Stress Center Peer Support

Here is my story!!!

I received the program from the StressCenter.com just before I turned 40. BTW, I am now 46. I used the tools in the program for about 2-3 months before I decided to get out and take action to overcome my agoraphobic and panic attacks!!!

I, also, used many tools of my own. I wrote myself compassionate love letters...I would begin these letters with Dear and then my name. I would write the type of letters to myself, as the type you would write to someone whom you love dearly. I would always end these letters with...I love you dearly!!!!

I placed a rubber band on my wrist and I would flip the rubber band when I caught myself thinking a negative thought, and would replace each negative thought with one that was more realistic and positive...One which made me feel more content, safe etc...The list just goes on and on...These were just a few of my positive affirmations!!!

I, also, always used earphones for all the CDs I listened to. I bought myself a small portable tape player at my local radio shack. I, also, bought a microphone and some blank cassette tapes. I would record my own voice using every positive affirmation that I could come up with.


I would use my "vivid" imagination for my own good. I would imagine myself being able to drive with comfort and going into stores with ease. I used my imagination to place myself in the places or situations which I had always avoided.

I learned how to comfort the "inner child" within all of us. Anytime, I would have any negative feeling, I would embrace the negative feeling, instead of running or trying to avoid it!!! There is an "adult you," as well as, an "inner child" within all of us. The adult you is more than capable of taking care of the "inner child" which lives within each of us.

I would use pictures of myself during various ages of my lifetime. I would imagine myself (the adult me) holding the "inner child" close to my chest. I would tell the inner child how much I loved her, and tell her how safe she was. I would constantly imagine myself holding her in my arms, and telling her how precious, loving, kind, compassionate, and worthy she was. I would always tell her that I would always be there for her, and that she had nothing to fear..That I would take excellent care of her!!!! This exercise also works well for depression. I practiced this one often!!!

I did a lot of journalizing. I would first write down all of my feelings and thoughts, and would replace with what I really felt to be the truth..Something much more positive!!!

I also ordered a few extra CDs from the StressCenter.com...One is named Journeys. I highly recommend this one!!!! You barely saw me without the headphones over my ears...LOL...

I was sooo excited finding out whom I really was...I felt like I had lost my true identity, somewhere along the way. The compassionate love letters helped me to find my true self again!!!

I am proud to say that I am now a very spontaneous person. I will go 5 miles to town, and end up in a nearby state, or at a zoo.

I love nature. Every chance I get, I will sit beside a creek bank or a waterfalls!!!! I love the beauty of God's creation, and I find much peace and solace in it!!!!

I firmly believe once you begin to fully embrace any negative feeling, regardless of what that feeling may be...You will find that particular feeling subsiding!!! It just loses it's life-span, and in no time at all, one is feeling much better!!!!

I pray each of you begin feeling better very soon!!! God Bless...

Dear Ms. T,

I am so glad you have accomplished so much with the help of the program. I would disagree with you on one point, however; embracing negative thoughts and feelings. From what I understand, the point is to challenge them and find that they are in fact, false. We need to examine them and bring the lies we tell ourself into the light and expose them. Then we will see our true value and how we have stood against ourselves.

Perhaps it's a matter of semantics and when you talk of embracing them, you are saying the same thing, but wanting to in a positive-sounding way, as you do talk about changing it. And yes, the positive thought needs to be something realistic or we won't believe it.

kudos!

God Bless!

Andrew

Hi Andrew,
I do agree that we all should challenge our negative thoughts by placing a stop sign in our mind's eyes and replacing with more positive "truthful" realistic thoughts!!!

What I was trying to convey here, is the fact, that one can not run from one's own self and win!!! One must face their fears head on!!!!

I pray you understand where I am coming from...

Ms. T Bones,
Thanks for your story on how you overcame this, I am sure that it will help many of us and greastest of all it gives us hope. I really enjoy reading your posts you are so positive and encouraging. I like the rubber band idea, I may try it. Thanks again and I look forward to reading more from you, take care. Bobbie

Bobbie...You are sooo welcome!!!
I pray you have a great day!!! God Bless..

reposting for those new to the forum!!!

Such a good post, Ms. T Bones. One of the best I have ever read.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

"Courage is the price which life extracts for granting peace." (Anne Morrow Lindberg)

blueleaves...You are sooo welcome!!! I am sooo grateful that God allows me this opportunity to help others, since, I suffered for 21 years of my life with agoraphobia, panic attacks accompanied by depression!!!!

All praise and Glory I give to God because He is the One who blessed me to find the program, and He blessed me to make it through all of those years of pure mental torture and physical exhaustion!!!

I pray you have a wonderful night...God Bless..

Wow! Great post.

Nana of 4...Thank you sooo much...I pray that you are feeling much better!!! God Bless..