Stress Center Peer Support

At the stage now in my life at 41 I have the opinion that anxiety is 2 part: partially our environmental stressors, death, job, major life changes, post traumatic stress, sin in our lives, major illnesses and/or stressors…the 2nd part is our thought process and how our “Personal make up” (some people are just genetically more susceptible) reacts to it… including building/fighting with resistance like diet ,exercise, good avoidance, genetic/ environmental dispositions… and it can get worse faster especially if you have not experienced it before and don’t know what is happening…when we finally reach a certain “build up state” we are now in “The anxiety/panic/depressed State” as I like to call it, This Chemical make-up /change has now become dominate and taken over….whether it is our own bodies response/release to say STOP…i.e. “Hey You we have had enough I must do this or you will start damaging organs and the like and I am going to make you sensitive to EVERYTHING till you work on getting me better”….”I am only gonna give you enough tolerance to function before you start tearing stuff up… think about it when we are overwhelmed with anxiety we want to shut down, avoid, and do not want anymore avoidable stressors period… we know its ridiculous to avoid and the thoughts we have are traumatic and over exaggerated, including panic attacks…so why are we still having them? again I believe there is a chemical / brain process that has changed that needs to be reversed back in order to feel calm and normal under non-life threatening circumstances…once we have reached this point we cant just wish/talk it away … this does sound similar to the Lyndon method pointing out one thing the amygdale…I think it’s a lot more then that…I think our serotonin pump has been shut down or reduced causing the excessive worry…I think we have excessive buildup up of adrenaline, cortisone, nor epinephrine, and no telling what else…, (ever go to the dentists and get a shot of numbing medicine and your heart races through the roof and may result in a panic attack…because it has epinephrine in it that’s why and prone anxiety sufferers are sensitive). If it’s just the amygdale then why do a lot of people get relief with just using antidepressants/ SSRI’s and the like…because it works on balancing your serotonin/pump taking out the worry factor… Why do Benzos like Ativan ,Xanax, Lorazapm, Cloni... and the like work so well when all they do is release different Gaba from “your own” Gaba receptors that “your body” naturally makes …so why isn’t that working correctly since it is what we do naturally? (A side note on Benzo’s they do work especially if you’re overwhelmed for a short time and need a break… kind a like a shot in the arm for a allergies but since our whole chemical make up has changed and just not the “Gaba juice we need” we must work fixing the entire imbalance. Benzo’s no matter how good you feel, or think “hey …this works this is all I need”,… remember they are not a long term fix for daily long term use but are ok even many years down the road on occasion...remeber we still have the obsessive/egagerated thoughts even though the symptoms have been alievated). So how do we get better to achieve homeostasis once again? well by saying that only exercise works or this method or that is the only way is just not true from my experience, nor is it fair for the individual that benefits from something else…it may be one that works better for you but not the next and most likely a combination of a bunch...what IS ahead on the road to healing is hard work…lots of time, we can’t just wish it away, be patient, I know our body is pushing us to get better fast but we need to slow down and take it easy for a while that could even mean less time on these boards thinking / talking about it and more time smelling the roses, walking, and being grateful for what you have and the people in your lives…and most importantly lots of prayer , stay in Gods word so God will lead you as to what works best for you as an individual. I believe “The anxiety/panic/depressed State” that has been with us since our natural “fight or flight” response …It is way is harder in today’s society to treat because we are always in a hurry to get better fast and life’s responsibilities/ demands/ incomes do not allow us enough time to heal…we need a quick fix…we don’t have the leisure to just take the time off anymore …I think that’s why some of us stay sick for so long… Many things will help us recover but it usually a combination thereof we mostly know them or have heard of one or another, we obviously have internet…getting back to faith/ prayer to me is must before all, Lucinda’s program, Lyndon’s, and many more cognitive programs out there, diet/ exercise, rest, take it easy, be assertive when needed dont continue to hold it in, slow down, medication…yes I said it medication…One thing I will add “us types prone to anxiety” are usually sensitive, deeply caring, very loving, smart, some times too analytical, beautiful people…I know that’s just our bad traits…lol…yes this is my second bad bout with anxiety /depression…I was doing great but got a high stress job, huge ego, very selfish, stopped depending on God everyday, and bam here we are again…lol…

The one thing these all have in common is “time” so use it wisely and slowly they are all useful if you do your research/work…

God bless

Fantastic Post!

