Recovery From Program
Hello friends, I have a question for those who have recovered or on their way. The skills that you have learned in the program like journaling, or muscle tension relaxation ex, guided imagery, as you went through the program, have you stopped using all those things? I am on session 3 and find myself unmotivated to do the excercises. I'm having the hardest with positive self-talk or counterting by writing down the negative thoughts, that I stopped focusing on breathing properly,or listening to the cd. Plus they have uppsed my med for depression. Has anyone gone through this and what can I do to keep going? Any help would be great. Thanks!
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Guest
Hi. I absolutely use all of the tools everyday. The really good thing is, after I completed the program, most of the skills were already a daily habit. I use them, usually without noticing. What would I recommend to you? Keep working the program. Don't slack, don't use this part and exclude that part, use every session, do all the homework, and watch the dvds, too. I completed the program last fall. During the past few months I've lost two very beloved pets and a dear and wonderful cousin. Life is hard. It doesn't get easier. But with the daily use of these skills, it gets a lot more manageable. I spend a lot less time lost away from the present moment, and more time living in the moment. Even if the moment hurts, if there is sorrow, or pain, it's okay. I don't rehearse those old negatives. You have to follow the program to obtain the benefits. I hope you will do this. You won't regret it. Best to you.
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Guest
Hi Terrym79... yip, i went through the hard time with coming up with positive self talk to counter the negative thoughts... in fact the whole idea of writing down every negative thought overwhelmed me... so i just began doing what i could and not trying to be perfect... just little by little... as i would write a negative thought... sometimes it was a whole week or more before i could come up with something positive to say... but the important thing is to remember this is YOUR recovery and you do not have to hurry through.. you can go at your own pace...when i finally got to session 10... at the end of the cd, there is a section of positive self talk that i thought should have been given to us in session 3... anyway it says... i like myself. there are many good things about who i am... i'm working hard to be stronger ... i like myself the way i am today and i will be even stronger in 6 months... and on and on... i know they say not to skip around in the program, but if i could help anyone with this, i would recommend they listen to just the ending of session 10... i just put it in the cd player and go back to track 19 and push play... i listen to this daily and it really helps me... i sure hope you can continue because it is soooooooooooooooooooooooo worth it to persevere through the entire program... then if you like, you can go back through and do it again... this is a life-long learning process... and if we are compared to being alcoholics with our negative thinking... we will be recovering continuously until Jesus comes back and brings all the positive thoughts we could possibly imagine... i don't know your spiritual beliefs... but i am a Christian and my husband is a minister... so, you may find my information helpful... or not... but, like i said, the important thing is YOU right now... you're worth it... take care and i hope this helps... much LOVE,
kj
kj
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Guest
Dear TERRY:
I have been recovered fr anxiety disorder for almost 2 1/2+ yrs now. In addition, I've gone through Lucinda's program TWICE. I LIVE the teachings of this program, day in & day out. Thank goodness I have a sound mind, hahahah cause I am always talking to myself - just good + great + encouraging + empowering stuff - stuff that is going to get me going in the direction I need to be ='s THE STARS BABY. It has become 2nd nature for me through my repetative practicing of it & the consistency of those acts.
My motivation was + is + always will be FEELING BETTER. I was in the darkest place that was anxiety disorder + panic attacks + ptsd + sleep deprivation + THEN depression. I didn't want to feel those things anymore. I didn't want them to be MY FOREVER. So, I set out to LEARN A NEW WAY - via LUCINDA'S PROGRAM. I lived/breathed her program. I followed her program STRICTLY, as INSTRUCTED. Oh sure, I will be quite frank here (just keeping it real): I didn't want to have to be doing the program + didn't want to be feeling these things + wanted all that stuff to go away like YESTERDAY.All that wouldn't get me anywhere. The fact was, I did have those ailments + I was feeling all those things/symptoms & as a direct result, my QUALITY OF LIFE was beyond poor. I was feeling bad - not hubby/family/friends, etc. So, it was up to ME to do something. That is where my motivation came fr.
I had no clue in the beginning. I never had these ailments PRIOR. SO WHAT , BIG DEAL. I could LEARN them. I could learn a healthier way of thinking/acting/reacting. Every single person/author, Lucinda included, didn't just instantaneously become RECOVERED + INFORMED + EMPOWERED - no. They had to learn them. If they could, than so could I. I made RECOVERY my #1 priority. Again, YES, I wanted to be "out there" doing other things. However, those things would have to wait. For the moment, recovery had my focus - w/ my wanting to FEEL BETTER/STRONGER as my most prominant motivator. I did all the homework, cd's, video's etc. If I reached a premisis or theory I didn't understand - I got a grip on the lack of patience I had at the time & I pushed forward. I sought help in understanding it/them: here on this forum + chat + literature/books + dr's/medical professionals, etc - the amt of available information out there is almost infinite - honest. I became like a sponge to water - soaking up all that information. Little by little, I was feeling better.
Pecos is right, life isn't always easy. Lucinda says it in her program, "life is like 1 big practice session." it is all true. My hubby went away on a business trip 1 1/2 mths ago. It was the 1st trip away since my diagnosis 4 yrs ago, when my journey 1st started. He was gonna get LIMO SERVICE to & fr airport - prior the car would be left in front of the house. That wasn't an option this time. I start work at 6am/6:30am - way dark out to walk. So, I had to drive. Not only was I not w/ my previously SAFE PERSON (that is ME now) + he'd be gone for 4 days - the 1st time w/o him in 4 yrs + I'd have to drive myself to & fr work. Talk about anxiety levels, lol - lord I could have painted someone's house. I was nervous @ 1st - sure. As God is my witness, by day 3 I was like "ooh, I need somewhere to go - I got the car all to myself". You know what I did? I went & got a pedicure + eyebrows waxed - then drove home w/ the car window open + radio BLASTING & me singing some song on the radio - REALLY LOUD & SOOOOOOOOO OFF KEY - it was beautiful & fun. I survived all them symptoms & I was a stronger woman for it. I faced & felt what I needed to & came out the other side.
