Ask Coach Chris

[coachchris]

Wow! I just finished Lucinda's new book, Truth Be Told. It was hard to put down. It's a memoir of her life and highlights the recent struggles she has experienced the past 5 years. I continue to be so grateful for her courage and commitment to reach out and help others.

Here is the link if you would like to purchase it and her recent blog.

http://www.facebook.com/lbtruthbetold?fref=ts

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/truth-b ... iewbix.com

She will also be on the Joy Behar show, Thursday at 9 p.m.EDT

[Donata]

Are there any support groups that I can attend in my local area.

[coachchris]

Hi Donata,

Thank you for your question.
We do not have any local support groups.
We suggest you post and reply in the forums and get to know people that way.

Personally, I attend Celebrate Recovery, which is a Christian 12 Step group for anyone with a hurt, habit or hangup.

They have groups all across the country. Their website is www.celebraterecovery.com

I hope this helps,
Coach Chris

[lisatipton]

Hi Coach Chris,

I hear you are the man to speak to. Here is a little back story to get you started. I am 35 years old and I recently had some medical issues that landed me in the hospital for about a week. During my stay in the hospital, they were having trouble determining what my problem was; they knew I had an infection, as my white blood count was extremely high, but they could not figure out where the infection was coming from. Anyway, it became too much for me to deal with, the not knowing what was wrong with me and the not knowing when I would, or if i would get out of the hospital. On about the 2nd night there, I started having some pretty bad anxiety attacks. Of course I did not realize that was what the problem was. After EKG's and other tests, they determined it was anxiety attacks. They gave me something to calm me down so i could get some sleep and went on my way. For the next 2 days or so, they kept me on the sedatives to keep me calm but then a new doctor took over my case and he took me off of them, claiming he didn't like the chance of side effects for these types of anxiety meds and that after I my release from the hospital, he suggested counseling. Problem was, I was still stuck in he hospital with no answers and no idea when they would let me out. I lost it. I seriously cried for hours and hours. I finally got a little relief and now they just took it away. That night I had chest pains and I seriously thought I was dying. I kept looking at the heart monitors until my Husband turned them away from me so i could no longer see them. No one really could help me since the doc in charge took my meds away. He allowed me to take 2 tylonol after my headache hurt so bad I could barely stand it anymore. The rest of the night I just laid in bed with a washcloth on my head, wide awake and scared to death.

Finally I was released from the hospital, but by then, i was having anxiety attack after anxiety attack. It seemed non stop. I couldn't move without my heart rate and blood pressure skyrocketing, which made me even more scared. Every time I would calm down for a few minutes, I would start to anticipate the next attack, and sure enough, here it would come. It literally felt like i had one continuous attack for like 3 weeks straight.

My husband heard a radio commercial while driving to work about the program and he had me call. It took me 3 days to gain the courage to call to order but I finally did. So far it has helped me tremendously. I really had no idea that I had such a problem with anxiety and depression until the hospital incident and then me starting this program. In reality, it has actually been going on far before the hospital actually. I have had problems with anxiety since I was a young child due to a terrible childhood. I knew I had PTSD and I had bad dreams but the anxiety issues were kinda on the back burner. Very long story really, but the gist of it is, my parents divorced, my mom returned to her ex who was an abusive alcoholic who traumatized me with fits of rage, lack of food and water in the house leaving me starving and thirsty to the point I remember trying to drink catsup. Then I moved in with my dad and step mom. Step mom loved her own children but didn't really care for me so much. I became the red headed step child. My dad and step mom abused me physically and mentally and treated me like their personal slave. Then my grandfather moved in and sexually abused me, all this by the time I was 12. I finally had enough of the sexual abuse so i told my little sister who told my step mom, who was glad to hear it had not happened to her two girls and my dad and step mom kicked the grandfather out. They called over a pastor and between the 3 adults, they convinced me that I did not want the cops to find out about this because they would blame the sexual abuse on me and i would have to go to court. They told me I could not tell anyone about this, not my mom, not any of my moms family, not a teacher and not friends, or they would tell the cops and I would have to go through all the cop/court stuff. I kept my mouth shut for years. At 15, i moved back in with my mom and step dad, who was still an abusive alcoholic. By the time I was 16, he had come after me in a drunkened rage after i called the cops on him for beating my mom. Thank god the cops were still there or I may not be alive right now. I moved out on my own at 16.

Anyway, that is no where near the whole story but it is the bones of it. Needless to say, I have suffered from PTSD for years, although was not diagnosed with it until 2010. No one ever really talked to me about how to deal with the anxiety, or even told me I had anxiety. I suppose that is part of PTSD but I guess it just did not sink in that I had a problem with it.

