Hey guys,
My name is Colette and I'm a 23 year old American living and working in Madrid, Spain. I've suffered with anxiety and depression my whole life, although I only realized that I was suffering from these things when I was diagnosed with both at the age of 19. I've had depression so bad that I can't get out of bed or start crying uncontrollably, rocking back and forth, unable to stop. And likewise, my anxiety has caused frequent panic attacks and difficulties with concentration. Although I love being around people and have many close friends, I've actually never had a relationship/boyfriend because my anxiety levels soar on that rare occasion when an opportunity presents itself. I suffer from a very low self esteem and although, as I mentioned before, I love to be around people, I often go through reclusive periods during which I switch off my cell phone, lock myself in my room and basically just swim in my depression and anxiety.

I just purchased this program today after having it recommended to me by my doctor. So far I've only watched the intro video, but I think or at least, I very much hope, that this will actually work!

Hi Colette,
I just started this week - I'm on my third day. I live in the Amish Country of Pennsylvania. I am looking forward to our journey to feeling better - you can find my profile under "Taifun". Good luck on your first week, Colette.

Ann

Hi everyone. This is my first week on the program and, since I have a problem in social situations, it's taken me a few days to work up the courage to begin posting...

I'm 40 years old and have a teenage daughter. I am married and right now things are ok with my marriage, but there's been some significant problems through the years. I've dragged myself and my husband to various therapists over the last 15 years which has helped enough to get us by, but hasn't helped much with my personal depression and anxiety.

I try my best to hide my angst and agony that I feel each and every minute of every day. Now, I am tired of hiding who I am and tired of feeling the way I do. I no longer want to cook dinner (I love cooking), I don't want to train my dogs (I love to train my dogs!), I don't want to ride my horses (I love to ride my horses!), I don't want to talk to my husband (I love talking with my husband!), I don't want to go out with my friends (I love my friends!), etc. Well, you get the picture... I've slowly been pulling away from all the things I love - I still do them all to a certain extent, but I'm worried that I will end up locking myself in my room and won't want to go anywhere within a few years.

After doing all the intro. stuff, I saw that I've been depressed for nearly my entire life. I kind of knew at times that I was, but didn't think that it was a continuous stream of depression - why didn't my doctor's see this??? What I didn't realize is that this terrible feeling that I always seem to have in my stomache is called anxiety. I had an attack one time after a bad fight with my hubby - but figured that was pretty much an appropriate bodily response at the time. I haven't had one since - I can't believe that I've been living with this anxiety without even knowing it!

I am really looking forward to being done with feeling like I do. I am ready to move on with my real life - living it as it should be lived. I'm tired of being tired - I can't wait to feel better!!!!!

Hi, Thanks for the welcome! I just received by welcome email and am looking forward to receiving my program. I am very exciting to get started and I truly feel this will help me. Thanks!!

Hello jeannie60,
I can really relate to what you have experienced. My wife watched there for you with me when I started the program. I know that my condition was putting a strain on my marriage.
She is following the program with me and I feel soooooo much better and feel our relationship gets better every day.I have dealt with anxiety and depression for a good part of my life.I am 50 noe and I felt before this program that I would be miserable the rest of my life. But now I understand whats been happening and have the tools I need to work with. I'm on session 6 and
feel more confident in myself.We can all beat this. Stay focused and positive.Take care. Paul

Hi Ann,
Thanks for the welcome - it really is nice to know that I've got all of you guys doing this with me. We're not alone! It's a good feeling.
Thanks again and good luck! I'm sure we'll talk more as we go through this whole thing. Good luck! Sounds like we're both so ready to feel better - I predict we're going to rock this program!
All the best,
Colette

HI JEANNIE!

Hearing your story makes me feel like a I am listening to myself! I have not been "formally" diagnosed with any specific condition, but after a few ER visits had a dr tell me I was suffering from Anxiety, not explain what it was, and send me on my way! My husband is supportive of me, but still no one can understand how you feel unless they have felt it themselves. I have four chldren, and over the past four years since this crazy stuff started happening to me I have slowly climbed the ladder to a more "functioning" life, but still am not the person I used to be. I desperately want to get better for my family and myself! I hope this works for us all, and we can all bond through or problems! God bless and good luck. Andrea

Hello everyone,
My name is Joe. I just received my program and just started getting into it. As usual I get off to a slow start. Part of my procrastination problem I guess. I am excited to do it and I hope it works, my OCD, anxiety & depression have taken a toll on me. I have been controlled by these things for about 30 years and have had some pretty bad episodes but this is it, I'm changing things.
I look forward to being part of this group and I wish all of you well in your recoveries.

