i'm kind of an alumnae of the program. i first did it around 12 years ago or so, when i first became aware that i had anxiety and panic, and probably depression too. it really helped me at the time, particularly to get rid of my panic attacks. i went back to the program again about four years ago, after the birth of my second child. then life just kind of took over, and here i am four years later, starting the program again. what's really interesting is that i still gain new insights/new ideas everytime i do the program. it's like my anxiety changes over time and has different manifestations. i know the program will help me again. right now what i battle primarily is fear of flying.... also extreme impatience/short fuse/anger behavior.....extreme caring about what other people think. the key i think is really the section on positive self talk. i amaze myself by how negative my thinking is... catastrophe thinking, what if thinking, you name it. also the lifestyle stuff.... i had fallen into a pattern of self medicating with wine... not to the point of being an alcoholic, but to the point where i began to reflect that it was getting dysfunctional, not exercising, not sleeping enough, not being kind to myself. if there's one or two things i plan to focus on in the coming weeks, it is positive self talk and self care.
anyways, i'm glad to be back on the program... plan to check in with the online group frequently.
good luck to all others out there who are working on the program, either for the first time, or a "frequent flyer" like me.