I started the program several weeks back and so far it has been great. I just started session 4 yesterday and today I have had a great deal of anxiety. I actually posted about it earlier today in the peer group session but it seems not many people are on there. Anyway, today is rather silly actually. I am not sure why I am freaking out so bad about it. My middle dog, Diva, was acting strange through out the day until evening time... Not really an emergency type situation but for some reason I was extra stressed about it. I looked up her symptoms (which were not many) and the results were kinda scary... You should never look up an illness online and I know this. I do not know why I torture myself like this. Anyway, even though she has returned to her normal self, I am still having scary thoughts about her possible death over this. I know it is irrational and I journaled about it both in my journal and in my negative to positive self talk spiral notebook but I am still having trouble letting it sink in that it is an irrational thought. I am kind of wondering if this anxiety is just because I have been doing so well the last couple of weeks. I really thought I had more of a handle on how to control the adrenaline and prevent the anxiety attacks. In fact, I think I have done a pretty good job of that today but I suppose it is the obsessive thoughts of death that are really bothering me right now.

Anyway, any suggestions you may have will be helpful.

Thank you!
Lisa Tipton

[coachchris]

Hi Lisa,

Thank you for your email, sharing your story and reaching out. Just so you know, I am a female

You are quite a courageous woman and very strong! Let that truth sink in. Lisa is a strong and courageous woman!


Now that that's settled it's great to hear the program is helping. Be very patient with yourself as you move forward. It sounds to me like your awareness is really growing, therefore you may be more in-tuned to how your surroundings are affecting you and the thoughts you are having.

We are going to have adrenalin. Thankfully as you move forward you will have less of it but right now knowing that it is adrenalin and using your 6 steps is going to be very important. You're really working hard at under-reacting and truth-telling. This takes a lot of practice for people like us. We have been on high-alert for a long time and the whole 'control' element comes in here too. Meaning, we worry to control. Does that make sense?

I would find 5 comforting, compassionate and caring statements that you can keep coming back to in your selftalk. Mine sounded like.

I am safe.
I am a healthy woman.
God loves me with a perfect love.
This will pass.

I would love to have a free coaching call with you . I will private message you some selftalk and we can go from there.
Remember, you are a strong and courageous woman!
Coach Chris

[coachchris]

Happy Spring! We just got a new puppy and I am busy, busy. Her name is Miley and she is a lakeland terrier. We had a black miniature schnauzer for 13 years named Katie. I thought the schnauzers were a bubbly breed but this little lakey terrier is giving me a run for my money So happy to have her in the family.

So, I hope the warm weather is motivating you toward new growth. I see many of you on the forums starting your program again. Hooray for you! Change takes perseverance and every time you recommit to your personal growth and healing you are another step closer to peace and wisdom. Try and reach out to others on the forum and make connections. Post and encourage one another. We all have something valuable to offer! I am trying to get more people into the mini-chat every evening at 8 p.m. EDT. A lot of you are wanting to chat so I am spreading the word to try and connect at this time.

We continue to offer discounted coaching prices to peer members. Right now, four (4) one hour coaching sessions are $299 with email support throughout your week. For many of you who have gone through the program before, are familiar with the information and just need a jump start, this coaching package brings great results. In four (4) sessions you will establish a firm footing with the material, target in on what are your key lessons and develop a plan for success.

We are here to help you every step of the way.
Happy spring!!
Coach Chris StressCenter.com

[coachchris]

"Six independent clinical studies have found that StressCenter's self-care and coaching programs are more effective than outpatient therapy. Some studies suggest that the Combatting Stress and Depression Program program, when paired with personal Coaching, is 2 times more effective than traditional therapy."

See the rest of the research here: http://www.stresscenter.com/the-science/

[coachchris]

Thinking of all of the people in Boston and Texas today. We hold you in our thoughts and prayers.

[mcwilc]

Hi new to site , starting week two of program. Also just wondering how many guide books everyone recieved with program.
Does anyone struggle finding the time to do the program. I am married with two girls , one a new born and a blank line shift worker , which basically means my life has no routine i struggled with anxiety and depression most of my life , I am 32. Dont get me wrong I find the time , its not easy alot of time I am at gym exercising at 1am , falling asleep doing cd's and relaxion cd , which I usually do once a day maybe two. Just after some advice

[coachchris]

Hi Mc...great questions. I am going to send you a private message. Thank you for posting