My name is Sandi.I have struggled with depression for > 20 yrs. I have taken about every antidepressent made. I have "self medicated" as they call it with alcohol for about 7 yrs. While I am still functioning in a somewhat normal life, I have realized I need to do something different and am hopeful I have found it here. This is the first time I have been in a chat room and am not too good with computers. I started the program today.

Hi Everyone,
I am almost 54, mother of 2 grown children and grandmother of 4 girls. Also have 4 rescue fur kids. I had depresion as a teenager but didn't even know the term then or that there was a medical term. Nobody really seemed to notice or care about what I was going through back then. I had been through my parents splitting up amoung other horrible things but my life went on.My adult depression reached a serious level about 6 years ago after 3 deaths in 3 months. I felt very suicidal and knew I needed help. I was put on Effexor which made me deathly ill for 6 weeks. It seemed after that to help for a while but I didn't feel right so was put on a different anti depressant & another & another. I think i was on 4 different plus other meds over the years. I hated the way i felt or better yet didn't feel...like i had lost who i was. i also have had FMS,CFS, IBS, etc. since 1991 so the daily pain, insomnia, depression, and finally a major panic attack that I woke up with out of the blue one day has been my life. Finally 2 months ago I decided to stop all my meds including pain killers and try to get healthy, happy, and find the person i wanted to be using positive thinking, music, things to laugh at. I bought the DVD "The Secret" and watched it 3 times and loved it. I then saw the infomercial on this program and ordered it last Sunday. I am anxiously awaiting it's arrival. I love to help others and am home a lot so if anyone ever wants to talk please just let me know. I want to be as active as I can on here for myself and others suffering with this problem/problems.

Wishing everyone a great today and an even better tomorrow.

Hey, Imay have had a realization this morning. I woke and didn't feel like getting out of bed or doing anything and I realized that last night watching t.v. I ate 2 cups of pudding and a bag of m&m's. Could there be something to the sugar and alcohol connection they discuss in the program? I mention it because for the 3 or 4 days prior I had eaten pretty clean and didn't seem to feel that way in the morning. I might try journaling to see if there is a connection for me. Good luck.

Hi everyone,
I have been living with anxiety and panic for about 30 years. I have felt under control as far as the panic attacks go for the past 5 years, but recently experienced a full blown attack at work which prompted me to start the program. I have been reading motivational/inspirational books for the past year which have been helpful, but I feel I need to get more aggressive if I am ever going to resolve this ongoing problem. I have completed session 1 and looking forward to session 2. I really enjoy the relaxation cd and plan on making it part of my daily routine. My focus right now is to remain open and positive and work the progam as suggested. Good Luck to everyone!

Hello everyone,

I've had anxiety & PA for over 8 years now on & off. I was on medication for a lot of years & seeing a counsellor but last year decided to get off the meds & do it naturally. SO I went to see my accupuncture doctor who has treated me for 1 year & without her i wouldn't be able to get off the meds, it really helped. After 1.5 yrs of nothing, I had an attack the other day where my whole body cramped & I couldn't move. It was awful. My family doctor said it's anxiety...back again SO I decided to try this program. I am so excited to get it in the mail, after reading some archived conversations it sounds like this is the answer to a long term treatment. I can't wait to start the program with everyone here as my support, I feel like this will be a new beginning for us all. Good Luck everyone & think positive

Hey Everyone,
I purchased the program about 6 years ago, I never opened the box. I just to scared I wouldn't complete it. I am now living in Florida, we moved here after Hurricane Katrina. My husband moved back to LA for work, I have been here on my own with 2 boys to raise. It has been a rough 3 years and it has taken a toll on my stress, anxiety and depression. I recently saw an infomercial and remembered I had the program. I started the program today I feel confident I will complete the program. I really just want to feel happy again.

This is my first log in to the peer support. Not really sure what I'm doing yet. I have just started to program yesterday and now I feel even more messed up than I did before. Going through the booklet it seemed like I had every problem listed. I didn't think I was that bad but apparently I am. Gonna keep going because I know this is my last chance to get better for myself and my family.