Stress Center Peer Support

ive been going through the program now for 3 weeks and have noticed my self awareness is hightened. is this normal to notice things more, because it starts to scare me. And i wonder now because my panic is gone but my thoughts are so scarry. which is normal?

I wrote a post on this very thing....I am in week three as well. I have forced myself back into life which has been very hard at times but at the end of the day I feel such a since of accomplishment that it makes the next day worth the effort.

One of my posts is called Darkness??? I have been afraid of the dark forever...but now my fear is someone stabbing me....I turn off the light and I can feel them there turn on the light fear is gone. I think my mind can not win anymore by keeping me shut up in my home so it is off on a new path of self distruction.

Sooo...I guess what I saying is that as we work foward I think it is our minds nature to keep us where we are in panic and fear. Keep walking through it and maybe find good in what is happening...there has got to be good. I think self awareness can be great, right. I don't know if this helps,Good Luck.

I'm just starting week 2 myself... and remember what they said before the group part in session 1 cd--that we may things more difficult right now b/c we are noticing these things in ourselves instead of just dealing with the affects. We're actually noticing ourselves have these feelings. I'd say that, at least, is some progress. =) Stick with it!!

in a lot of ways you guys are right, i do feel less panicky and fearfull each day but i still sometimes worry if this is a mental illness that will never go away cuz of my self awareness and feeling of out of reality. but i'm a constant worrier and think sometime really scary thoughts with my hightened self awaeness.

For me...I was experiencing all sorts of anxiety in many forms. I felt once I got the physical aspect of it under control, "it" reared its ugly head in the form of obsessions. I was told anxiety is anxiety and to treat the obsessions and fearful thoughts the same as I would with the physical. Be aware they are there, welcome them (scarey thoughts, physical symptoms) and continue to float through, past them. By giving respect (saying things like, Oh No, here it is again, I hate this, this makes me so scared) to any of the anxiety, whether it is a racing heart or a scarey obsessive thought, we are feeding the anxious cycle. There is more said on this in future cd's so hang in there. What you are experiencing is part of the condition and you can recover from this as well. Try to be patient and listen to the cd's X3/week and the homework is so important. Keep moving forward...you'll see results soon. And keep checking in with the forum ... there is wonderful support and advice here to help you through this journey. My best to you.

Lynn