Stress Center Peer Support

Hi there,
I think while in the process of recovery we encounter things that are more likely to give us panic attacks, and we start recognizing them and in consequence avoiding them.... "My biggest challenge for me as of right now has been sleeping"...

For the past 4 - 5 years, I've been drinking and partying almost everyday, and most times I just pass out til next day, but to wake up to go to work and in consequence just sleeping an average of of 2-4 hours....

I assume my body has adjusted to that and now it just wont take another pattern, not sure... I was having trouble falling to sleep as I started with the panic attacks 2 weeks ago, but recently I just let my tiredness to take over and fall asleep easily...

Last night I felt really good, I kicked the panic away after exercising, and I was feeling as if I got over this condition and kept telling my self, this is it, I can beat this, I'm doing good, all positive and soothing talk out of my repertoire. It worked and I was being so positive about it I really felt "cured" and empowered to keep on going...

As I woke up, my first reaction was.... is it there? are the feelings there??? and as I was trying not to freak out the panic crawled in again... I felt like jumping out of bed immediately and run!!!! I tried and stay calm for about 2 -3 minutes, but the panic won this time... I jumped out of bed, and got out for a walk... 20-30 minutes I'm back here reading and writing... I had breakfast and some chamomile tea and as I'm writing this I feel like falling to sleep, I feel tired, but my fear of falling asleep and waking up with the feeling of panic is freaking me out now...

Please let me know if by any chance you have been thru this, I'm struggling cause I know sleeping is key to recovery, giving our body enough sleep to gain energy and function properly... I'm taking baby steps, here, no meds, and gone thru the program already about 8 years ago, getting back to it, and woking again... It is so easy to get carried away once we start feeling better, I am certain now, that after this time around, I will take care of myself for good and kick the bad habits once and for all, if anything this will make me stronger, and for those suffering I can assure you the program works!!!!!! You just have to be consistent and take it day by day, you may not relate to anything said at the beginning and feel like is not helping, but just try and force yourself to listen to the people and Lucinda, and force yourself to do everything step by step of what she asks... Believe me it sinks in and sooner or later your brain says, ok I got it.... Baby steps amigos!!!!

Please let me know if any suugestions, if you have been thru the same thing and any pointers, etc...

Take care,

Hi Eder,
I completed the program for the second time this past March. You are right, this program does work and it is up to us to stay with it for the rest of our lives, one day at a time, sometimes one hour at a time. It has been life changing for me, one baby step at a time. Everyone has anxiety and depression but because we have had it much worse, where it can take over your thoughts, your everyday activities ect...we soooo want it to go completely away, for good.
The day I decided that I would embrace every feeling, every thought, and not fight them but instead accept them and KNOW that "IT always PASSES", "it's TEMPORARY" and "it takes TIME to heal".
About your fear of going to sleep because of possibly waking up feeling anxious? I too have felt this. I say to myself , for all of my fears, "Just do it anyways, feel the fears and do them anyways". Try to look at every feeling as a gift. The bad ones are there for a reason, to challenge yourself and know that those feelings are TEMPORARY!!" They will PASS, don't fight them, ACCEPT.
I wish you hope, peace of mind and healing. We are all getting better. Cheers