Stress Center Peer Support

I am new to this and am already disappointed in what I've seen. This is supposed to be a "peer support" group, but there never seems to be anyone on this board, day or night, and I've seen too many posts with just 0, 1 or 2 replies, but lots of views. We are here because we need help and support from each other and it's just not here. I read a post the other day about doing a private chat room - well what's the point in having this board if others are going to talk to each other privately. That's not "peer support". I need your help, suggestions, and support, and I'm getting very few replies, many times none at all. I try to read all the new posts and if I think I can help someone, even just a tiny bit, I'll send a reply. Most times I never even get a response from them, so I don't know if they even read it. Shame on us for not helping each other more than we do.

It is difficult to know what to say here or to find fault with anyone. I do not blame; do not find fault. Your frustration is understandable. But, remember, everyone here has issues of their own. I came here from another site, sometimes participate elsewhere, have never done the program though I am somewhat familiar with its foundation of CBT. People come and go; some respond, some don't.

It would surely be nice to have more participation, to be sure. It is my feeling that people go to other sites, esp. Facebook. Will try and be as helpful as I can be. Best to you.

Oh, I'm not trying to blame anyone, I just wanted to understand what's going on this board. Everything I read and heard before coming here made it sound like this was very active and helpful, but so far, it's been pretty slow. Maybe it's just the time of the month or something like that.

I agree i thought there would be more poeple here. it seems kind of empty lol. well ill try to do my part as a new additon to this site

HI kamo-There was quite an active group when I joined, but then the "owners" or powers that be, changed the website. We use to be able to put Avatars up and the format was more eye pleasing or colorful. The smilies were different and things like that.
So many people left... it just brought on more anxiety to people that have anxiety! I went to the other places but they seem so big and wasn't using Lucinda's Program, they seemed to be pushing Drug Therapy and there was so much Pictures or color going on that it seemed very busy to the eyes. j

Also arguments would ensue, but there were active Monitors. All I know is that I met great people here that helped me one of them was Ninja Frodo, and then others followed. This place has been so helpful that I am better and I don't always need to be here.

And also some of the great people I've met here have gone elsewhere or don't need to be on here either. I like it here as we can be anonymous...we can tell our life stories and problems and not worry about it being exposed on FB. Some of us will start the program over again after we've completed it. So it does take 12 weeks to do this...and it takes a leader and participation.

I do know that even if you don't get a response, just by writing your story down helps, as it is like "journaling" and gets your feelings out.

Some people like the chat, but that isn't consistent either and not everyone is on it either. I've been here just about a year and I'm so glad my sister told me about Lucinda, even though she really needs the help she gives. This sister has so many problems that she can't even keep herself organized enough to listen to the CDs and use the workbook or even use a computer, but I'm grateful that she picked up on my Anxiety and had a resource for me and then eventually "lent" me her CDs w/o the workbook.

I fortunately was able to buy the program from another person and got the workbooks which are helpful and still need to go through them. But I had already gone through Dr David Burns Feeling Good Mood Therapy books and also recently his 10 Steps to Self Esteem Workbook along with a Psychologist so those have helped me a lot. I just at the time I went through those books had never, ever experienced a Panic Attack. Maybe anxious moments or anxiety and definitely depression, never a Panic Attack and that was the most scariest experience I've ever had! So I'm so glad to have heard about Lucinda Bassett and her program.

Therefore, I've been helped and I'm able to go about my "business" or "life" and don't need to be on here as much. So if you are seeing people on her all the time either they are healed or healing or they are not working the program.

I hope this helps to explain a few things. I bet if there were more people that had access to computers and the Program
they would be here. Paislee

KAMO,

The site used to be much more active, until the StressCenter.com changed the format. For a couple of months, it was a real mess. We even had Russian porn on the site. A lot of regulars begged the StressCenter.com for help and even offered to help clean up the site themselves. It seems that the people at the StressCenter.com and whoever runs the website are separate entities and even the StressCenter.com people couldn't seem to get things fixed, even though they tried. Most of the regulars finally gave up and left. Sorry to tell you the sad tale, but that is what happened and why you are finding so little activity. One person even had a thread going where people could log in and list three positive things that happened to them that day. It became a very popular thread. Unfortunately, that is gone and so is she. The site has never been as good since the changeover. It is sad because it used to be much more active and supportive as a peer group. But it is a definite improvement over what it was when the changeover occurred! However, even now, I notice people posting and trying to sell something. That never used to happen.

I don't know if Paisleygreen was around when all this happened, or she wisely chose to be positive and not go into the more negative details. But you asked for the facts, so I gave them to you.

yes i too made a post where is the support !! thanks for the posts !

Hi Samcat- Yep, trying to be positive! It was quite the disappointment...that's true about the 3 positive things thread. We had fun postings and those people went elsewhere. Also, true about the porn and now we are getting the advertisements. So the Website isn't being monitored as it should be.

But many came back from another website that we went to. But is seemed so huge and I missed the people I had already got to know and who were working Lucinda's Program. I had never heard of anxiety symptoms before until I came here. Never knew what a panic attack was until I had one...but still Drs and Health Professionals didn't explain it to me like Lucinda's Website and CDs do. I totally had no clue...what I was experiencing and it was a Scary Feeling. Ugh.

What is also nice is that everyone can post other books that have helped them. So we can discuss other authors and their self help books. I'm talking about how we can do that now and before. I know some websites the owner just wants only their books discussed.

I don't know how the support is suppose to be as I didn't buy the Program via TV...so I probably don't qualify for the free support from the Staff. So I'm glad to get the ideas and help from other members here. paislee

Paisleygreen,

I bought the entire program and never got any free support. I did get a call one day, asking if I wanted to sign up for coaching, but it was around $2000 for several 30 minute sessions. Since my insurance covers psychologists, that sounded awfully expensive to me.

When I had my first panic attack, my GP said it sounded like a panic attack, but I wouldn't have one of those, so it must be my thyroid. I went to another MD, explained how I was feeling and she said "Hmmm, I'll get back to you" and left the room. Then her nurse told me to come back for a physical--i.e., that doctor was clueless. My endocrinologist's nurse practitioner diagnosed me because she also had panic attacks and my thyroid level was normal. She told me that my symptoms were exactly like hers. I sure wasn't happy to find out what was going on, but at least I knew where to look for help once I had the correct diagnosis. You are right, it is scary to have all these strange body feelings and not be able to sleep and you go to several doctors and they don't have a clue. Lucinda has put together a pretty good program. On her DVD's, she said she moved to California and I think that Carolyn Dickman was Education Director. I think Carolyn has retired. So things are not the same anymore.

Maybe someone else will start another thread like Shifrahs, with 3 positive things. You are right--some of them were pretty funny and gave you a good laugh, which we need!!!

Paisleegreen

Dang, I noticed I mis-spelled your name twice. Sorry. In the old format, you could see the post while you typed yours, so that was helpful.