Stress Center Peer Support

I am on week 10. I have been doing great. My anxity really can come on when I go shoping, and going far away from my house. I have been to the regular store buying food for me and my family, with little or no anxity. Then today I went to the health food store to buy some special food for myself (I can not eat gluten). I can buy food for my self at the reg. store which is alot cheeper, but it's just nice to have something different. Any way while I was shoping I started feeling lightheaded, uneasy, off balance. I tried to let it pass, used positive thoughts, but I caved in and left. After I got in the car to drive home I was trying to think what brought this on I'v been doing so well. What I came up with was maybe something is really wrong with me. I get these really bad pains in my shoulders and up the back of my neck and along with the lightheadedness and stuff, I'm really starting to wonder, maybe it's not just anxity. Then my next thought was, I was in this store buying stuff (that cost alot) for me. I was feeling gulity because we live on a very tight budget. I hate this, Whats wrong with me will this ever end. Sorry for going on so long but I just got back from the store and feeling so sad. Thanks for listening.
God Bless

Next time that happens, Vicky, stay right where you are at. Use your tools. Start with your breath and don't scare yourself anymore. Soothe. Remember to soothe all the time. "It's probably just anxiety. I can wait this out. Nothing bad will happen. I can handle this. I'm just going to get a few items and that's all." Tell yourself to stay for five minutes. Then for five more. Tell yourself also that it's OK to have an anxiety attack but I'm going to get these few items first and then if you still need to have the attack when you get home you can have it then.

Give yourself permission to have the attack. Don't resist anymore. See what happens.

Hi Vicki,
I too am on week 10 of the program. I seem to be doing well in certain respects as well. sometimes i have great days and i am encouraged to keep it up. BOON is a good coach for this stuff, he has responded to my concerns as well. My latest, chronic symptom is similiar to yours without the back pain. I, like you, am having a bad day today, i didn't sleep well, and layed there stressed for hours. ANyway, today, i feel like i have taken 2 steps back, and i can understand your frustration. Like you, i am struggling NOT to call my doctor. but i will go to sleep, and tell myself tomorrow is another day. today i just floated with it as much as i could and took it easy. are you doing the program with a coach?

Yes, it sounds like anxiety to me. I get the same thing at times when shopping. Don't be discouraged. It is just a bump in the road.

Sounds like anxiety, but dont dwell on it, so you had a bad day, tomorrow is another, dont waste another thought on it, you have made much progress, focus on that. And when you have days like this just go with it, dont fight it, but also dont dwell on the negative, focus on the positive.

I was wondering are you doing this without meds? Because if you are I think you have made wonderful strides towards recovery already. Good Luck to you.

Thank you all for your helpful words.
LMM no I don't have a coach. I couldn't afford that.
NOLE yes I do take meds. I am taking xanax. I have .25mg pills which I take 1 1/2 3 times a day. I started them about 3 or 4 weeks befor the program. It helps take the edge off but dosen't make me feel druged. I am trying so hard to get off them. But maybe not yet after today.
God Bless