Life's experiences will afford you the means to BUILD SKILLS - don't give up or give in. Lucinda assembled some INVALUABLE information in her program - recovery TRULY @ your fingertips. You can have recovery too - yes, like Lucinda + me + pecos & an infinite # of others who have succesfully gone through her program.
Make RECOVERY your priority. I know what it is like to have depression - I was there, bad. I was diagnosed in March 2007 & joined WEIGHT WATCHERS 2 mths later. I was feeling the worst of depression + attempting to recover fr it & face MY WHY'S behind my depression - which @ the time included my excessive weight & food issues. If I wanted recovery - I had to take responsibility for it - If I didn't want to feel it any longer - I had to push forward & do it anyway, tired & all. It was that singular act (x's many of the same) that allowed me to recover fr DEPRESSION TOO - feeling oh so tired & doing it anyway: the program + eating healthy + exercising. You can too, I know you can.
All my best,
LENORE
I have been recovered fr anxiety disorder for almost 2 1/2+ yrs now. In addition, I've gone through Lucinda's program TWICE. I LIVE the teachings of this program, day in & day out. Thank goodness I have a sound mind, hahahah cause I am always talking to myself - just good + great + encouraging + empowering stuff - stuff that is going to get me going in the direction I need to be ='s THE STARS BABY. It has become 2nd nature for me through my repetative practicing of it & the consistency of those acts.
My motivation was + is + always will be FEELING BETTER. I was in the darkest place that was anxiety disorder + panic attacks + ptsd + sleep deprivation + THEN depression. I didn't want to feel those things anymore. I didn't want them to be MY FOREVER. So, I set out to LEARN A NEW WAY - via LUCINDA'S PROGRAM. I lived/breathed her program. I followed her program STRICTLY, as INSTRUCTED. Oh sure, I will be quite frank here (just keeping it real): I didn't want to have to be doing the program + didn't want to be feeling these things + wanted all that stuff to go away like YESTERDAY.All that wouldn't get me anywhere. The fact was, I did have those ailments + I was feeling all those things/symptoms & as a direct result, my QUALITY OF LIFE was beyond poor. I was feeling bad - not hubby/family/friends, etc. So, it was up to ME to do something. That is where my motivation came fr.
I had no clue in the beginning. I never had these ailments PRIOR. SO WHAT , BIG DEAL. I could LEARN them. I could learn a healthier way of thinking/acting/reacting. Every single person/author, Lucinda included, didn't just instantaneously become RECOVERED + INFORMED + EMPOWERED - no. They had to learn them. If they could, than so could I. I made RECOVERY my #1 priority. Again, YES, I wanted to be "out there" doing other things. However, those things would have to wait. For the moment, recovery had my focus - w/ my wanting to FEEL BETTER/STRONGER as my most prominant motivator. I did all the homework, cd's, video's etc. If I reached a premisis or theory I didn't understand - I got a grip on the lack of patience I had at the time & I pushed forward. I sought help in understanding it/them: here on this forum + chat + literature/books + dr's/medical professionals, etc - the amt of available information out there is almost infinite - honest. I became like a sponge to water - soaking up all that information. Little by little, I was feeling better.
Pecos is right, life isn't always easy. Lucinda says it in her program, "life is like 1 big practice session." it is all true. My hubby went away on a business trip 1 1/2 mths ago. It was the 1st trip away since my diagnosis 4 yrs ago, when my journey 1st started. He was gonna get LIMO SERVICE to & fr airport - prior the car would be left in front of the house. That wasn't an option this time. I start work at 6am/6:30am - way dark out to walk. So, I had to drive. Not only was I not w/ my previously SAFE PERSON (that is ME now) + he'd be gone for 4 days - the 1st time w/o him in 4 yrs + I'd have to drive myself to & fr work. Talk about anxiety levels, lol - lord I could have painted someone's house. I was nervous @ 1st - sure. As God is my witness, by day 3 I was like "ooh, I need somewhere to go - I got the car all to myself". You know what I did? I went & got a pedicure + eyebrows waxed - then drove home w/ the car window open + radio BLASTING & me singing some song on the radio - REALLY LOUD & SOOOOOOOOO OFF KEY - it was beautiful & fun. I survived all them symptoms & I was a stronger woman for it. I faced & felt what I needed to & came out the other side.
Life's experiences will afford you the means to BUILD SKILLS - don't give up or give in. Lucinda assembled some INVALUABLE information in her program - recovery TRULY @ your fingertips. You can have recovery too - yes, like Lucinda + me + pecos & an infinite # of others who have succesfully gone through her program.
Make RECOVERY your priority. I know what it is like to have depression - I was there, bad. I was diagnosed in March 2007 & joined WEIGHT WATCHERS 2 mths later. I was feeling the worst of depression + attempting to recover fr it & face MY WHY'S behind my depression - which @ the time included my excessive weight & food issues. If I wanted recovery - I had to take responsibility for it - If I didn't want to feel it any longer - I had to push forward & do it anyway, tired & all. It was that singular act (x's many of the same) that allowed me to recover fr DEPRESSION TOO - feeling oh so tired & doing it anyway: the program + eating healthy + exercising. You can too, I know you can.
All my best,
LENORE