... wiggle.
The caffeine and sugar were probably your hardest withdrawals. If you made that, then I bet the salt thang will be a breeze for you.
Focus on what you want, not what you fear...
Man 'O Music -
I'm glad to see that you got through your caffeine hit without to many scratches and are back on your new diet plan. I hope I'm not being to forward but I'm curious to see if this changes your weight at all. Of course, I don't even know where you're starting from so for all I know you're already in great shape. In any event, all of the changes should be good for your body and mind. I don't know that I'm strong enough to give up sugar. Caffeine and salt I can do without, but sugar....must have, must have, must have.
HotRod -
LOL about the hairy chest! You're so right about how things change from day to day. I wish this condition was at least a little predictable. But it seems like each day is kind of a surprise; I never know how it's going to to go.
About my goals, I can see how it appears I'm over reaching. And perhaps I am. But I'm OK with that because I know that even if I only partially reach my goals, I'm still taking risks and am moving forward. Plus I've already achieved many of the things leading up to the goals I set so lowering them doesn't stretch me enough.
So how am I doing you might ask? Well, I'm going to tell you regardless...
1) I already missed Monday. It was one of my "disaster days" where I wake up panicking and stay that way all day. Oh well, those days will come. And more importantly, they will go too.
2) I was also anxious this morning and with missing Monday, my hours goal is also out of reach this week. But I can still put in as many hours as I can the rest of the week. Also, I've got next week to try again.
3) I used the elliptical machine for an hour Monday and ran 3 miles tonight, so this goal is going well.
4) I did relaxation exercises both Monday and today, so this goal is also going well.
Let's see how the rest of the week goes.
I'm glad to see that you got through your caffeine hit without to many scratches and are back on your new diet plan. I hope I'm not being to forward but I'm curious to see if this changes your weight at all. Of course, I don't even know where you're starting from so for all I know you're already in great shape. In any event, all of the changes should be good for your body and mind. I don't know that I'm strong enough to give up sugar. Caffeine and salt I can do without, but sugar....must have, must have, must have.
HotRod -
LOL about the hairy chest! You're so right about how things change from day to day. I wish this condition was at least a little predictable. But it seems like each day is kind of a surprise; I never know how it's going to to go.
About my goals, I can see how it appears I'm over reaching. And perhaps I am. But I'm OK with that because I know that even if I only partially reach my goals, I'm still taking risks and am moving forward. Plus I've already achieved many of the things leading up to the goals I set so lowering them doesn't stretch me enough.
So how am I doing you might ask? Well, I'm going to tell you regardless...
1) I already missed Monday. It was one of my "disaster days" where I wake up panicking and stay that way all day. Oh well, those days will come. And more importantly, they will go too.
2) I was also anxious this morning and with missing Monday, my hours goal is also out of reach this week. But I can still put in as many hours as I can the rest of the week. Also, I've got next week to try again.
3) I used the elliptical machine for an hour Monday and ran 3 miles tonight, so this goal is going well.
4) I did relaxation exercises both Monday and today, so this goal is also going well.
Let's see how the rest of the week goes.
"Common things occur commonly. Uncommon things don't. Therefore, when you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras." -- C.J. Peters
Hang in there, Jaimie. I figure we don't ever get anywhere unless we try. Even if we fail, we learn something from that, pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and try again. Lucinda says the only failure is not trying and I believe that too. She says every successful person has failed a lot, but kept trying anyway. I used to own a sales oriented business and I can tell you that is correct. In sales, you always have more "nos" than "yeses" and if you give up, you have had it. So keep going for your goals!!! That is the only way to get there.
Hi everyone,
This is the first time I am on this posting. I thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for all of your writings. I just finished reading all of them and broke down like a crying baby over what everyone shared. I really appreciate your comments, your goals and most importantly your encouraging words.
I've been through the program twice in the last 2 years and have done a lot of progress, one step at a time, with many "growth spirts/setbacks. I've had a tough week, like so many of you have, and have been feeling pretty isolated(even though I have an amazing family).
You can have so many good days and than all of a sudden your symptoms creap back, sometimes in full force and other times bit by bit. YUCK!! Thank you for not making me feel so alone. We all deserve good health, peace of mind, and tons and tons of JOY!! To our recovery!
Cheers, Claudette from Canada.
This is the first time I am on this posting. I thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for all of your writings. I just finished reading all of them and broke down like a crying baby over what everyone shared. I really appreciate your comments, your goals and most importantly your encouraging words.
I've been through the program twice in the last 2 years and have done a lot of progress, one step at a time, with many "growth spirts/setbacks. I've had a tough week, like so many of you have, and have been feeling pretty isolated(even though I have an amazing family).
You can have so many good days and than all of a sudden your symptoms creap back, sometimes in full force and other times bit by bit. YUCK!! Thank you for not making me feel so alone. We all deserve good health, peace of mind, and tons and tons of JOY!! To our recovery!
Cheers, Claudette from Canada.