Stress Center Peer Support

My anxiety makes it almost impossible for me to read. I get really anxious about trying to get through it, I re-read obsessively, feeling like I didn't get everything the first time, and it almost sends me into a panic attack. I used to read for pleasure all the time before the anxiety, but now, it's become so miserable. I'm bringing this up because I just started the program this week, and I'm finding it to be extremely challenging to read the workbook! It's stressing me out and making me feel hopeless. Does anyone else have a problem with reading because of anxiety? Any support or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Lisa

Lucinda tells us our anxiety will be worse when we start the program and mine was. I think it was because I was focusing on it more. Also, we are perfectionistic people and you said you stress out because you don't "get" everything the first time. You need to lighten up on yourself. Nobody "gets" it all the first time. Just do the best you can and accept that. Gradually, the material will cause you less anxiety.

Don't feel hopeless--that is just your fear talking. You have just started the program and you will be learning lots of skills later on that you can use to lessen your anxiety. You have to be very patient with yourself because this is a gradual process and is not going to happen overnight.

Read the posts by Mrs. T Bones on this forum. They contain excellent advice. She has been through this stuff and conquered it by learning not to fear it. Once our fear of anxiety goes away, that pretty much deflates it.

You will do fine--just believe in yourself and take one day at a time.

Best of luck to you and welcome to your "better" life that you have just embarked upon.

Hi...First of all, Samcat I need to thank you for asking others to read my postings!!! I am sure yours are just as good, if not better...All of us are unique in our own little ways!!! So, Thanks Again...

Secondly, I need to let sturgesscribe know that I did the exact same thing and I had always been a reader, myself!!!

I would read and re-read, it was like nothing was sinking into my little pea brain!!!

What I learned was that once I used the relaxation CD several times daily, and did the deep breathing exercises that my anxiety began to lessen and my attention span came back to normal!!!

This is sooooooo normal, so, please do not worry about it!!! It really is no "big deal" and you are going to be just fine!!!

Please do not allow this to discourage you in any way!!!

Remember, you are just now facing up to the things, which you have been running from for sooooo long now and it would NOT BE NORMAL if you wasn't a little more anxious during this time in your life!!!

Keep up the good work!!! I pray God Blesses You Tremendously on Your Road to Recovery!!!!

Hi there! Just wanted to let you know that during my anxious times when I have alot on my mind, I also have a hard time reading. I think it's because our minds are so busy going in circles with our anxious thoughts, that sometimes we just have a hard time letting other information in! It does go away like all of our other anxious feelings when we start to relax. Good luck to you....you will be fine.

Yep...me too! When I was first starting, I too would do the SAME THING! Almost going into panic attacks becasue I would get so stressed out focusing on the mechanics of the reading rather than focusing on the content of what I was reading. YOU WILL GET PAST THIS! Make sure you allow yourself to celebrate, even to yourself, when you make little advances over things like this. Don't give up, and give yourself lots of time and you will overcome! I HAVE! THANK GOD!

Thank you so much, everyone! It's good to know that I'm not alone and that other people have experienced the same problem. I'm having such a hard time letting go of my perfectionism - I worry about doing the program "right" and then I worry that if I don't do it perfectly, it won't work, and I need it to work. I'm worried that all of my obsessing over the process is going to make me fail. I'm trying to let go, but it's really hard. I'm SO hard on myself, and I guilt myself constantly. But...I'm going to hang in there and keep trying! Thank you for your kind words, advice, and support. Finding this community has meant so much to me.

Lisa

I can totally relate and promise you it will get easier to read and comprehend as you start to feel better

Thank you, WW! It's so good to know there are people out there who understand.

Lisa

I feel like it is my fault after reading session 2 workbook. However I disagree with the fact that I can control it. I do not feel able to regain control before during or after an attack. Another thing that was mentioned was to change your breathing right away I cannot do that when my state of mind is panic.

Please Help I feel like I have no control, and it's even worse when they say I am the only one who can control it, b/c I really don't think I can.

I have depression Moderate-Clinical. It's often a struggle for me to get out of bed and face the world. Please help me. I really want this program to work, but so far it is not.

and how do you post a new topic?

cadl4, to post a new topic, go to the top of the thread to the top of the first message, and then go to the blue tabs across the top of that. Click on "New," then click on "Discussion" from the drop-down menu. Hope this helps!

Lisa