New to Program

Joe P. · Post by **Joe P.** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 5:32 am

Hello. My name is Joe. I'm new to the program and wanted to check in. I've been living with anxiety and panic attacks for a long time. A few years back I was put on meds for slight depresssion and anxiety and it helped. So much so that I was able to get better and ween myself off the meds. Come this past November though, out of nowhere, my depression and anxiety came back. Not sure why. Regardless, I've been struggling with anxiety and panic attacks again for the past three months. My doctor put me back on meds and they've helped the depression but the anxiety and panic is still strong. I struggle with the negative thoughts and they are all health related. Does anyone else feel this way? I have a cold right now and ofcourse, I automatically think I'm going to get worse and not better. I hate the fact that I can't seem to shake these uneasy, restless feelings. It's like I'm going 100 miles an hour and can't simply relax. And it all is health related. Am I alone with this? I need to work on just clearing my negative thoughts but it's easier said than done for me.

wheredidigo · Post by **wheredidigo** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 5:47 am

Hi Joe, I too am new to the program. My package has not yet arrived. I am still having a heck of a time just figuring out where to even go on this sight. That alone gets my anziety up...ah the age old fear of failure. I too am one meds for both depression as well as APD (anziety, panic disorder. Unfortunatly on my Father's side comes a long line of us. I can only pray that this package is the prayer I have been waiting for. I too have not only terrible days where I cannot remember my head on my shoulders but nights where my brain will not shut down. I wake up in the morning not only feeling like I didn't sleep...but with a jaw that is so sore from clenching my teeth. I am afraid I am going to break a tooth. I do not do dentists..just a fanatic brusher so I do not have to go!! I want the old me back whoever she maybe. I have had depression since I was young but the anziety panic started in the year 2000. Right at the turn of the milleneum when evereyone else was out parting, I was going through terrible attacks. Life has never turned around since then. I hope to hear from lots of people and I pray that the support will help in the process. For many of us in this...it can be a lonely life.

no1fran · Post by **no1fran** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 6:00 am

Originally posted by Joe P.:
Hello. My name is Joe. I'm new to the program and wanted to check in. I've been living with anxiety and panic attacks for a long time. A few years back I was put on meds for slight depresssion and anxiety and it helped. So much so that I was able to get better and ween myself off the meds. Come this past November though, out of nowhere, my depression and anxiety came back. Not sure why. Regardless, I've been struggling with anxiety and panic attacks again for the past three months. My doctor put me back on meds and they've helped the depression but the anxiety and panic is still strong. I struggle with the negative thoughts and they are all health related. Does anyone else feel this way? I have a cold right now and ofcourse, I automatically think I'm going to get worse and not better. I hate the fact that I can't seem to shake these uneasy, restless feelings. It's like I'm going 100 miles an hour and can't simply relax. And it all is health related. Am I alone with this? I need to work on just clearing my negative thoughts but it's easier said than done for me.

Hi Joe! I can relate to your post! Almost 100% of my anxiety is worrying about health issues. It might have something to do with the fact that I've been as healthy as a horse all my life and now my age (54) is catching up with me lol!

I have been taking Prozac and have noticed a HUGE difference in my worrying. Last week I was given a higher dose and it's too soon for me to have any effect from it yet. I'm really doing fine for the most part. Just can't wait until I'm all bubbly and jumping for joy! Hang in there and we'll both be so much better in no time at all!

no1fran · Post by **no1fran** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 6:02 am

Originally posted by wheredidigo:
Hi Joe, I too am new to the program. My package has not yet arrived. I am still having a heck of a time just figuring out where to even go on this sight. That alone gets my anziety up...ah the age old fear of failure. I too am one meds for both depression as well as APD (anziety, panic disorder. Unfortunatly on my Father's side comes a long line of us. I can only pray that this package is the prayer I have been waiting for. I too have not only terrible days where I cannot remember my head on my shoulders but nights where my brain will not shut down. I wake up in the morning not only feeling like I didn't sleep...but with a jaw that is so sore from clenching my teeth. I am afraid I am going to break a tooth. I do not do dentists..just a fanatic brusher so I do not have to go!! I want the old me back whoever she maybe. I have had depression since I was young but the anziety panic started in the year 2000. Right at the turn of the milleneum when evereyone else was out parting, I was going through terrible attacks. Life has never turned around since then. I hope to hear from lots of people and I pray that the support will help in the process. For many of us in this...it can be a lonely life.

Hi wheredidigo! Welcome to the program! I haven't had time to go through very much of the program because I only received it Friday and have had the weekend to look it over a little bit. I think it will help anyone who truly applies themselves to the program. Let me know when you receive your material and what you think of it.

wheredidigo · Post by **wheredidigo** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 6:06 am

Hello no1fran, thank you for the welcome. I am having a hard time figuring out where it tells you someone is online now why I am not on that list. Where did I go wrong? Or is it that it doesn't show me..just everyone else? Ugg help?

no1fran · Post by **no1fran** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 6:14 am

Originally posted by wheredidigo:
Hello no1fran, thank you for the welcome. I am having a hard time figuring out where it tells you someone is online now why I am not on that list. Where did I go wrong? Or is it that it doesn't show me..just everyone else? Ugg help?

