Stress Center Peer Support

It's been about a year since I've seen a movie. Since I don't feel like I can come and go as I please in a theatre (it's dark, what if I trip going down the stairs, what if I can't find the place I was sitting when I come back, what if I get in someone's way and they can't see the screen, what if there's no close bathroom and I can't find my way back to my theatre, etc) I've worked hard to avoid them. I have however been dying to see Wall-E. It looks like it would be fun and it's fairly short, so I decided i want to see it. My first movie in a year! My husband is so excited! We're going to get dressed up and make it into a whole date night thing (since all I ever do anymore is hang out in the house, we hardly do anything fun together anymore).

I know a lot of people wouldn't understand why this is a big deal to me, but I know you guys will. I really feel like I'm finally making strides in the right direction. *and I'm in week 3 of the program, can't wait to see how I am when I get further in* It melts my heart to see my husband so excited - he said he misses going out with me like we used to. And i do too! Hopefully I'll be just as excited tomorrow... I really want to do this

Starr- you are the "star" tonight. Enjoy! Don't test-just practice...understand?

You have everything you need, Carolyn

Thank you Carolyn!

Great example of enjoying a simple pleasure! Have fun on your date.

Good for you! Have a wonderful time with your husband tonight. And make sure to tell us if you like the movie - it looks really cute.

Star,

Have a great time tomorrow night! You will be fine. Even making the effort to go out and do it counts. I find that I am most anxious about things BEFORE, but once I get there and get into whatever it is I'm doing (seeing a movie, eating dinner at a restaurant, going to a party, whatever) that I am fine and actually enjoying myself!

I have the perfect example for you. I was at work yesterday evening and I got a phone call saying my sister was in labor and I had to go to the hospital. I am TERRIFIED of hospitals. I hate them. I actually drove there, parked, went up to the third floor, and stayed for quite a while and enjoyed myself. I couldn't believe that I was actually doing it. The thing I had dreaded for 9 MONTHS!! And it was fine, no big deal. She's still in labor as we speak (poor thing!) so I will be going back again after the baby is born.

You can do this! You will have a blast, just do your breathing and put up your stop sign, those thoughts are nothing but fluff, put them in their place!

I know exactly how you feel, I barely enjoyed the last movie we went to and have been fighting going to another one. Plus the theaters around here suck, no stadium seating and you can hear the lobby and other screens so it's really distracting since loud places make me worse. Good luck though, I know you can do it!!

Starr,

I know exactly how you feel. I haven't been to a show in 15 years.

What a great day today will be for you. A date and a movie. I am so excited for you!

You can do this...maybe I can too.

Let us know how your date went.