Stress Center Peer Support

I just started week one yesterday and I have all of the symptoms of anxiety and depression and have been through all medications, doctors, therapists, counselors...you name it. My question is this, does it matter what brought you to the symptoms of anxiety and depression or will this program only work on people who have these issues that have been genetically passed down?

I have had bad things happening to me since I was a child. Putting things down quickly, I was sexually abused as a young child for years, my father was an alcoholic, parents divorced when I was a teen, I married because I was pregnant at 19 to an abusive man(divorced after my daughter was born), both parents were chronically ill for over 10 years and I took care of them both until I watched them die within 2 years of each other.(2002&2004) Then my Grandmother passed 2 years after that. My daughter is now 14 and doesn't speak to me and has not since March of this year. Her father has been working on this for years. She started disrespecting me and hitting me last year so I got juvenile services involved. It feels like she has been kidnapped and I miss her so much. I have been remarried for 7 years and in Dec of 2007 I overdosed for the 2nd time. The doctors told me I had a nervous breakdown. Since then, I haven't worked and pretty much stay in my dark bedroom either sleeping or watching TV. I am still dealing with my daughter not wanting to come home or speak to me.

So, with all of these issues, is there anyone out there that has had success with so many issues causing their depression and anxiety?

Hi,

I had a very abusive childhood which included at least one incident of sexual abuse. At the very least, I witnessed another child being sexually abused in front of me, and ran away when another little girl wanted my sister and I to participate in sexual abuse with her when we were very young. God only knows what someone had done to her to make her do that.

Anyway, my father was a violent man, my mother probably had schizophrenia and was an alcoholic, and I suffered years of abuse from an older sister who basically wants me dead, etc. When I got married almost 14 years ago, I had no idea that I would only begin to deal with all of my crap. We had a baby about 2 years into the marriage, and 2 years later he was diagnosed with severe autism. It is the regressive type of autism in which he began to lose the ability to talk so that was a helpless experience. An f-4 tornado happened in a new town we had moved to at the time where eleven people died and it really triggered me, and although I married a prominent pastor's son, it soon became apparent that my seemingly functional in-law's had some serious issues including spiritual abuse. They basically hate my son because he has autism, and they hate me because my husband chooses our marriage over their control.

So, 2000-2001 was absolute nightmare for me. I had a nervous breakdown. I tried to hold it together, but it all just hit me. I then spent the following years trying to put my life back together. Right now, I'm doing the best I've ever done since that time of trauma. My son does have severe autism, and it's chronic stress that I have to cope with.

So, does this program help when you have multiple issues with trauma? Yes. There were times when just Lucinda's infomercials coming on at the right time brought me extreme comfort. Her book, "From Panic to Power" was also extremely helpful, and the program was a life line to me when I couldn't find a good counselor.

Do I think it's the only answer or that you don't have to do more work in counseling to deal with the trauma? In my opinion, No. Of course, if you did the program and were better with just the program, that would be great, but with multiple issues of trauma, I think it's just part of the answer. I really had to do a lot of "boundary" work in therapy. So, this program wasn't the only answer for me, but it did help. I just got to this point where everything came together-all the self-help books, the therapy, this program, etc. I really recommend the books, "Boundaries" by Dr. Henry Cloud and "Changes that Heal" by Dr. Henry Cloud. I can't emphasize how important healthy boundaries are in healing.

I hope that no one takes this as me saying that the program isn't helpful, because it is. It just wasn't the only answer for me. However, I don't think this program is advertised only for people who's anxiety is caused by "genes". I think it is advertised for anyone with anxiety and depression, no matter what the cause:).

Take care,
luvpiggy

Hello Krista and welcome to the program. I wanted to offer some words of encouragement to you and everyone out there who is just starting the program.

Like so many of here at the forum we have many issues to deal with in life. So many stressors, good or bad, which compounded with our personality traits have set us up for anxiety and depression.

I finished the program about a year and a half ago. I suffered with severe anxiety, depression and panic attacks. I had obessesive scary thinking and OCD as a child. I was paralyzed with fear, quilt and negative thinking.

In Dec 2007, I was having an extremely difficult time with some serious health issues and family issues. I felt like I was falling apart. I decided I just couldn't live in fear, quilt, and depression any longer. I contacted the StressCenter.com and started the program.

