Stress Center Peer Support

Hello everyone and Thank You for this opportunity to share my story with all of you. Let me first start out by introducing myself, I am Livvie, I am 33 and grew up in a small Massachusetts town. I grew up in what I believed was a dysfunctional family.
While I was growing up, my Father was an alcoholic. Little did I know, that this disease would {and did} torment my older Brother, as well as myself. After 11 years of self inflicted pain and torture, my body literally sounded an alarm, my first panic attack.
An experience I will not soon forget, though I wish I could. Racing heartbeat, shortness of breath, jelly legs, numbness in my arms, dizziness, pure AGONY!
Since that day, I never drank again. I was too scared. My withdrawal from alcohol outweighed the sypmtoms of the panic attacks that would follow. Now, here I am a year and a half later, still sober. However the panic attacks have all but consumed me right now. I suffer on a daily basis.
I just began week 1 of the "Combatting Stress and Depression Program" program. I am trying to remain open minded, and I promised myself that as long as these symptoms continue to intrude, I will fight back.
I Thank all of you for allowing me to share my story. I feel much better already, just knowing that all of you are there. Thanks again, and best wishes to all!

Hi Livvie:
Welcome!!!
You've come to the right place. You are going to feel much better!!!

Just take one step at a time. Baby steps.
And visit this forum often.
I shall be waiting to hear from you.
You can do it!!!
Mary Jane

The progam has helped me so much. You are in good hands with Lucinda. Don't get discouraged or expect it to work overnight. Stay with it even if you have some back slides, it works and you will overcome it.

<span class="ev_code_RED">CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR SOBRIETY!!</span>

You have definately come to the right place!

I have just started session 3 and am amazed at my progress. I count handling the symptoms better than before as progress!

Welcome, hang in there, one day at a time. You will succeed!

I am so overwhelmed with all this encouragement and support. You are all wonderful!

Hi Livvie,
I too am in session one and come from a similar background as you. Know that we are all here for support. You will get better as time goes on with the new skills you are learning. It is a difficult journey and we may have some set backs along the way but remember you are a capable creative sensitive person and YOU WILL SUCCEED!

Hi Livvie,

Panic attacks are scary and I used to have them all of the time. I am on my first day of the program, again. It has taken me three years to get to this point in the program. My perfectionism has been my roadblack. I have a coach now and is positive I will work through the program this time.

The one thing that worked for me right away was the jumpstart video. I didn't have a panic attack after watching the video and following the suggestions. The thing that works for me the most is the positive self-talk. I challenge all of the negative thoughts that are leading to my panic attack. I attack them one at a time. Now I can talk myself down and prevent my anxiety from turning into a panic attack. This os great, but I still need to work on my anxiety and depression.

Good luck!