I'm not familiar enough with the message board to help you, I'm sorry. We'll figure it out and be old pros by the end of the week

)

escape1 · Post by **escape1** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 6:29 am

Hello,
I am new to the program and have begun session 3 today. I already feel that I have a little more control over my life and have begun to sleep better (but not great). I have been suffering from anxiety for many years, probably at least 13. The birth of my first child seems to be beginning of my anxiety episodes although I have been a negative thinker for my whole life! After many life changes and some ups and downs with my marriage and our financial situation-the anxiety was out of control. Nights were the worst. I could not figure out why my mind would race in the middle of the night. No matter what I tried I could not turn it off. Of course many nights I relied on sleep aids but even those did not always work. Then if something stressful was going on I would also have anxiety episodes during the day. I felt like I didn't feel comfortable in my own skin anymore-felt like I might go crazy any day. Some days I thought going crazy would be a good thing then maybe I could go away to a hospital and get some rest! I never sought professional help but wanted to many times. I live in a small town and did not want anyone to know. Now I feel that I can be active in my recovery and that I have the power to change my life and it is great!

no1fran · Post by **no1fran** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 7:16 am

Originally posted by escape1:
Hello,
I am new to the program and have begun session 3 today. I already feel that I have a little more control over my life and have begun to sleep better (but not great). I have been suffering from anxiety for many years, probably at least 13. The birth of my first child seems to be beginning of my anxiety episodes although I have been a negative thinker for my whole life! After many life changes and some ups and downs with my marriage and our financial situation-the anxiety was out of control. Nights were the worst. I could not figure out why my mind would race in the middle of the night. No matter what I tried I could not turn it off. Of course many nights I relied on sleep aids but even those did not always work. Then if something stressful was going on I would also have anxiety episodes during the day. I felt like I didn't feel comfortable in my own skin anymore-felt like I might go crazy any day. Some days I thought going crazy would be a good thing then maybe I could go away to a hospital and get some rest! I never sought professional help but wanted to many times. I live in a small town and did not want anyone to know. Now I feel that I can be active in my recovery and that I have the power to change my life and it is great!

Welcome escape1, It's good to have you with us. I can relate to the "small town" issue. But I've had family members who have suffered with anxiety for years. Up until last year I didn't have much sympathy for them but it's for sure that I do NOW!! You are on the right path now, stick with us and we'll all come out on top of the situation. When God made us, he made some tough folks! Just look back at what we've been through! But don't forget to look at now and look ahead too!

angela chriss · Post by **angela chriss** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 6:42 pm

well hello, no1fran, and everyone else, welcome to the program, and foru, im angela and i been a member since nov of last year. im still on lesson 4, moving to 5 actually. its gonna take time, im sure thats not what u want to hear, cause we like quick gratifications. but know all good things come to those who wait. easier said than done right, anyhow, ur definetly not alone, keep that in mind, everything that u feel. think, is everything we all feel. get urself familiar with the forum, u will notice everyone has the same exact symptoms. trips to the emergencies, dr visits for meds. which i personally dont take, but everyone has be diagnosed as normal/good health. including myself. but that doesnt tell the anxiety.. all i can say is, focus real hard on the program, do the homework, the tapes the relaxation,.. focus on it. real hard, talk to urself only in the good way, the way it tells u too. when u see or feel an bad thought, say "NO, IM NOT GONNA DO THIS, ITS JUST ANXIETY AND ITS GOING TO PASS CAUSE I SAID SO". find affirmations for urself. and if any of u need some one to talk to. im here..good luck. and have fun..its gonna be a bumpy ride..

Minnie Melly · Post by **Minnie Melly** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 8:13 pm

Hello, I am new. I had my first panic attack when I was 20 years old. Didn't know what the heck it was, except I thought I was losing my head. I felt so lonesome, even though I was at home and everybody was there including my son. In 97, I started having severe anxiety attacks, I couldn't eat, I would cry to try to escape from them. I held on to the bible each night, praying for help. After two weeks, I decided to call my cousin, who had according to people lost her mind. I called my friend to ask for her number. She started asking how I was. I then blurted out that I was losing my mind. She started asking me more questions. She then told me that she had gone through the same thing the year before and she told me that she had ordered a self help program. She let me borrow it but I didn't finish it and didn't continue with it, since I was feeling much better at that time. Over the years, I have been under a lot of stress with work. I had a very demeaning boss who criticized me all the time and was very picky. She found ways to put me down and over time, I was a walking time bomb for panic attacks again. I kept myself busy to avoid them. I am a member in three committees now. We are building a house right now. We lost a granddaughter on February 7, 2007. My grandmother got moved into an elders home and my mother will move in with us, who is on hemodialysis and she had her leg amputated a couple years ago. We almost lost her 2 years ago. My brother got diagnosed with cancer in the brain and is presently on medication. He is paralyzed half of his body. He has 3 children and the doctors just found a growth on his wife. Anyhow, I know this is what is making me anxious right now, including my sore tooth. I'm begging the dentist to remove it, but he doesn't want to and the pain has been there for the past two weeks. Anyhow, I've been in this fog for the past week, anxious feeling and feeling like I'm losing it. I want to run to escape. I am picturing myself in the loonie bin and being put on sedation. Anyhow, it's 2:00am and my heart is pounding away. I thought about the self help program so I went online and got on. I had my first relaxation at 2:30am. I will listen to it again. I will finish this program this time, because my new year resolution is to take better care of myself and my well being. Anyhow, that's what I put on my bebo. Later,,,,Back to relaxation time.........