Stress Center Peer Support

Hi all,

I guess I will start with an intro/background. I'm a 25 year old female and I've been battling anxiety since I was a child. I was always able to deal with it (or at least hide it from people) but now that I'm out of college and in the working world, it has become a debilitating problem for me. I periodically have to leave work in the middle of the day because of it. I work in an "open office" where no one has offices or cubicles, so there is nowhere to hide except the bathroom. It's a very uncomfortable environment for a socially anxious person. I get really nauseated from my anxiety a lot of the time but usually I can grit my teeth and ride it out. Yesterday, however, I had to go outside and call my boyfriend and I actually ended up gagging/dry heaving in the street. This has happened to me a few times before and it really freaks me out. I went inside and told my boss that I'd thrown up (slight exaggeration) and I went home. I spent the rest of the day on the phone with my mom in tears of frustration.

I have a GREAT intellectual understanding of my anxiety but it seems like I just cannot get my body to calm down. I am considering purchasing Lucinda's program but I haven't yet made up my mind and I would love to hear from others who have had good experiences with it -- maybe even those with similar experiences to my own.

I am tired of feeling like I'm going to puke or gag every time I have a conversation with a group of people or enter a meeting at work. I am tired of not being able to enjoy eating and drinking at a restaurant with my wonderful boyfriend or family. I am thinking of asking my job if I can take a week or two unpaid to just start working my anxiety. I am already exercising and eating healthy and while it does help, I feel there is more I need to do. I am not interested in medication.

I specifically deal with hypochondria, social anxiety, panic attacks, excessive worrying, and agoraphobia on a daily basis.

It is worst when I feel trapped -- ie; when I'm at work or "stuck" in a social situation. I HATE going out to dinner with groups of people. I used to LOVE restaurants. I want to be able to enjoy life again.

Thank you for reading this. I would really appreciate any words of wisdom from those who have "been there, done that." I was awake all night last night thinking about this stuff. I have reached a breaking point. I cannot let this rule my life any longer but I am afraid I won't be able to conquer it.

Hi little_lilac,

I have only good words to say about the program!!
I used to be gagging and vomiting daily, every time I was on the phone, in a public place or even in a car. Many times I would gag so bad and for such long periods of time that my rib cage felt as though it had been beaten with a bat. Since using the program and the forum this has come to a halt. I am much better than I was in many more ways also. My anger is under control, my depression is much less, my anxiety is still there when I get over stressed some days but overall I feel I am well on my way to being a very happy person within myself. I am redoing session 7 again for the 3rd time today.
I am not taking any meds. Stopped my AD's and pain relievers, stomach pills, etc. over 3 months ago. I had a bit of a jump start before the program using positive thinking but deffinaltely if you want to live a better life than this gives you all the tools and skills to do so.
Much Luck To You!!!

I can definately realte to you! I too have on;y goods things to say about the program. I on the other hand do not work in an office where there are alot of people. I work in an office where I am alone alot and do independent work and I am terrified of being alone. I too am at my breaking point and feel like I can no longer let my anxiety and panic attacks control my life! I am VERY uncomfertable going to eat in restaurants with people and I LOVE to eat. I just want to be able to enjoy the life that the lord has given me without constant worry and scary physical symptoms and negative thoughts! I want to focus on good things in life without having the anxiety in the back of my mind just waiting to distroy the good moments. We can all get through this and the program will help us to do that! It teaches us the necessary coping skills we need to overcome our anxiety and fears. In I believe it is lesson 3 CD I like when it says "THOUGHTS, JUST THOUGHTS." It comforts me to know that anxiety is just thoughts and when we change those thoughts we won't feel the physical symptoms nor the fear and anxiety. We need to believe in ourselves!

Purchase the program!!! It has great things u can do to calm down your body!! I promise you'll love it..it's worth every penny!!

I have been in your place twice, once in my 20s and then again a few months ago. Lucindas books are good also, but I always need meds to help me stabilize and even THINK about doing self help. I usually wait until I'm too far gone to seek help, because even making psych doc appointments creates too much anxiety. I actually had to be sedated in his office once by the time I walked in. EMBARRASSING!!!!! But he saw what he was up for, and I am a new person (actually my old self) and now weaning off meds, doing self help stuff, and taking life one day at a time. Get help, get better! You deserve it.

Hi!

I totally relate to you! I am 23 and after living overseas for 5 years, I moved back to Canada and my life seems to have fallen apart. I never realized before how anxious I was. I would always talk my boss out of having me attend certain meetings or training because I felt so anxious if I wasn't the one running the meeting. I never enjoyed my job and ALWAYS overanalyzed everything possible! I stopped making plans in advance because I would always end up cancelling because my thoughts would get the best of me. It got to the point this summer where I was off work for about 10 weeks because I just couldn't function anymore. I was living on my own and terrified to leave the house. I could talk myself into going to work because I had to, but then wouldn't sleep all night and would try to get out of work early. I hate not being in control. I can usually hide my anxiety, but starting now to recognise and talk about it is really helping. The doctor couldn't find anything wrong with me, but I couldn't eat anything without enormous amounts of pain. I've lost nearly 50 pounds just because I still can't eat much. I went to a seminar that presented this and I felt so at home. Like someone finally understood where I was coming from. I finally felt like I wasn't crazy, I knew that other people had the same thoughts that I did. Even listening to the first tape today made me realize that I'm not alone in this and that there is hope for the future. So, I hope that if you decide to purcahse this that it will at very least let you know that you're not alone. That you don't have to walk through this alone. I'm really looking forward to this journey (when I can't talk myself out of the anxious thoughts .