This lesson made me feel anxious

Vicky W · Post by **Vicky W** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 5:30 am

I know you guys may not want to do this, but maybe substitute the cross-stitch with building model cars or something. I've started doing cross-stitch because I too cannot just sit and listen to the tapes. I start by listening to the relaxation tape to get calmed down a little, then I get my cross-stitch and work on that while I'm listening. I've been able to listen to the session at least 3 times per week and it gives me time to myself which really helps me.

fearkills · Post by **fearkills** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 11:09 am

hi vicky i;m chris i;m very new and not good with comp... but why are this dated so far behind i see u wrote this at 9;30 today march 19 oh well i cant relax ethier i;m to afraid to share some of my fears i no no one feels these ones but im not giving up

Prv31Mom · Post by **Prv31Mom** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 1:29 pm

Hey fearkills,

It's OK to be heistant about sharing your fears if you're new to asking for help or addressing something so personal in a relatively public forum.

HOWEVER...I think you will be shocked to find out that so many people in here DO have the same or very similar fears to what you have. I am not kidding. I was stunned. So many times in the past two months I have been like, "WHAT? YOU'RE KIDDING? YOU'VE DONE/FELT/EXPERIENCED THAT TOO?"

We really think that no one else will understand or has been there, but trust me...we have. That is why we're all here in the first place...we deal with a similar issue in depression and/or anxiety.

Give it a try...I promise you won't be let down. People will relate to you and you will feel better if you can get some of that weight off your chest.

Blessings,
Dawn

caligal · Post by **caligal** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 2:49 am

ROCKROCK: I am totally with you about the relaxation tape...I actually didn't do it yesterday or the day before because it actually got me totally spun up, as it made me think about my anxiety, made me too aware of how i was feeling and just totally sent me into a panic. I'm going to try it again and really try to get into a peaceful space with it. But please know you're not alone! i actually signed on this morning to post and ask whether people were feeling that way about the relaxation cd also!

cindylou · Post by **cindylou** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 4:16 pm

PeterT,
believe it or not, and soon you'll believe it , those steps will kick in automatically. Maybe not each little step popping into your head in the exact order on the card/program/workbook, but it will work.
Sometimes I used to just start off with "OK now, breathe in slow and out, remember the 2/4" I'd start with that and then remind myself that I knew what it was and it was going to pass and kept telling myself all would be Ok. If I was home , I'd get busy with something to distract myself after starting the breathing, or repeatedly tell myself out loud that I was my own safe place.
It took a while to really get the 6 steps in there somewhere while overcoming the panic attacks.
That's OK . I did it and so will you.
I used to have at least ten panic attacks a day and was agoraphobic and had a tremendous fear of driving. YEARS of that! No more.
Go for it, listen to that tape again and take it easy on yourself.
Don't go for perfection, just relief.

huge hugs to you.

Work in Progress · Post by **Work in Progress** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 4:31 pm

Hello,
I'm on the third session now but I had problems with CD#2 also. I thought everyone was really chatty and too much laughing. I thought great here I am supposed to be using this CD as a group session to help me with the six steps but not one person was were I was, actually just doing the 2nd CD for the first time. I was extremely nervous after listening to the CD. Now I'm supposed to re listen to the 2nd CD in after lesson #3, I don't think so. The 6 steps are great but I think some of the people on the CD's should be newbies like us. I would feel more comfortable listening to people going through the experience with me and maybe another part of the CD to listen to after the weeks lesson is done that has people that have done this program years ago.
Sorry I went on so long but I do that when anxious. Anybody out there think the same things ? Also do any of the CD's group sessions have people that are actually on the same session that the group talks about?

rose78 · Post by **rose78** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 6:30 am

Helloooo. I have just started lesson #2. I have been having panic attacks and terrible social phobia for the past 25 years. My how time flies...... I have managed to live my life mostly through avoidance but of late that has become harder to do. Now that I have advanced at work which is pleasing I am required to sit in director's meetings and make presentations which is terrifying. Though I know there's no reason to be frightened talking about my work in front of my colleagues, my trembling, rapid breathing and jumpiness would makes me seem like a person being hunted! It's gotten so bad that I hardly want to go to work and have trouble leaving the house in the mornings despite knowing that I am perfectly capable of doing my job. I am not able to report some huge decrease in my anxious feelings but I feel compelled to share that Lucinda's account of her own scary feelings gave me MUCH comfort this morning while I listened to lesson #2 for the first time on the car journey to work. Over the years, I too have felt like I might harm myself/others, lose my mind, jump from high places or do any number of bizarre things (despite not feeling overly depressed or in the least bit suicidal/homicidal). Just hearing that somebody else has experienced those feelings made me feel less of a lunatic. So far it's been a good day and I intend to ensure it remains so. I have high hopes for myself and believe I will improve. I wish the same for you all who are using this program.

treegirl · Post by **treegirl** » Fri May 16, 2008 11:10 am

Hi! I, too, am on lesson 2. I have to say that starting out, I was afraid the tapes would bring on panic attacks for me. But hearing the group sessions has been a comfort to me. Hearing others being able to laugh about what they went through was... well... empowering. I can relate to almost everything they discussed. To hear the way they all look upon their anxiety as something in the past gives me hope that soon I can reach that point too. I've lived a very limited life the past 8 years, missing family functions, even losing friends because I have been afraid to do things with them, and at times afraid to even talk to them. But after going through only the first 2 sessions, I feel more hope and less fear. I'm excited about finding this program and am anxious to move ahead. I know that not every day will be a good day, but I have hope that the bad ones will be fewer and farther between.

Wishing you all good days....

loux · Post by **loux** » Sat May 17, 2008 4:38 pm

I started doing session 1 and when I finished it, I felt better. I was very nervous to begin the program and got anxiety; but the first session gave me hope. I've had anxiety, depression, for over 12 years. I've tried many counselors, etc. and nothing seemed to help but I feel that this program is it. I thank God who led me to the program. It was advertised on TV. from loux