I worked the program, I constantly reached out for support on the forums. It was extremely challenging, to say the least, to work each step of the program. There were many weeks were I kept repeating a session for weeks until I felt comfortable with the skills before I moved forward.

But I can assure you, no matter what caused the anxiety/panic attacks/ depression, if you commit to really working this program, It will transform your life. It is not easy, BUT YOU ARE SO WORTH IT.

Here I am a year and half later and I do not even recognize myself. I am so confident and I am out there living my life. You will never get over having anxiety. It's a part of life. This program will teach you how to manage your anxiety/depression.

I know when I used to read these testimonials from people who had overcome there anxiety /depression, I was so skeptical. I thought that could never be me, but it can most certainly be you. You can overcome this condition.

This program has been a blessing to me. It has helped me find God and accept who I am, faults and all, and to really like and love myself.

Take the time, work the program and reach out on the forum. There are so many wonderful, kind and caring people on here who know exactly what you are going through.

I wish you much success in your recovery. Take care and God Bless.

Thanks for all of the kind words. I am confused with everything since my medication isn't working and I just started the program. I have been sick for so long that I am afraid I will not ever get better and end up like my papaw. He was lost in his own mind. Awake and alert but unable to function. I am thinking of Electroshock therapy in addition to this program. Does anyone know anything about that?
Thanks

Hi,

I just first of all want to say that your postings here are very coherent. I believe that you are in pain and afraid, but you don't appear to be someone who has lost it, O.K.?:) What was your grandfather's diagnosis? Most all of us who have anxiety are afraid that we are going to lose our minds, and none of us do:). Even during my nervous breakdown, I didn't appear to be functioning because I was in so much pain. I was sure I had lost it. However, I've found several things that I wrote during that time, and I was very coherent. It seemed to have more to do with my perception of myself as being "crazy" that was causing me the pain.

Secondly, I have never had electroshock therapy, and I wonder if you would get more responses if you made that a separate thread-not that it is wrong to ask that here:). I know when I was in school for social work, it was a commonly suggested treatment. I think it is used in cases where the depression is usually so severe that you literally can't lift your head off the pillow, but I don't know everything about it. I've also read biographies of people who had a negative reactions to it. In addition, there's a good fiction book called, "A Good Day To Die"(It actually ends up being a very positive book where the main character does not want to die:)) where the main character talks about her experiences with electroshock therapy.

I know you are saying that your med's aren't working, but you still have options. There are so many studies that show that moderate exercise is as effective or even more effective than anti-depressants. Also, if you are on an anti-depressant, exercise can increase the benefits. Are you exercising? If you are depressed, taking a walk out in the sun light can help even more.

Finally, after what I've seen and experienced, there is no one who can not be healed from anxiety and depression. I was thinking about an analogy used by Joyce Meyer in one of her books. Think of a string all tied in knots. The more trauma you've experienced the more knots you will have. It will take time to untie all of the knots, but that doesn't mean that they can't be untied. Give yourself the same amount of patience that you would when trying to untie the knots of a string with many knots:).

Also, there's an author named Pam Vredevelt. She's really understanding about grief and anxiety in woman. She sees that our society doesn't give us enough time to deal with grief and stress. For example, it takes at least 5 years to grieve the loss of a loved one and depending on the closeness of the attachment and length of attachment it can take longer. You've just been through a lot in your life, and you've just started the program. I know you want to get better as soon as possible, but at least give yourself the length of this program before you think that you can't be healed. You really can be healed:).

Take care,
luvpiggy

I know what it's like to want the anxiety to just be GONE. I'd try anything if it would help. Heck, if it would help my anxiety by walking backwards, naked and singing down main street, I'd do it:)
I really got that my biggest fear was anxiety. I was afraid of anxiety . Once I really understood that, the symptoms of the fear melted away.
My request is for you to settle in, comfortably, to the program and know, in your heart, you will be fine. And know you are not alone.

I really appreciate you all taking the time to respond with such great advice. I do have sever depression and have for many years. I have attempted suicide twice and think about it often. I am not suicidal now but I often think I would rather die than to have to continue feeling the way I have for so long. As you can tell, I have not totally given up. I have given the medications and therapists a try and now I have this program and the option of ECT so please pray something works. I am planning on starting an in-home exercise program very soon as it is in the 40 degree range where I live. The cold weather also makes things worse. I will do my best to keep my chin up and really give all I have to this program. Thanks again and may we all feel better.