I am at the same stage as you. I am 41 and this is round 2 with me. I had this in my early 20's and used Lucinda's program way back when. I agree with your approach and your theories. A lot of environmental factors but mainly what you describe contribute to the disorder. Being close to God is a gradual experience for me. I think God works gradually back into your life as you start to accept yourself once again.

Zoe

Thanks Zoe I really appreciate it...good luck to you let me know how you progress again...very simular to you I did her program back then too

JJB1 -

Wow! Unfortunate experiences at work here, no doubt you have done your home work. I liked the insight you offered and was interested in 'listening to' the ideas of chemical enhancement, understanding them but never actually took any myself - I refused. I refused because the chemicals just mask the underlying cause. That was and has always been my quest is to tackle the underlying problem...negetive thinking!

I went through the program in 1999 while also getting one weekly counseling session, constant meditation and journaling. After about a year it finally just subsided to the point that I was able to manage my life free of anxiety and eventually got to the point I would never think of it.

About a year ago i experienced a complete change of life and had no attacks or moments of thinking I could spiral down. However, with the use of any caffeine, sugar or stimulants as such, scarey thoughts and unrealistic thinking would overwhelm me. Discourage that I would begin to go crazy, had this and that disease etc., I ordered the program again and opened it up just last week.

I was amazed to hear some of the same voices from almost 10 years ago but one thing I did not hear then and did not remember was NEGETIVE THINKING. Seems I am the master at that, inner fighting, inner dwell, hopelessness, cutting myself down, cutting other people down. I do this outwardly and inwardly...but feel I am a very good person, I just cannot seem to stop beating myself up and others for the smallest things.

On Monday I was to catch a flight to Tampa and really needed some reassurance before I left. I was cranking it up regarding the flight, the hotel, the conference and just being away from my home comfort zone and a lot of nerves were starting to flare (negetive thinking). I began to listen to the NEGETIVE THINKING piece and just decided "wow there it is, I do that allll the time". I felt a sense of relief and each time during the day and all through the conference I just repeated over and over "I feel like this because I am thinking NEGETIVELY about this or that and it is just not necessary and just not true.

Although my flight was uneventfull (yeah for me I am a strong person), I had no real episodes of wanting to get the hell out of dodge (yeah for me I am smart and powerful), but I did have some really strong moments of wanting to explode. Observing why there was a few back home issues that I began to dwell on and it really challenged me to get through it which I did.

Back at work today I sat down and felt a little enclosed. Observing why...havent been at work all week, got lots to do ugh! However, when i looked at it...BINGO - negetive thinking about the work = want to get out of here. Anytime I would follow it with, "just take my time I can do this". The day has been fantastic and I look forward to the weekend.

I am going to dig in and keep the program, pay the money because I originally was just going to review it and send it back HA! I need the review and do the work.

I noticed that when i would have a scarey or unrealistic thought I would stop and think first "One - i would never do that and do not appreciate that and Two - what was I thinking about just before I had the thought"...Now what about that thought upsets me, makes me fearful or just plane what don't I understand about what I am thinking?

The power that comes from self reassurance is the KEY to healing. Think about it, Lucinda Bassett - her staff, all suffered from Anxiety and Depression but are now anxiety and medication free. They now claim to be 100% cured but how? Because of the way they think positive thoughts, address life as an exciting experience and not allow NEGETIVE thinking to bring in fear because WHAT IF...isnt anything, it wasnt before so it isnt now.

Hope this shed's a little more lite on this subject. Notice as you read this I never spoke about myself in the "you" as in you think this and you think that... I take ownership of my thoughts and constantly speak in the "I" I think this and I think that.

Ricky

Thanks for the post what you are saying makes a lot of sense…I have seen people completely get better with the right meds and not use them again after they got leveled…The first time I used LB program many years ago I didn’t use any meds other then the benzo on occasion and got 100% better with a very long process…I think you have to keep yourself in check along the way as I cant speak for them but I would assume that LB and her staff have done,,, looking at my post I forget I could use paragraphs, grammar, and better annunciation…felt really inspired to write this today and just posted from work…hope it helps someone as much as it did me to write it…after posting it looks like its kind of hard to follow at times… lol… sorry for that to much inspiration I guess…anyway good luck to you and god bless

James

<span class="ev_code_PURPLE">Oh yes, I must agree, self assurance is so crucial to recovery.</span>