Im new to the program. on week two. having difficulty with the homework. my scary thoughts come so rapidly and constantly that i cant possibly write them down. and im tired of being anxious all the time so im trying to distract myself......not working. and i just started paxil...any advice on how to best get through the program? PS, the more i hear about everyones experience, the more I seem to coincidentally come down with the same symptoms....is that normal?

Hi Asamsyd,
advice on how best to go thru the program. do the exersises/answer the questions in the book. if you can't write your negative thoughts down, don't worry, just do what you can. the first few weeks for me,I listened to the relaxation CD about 3 times a day, this helped me alot. Just be gentle with yourself and don't beat yourself up if you don't do every thing in each chapter. Listen to the relaxation CD often. A word of hope for you- It took me almost a year, but I can tell you that this program helped me ALOT. I was in a really bad place in Dec. of 2007 and also got bad again in May of 2008. I have come a long way, I have so many tools to help me cope with my anxiety and depression. YOu can do it. If I did it, you can too! keep the faith. Faith in yourself, faith in this program, and faith in your inner stillness (even if you can't feel it or see it, your inner stillness is always inside of you- right now it is just covered by the storm clouds of your negative/ scary thinking). Remember to not identify with those storm clouds and remember that the storm clouds always pass. This too shall pass.
Peace to you.
Best wishes, Mary

not to scare you about paxil. but be careful with it. i took it for 4 years and then had to go off of it. it was like a drug addict coming off drugs. they say it aint addictive but it is a hard one to come off of. the side affects are not great eather. research it and see if they cant put you on something different. as for your scarry thoughts i understand i had them to. i am on session 2 we can work on this together. i will be here if you need

Thanks Two peas...i am aware of the withdrawl. i have done numerous research on it...and im terrifed of meds. however im tired of feeling like this and my doc thinks itll be the best one for me...as far as side effects....they are the same for all antidepressants....i looked everyone up!!! lol but im going into this with a positive attitude. even tho im terried of coming off of it, i feel this is what i need to take of my family. im sorry it didnt work for you. How many mg did they put you on? They wanted me to take 20, im only taking 10. if it eases things up enough to work on the prgram, then i see no need in uping the dose. Thanks again for everyones advice!! God Bless

asamsyd,scary thoughts race through me to,i also started week two,i find that breathing easy method is helping me when those thoughts come.i think getting the same symthoms you here everyone getting is probly not that strange.hang in there,try the relaxation tape.breathe.

i started the program 4 weeks ago. i drive a truck all day and have nothing to think about but panic attacks and depression. i use the techniques but its hard when driving. it is the worst while driving. i hate my job. i have attacks just thinking about going to work. i am on effexor currently but not sure helping at all. does anyone ever feel like there trembling all the time? not on the outside but inside the body. when i get home i listen to the tapes and it does help. i just feel so frustrated,nervous,panicky,trembly and dizzy so much of the time, im not even sure what half way normal would feel like. any advice is very much appreciated

Yes, I feel nervous on the inside much of the time. its not fun or easy. somehow we just need to get thru it. lets keep each other in prayer.

Hello, I have gone through the program, have faith it has turned my life around. You will learn more about the scary thoughts as you go through the program. The scary thoughts are a way of distracting your mind from what is really bothering you. You will learn how to jump off that scary thought track.

I know you are tired and don't want to write the negative down anymore, just put a check mark on a piece of paper when you have them, but also try to turn that negative to a positive thought. I used to think that was just "silly", but once I started doing that, I felt so much better emotionally. Is it hard to do? Yes. But once you get in the habit, it gets easier. I still have to work at it. But once you start getting in the habit of positive thinking and self-talk,you will notice that your relationships will change, too - for the better.

Stick with it, you will get there. I noticed when I started to actually deal with my anxiety, and read the posts, it seemed to get worse, that is normal. You are probably dealing with it for the first time is a constructive way rather than running and hiding from it.

Hang in there and if you need anything, job me a note.

LisaLisa