Knowing what you know now, do you think that you could of prevented the severity of your condition?

I absolutely believe I could have. My obsessive thinking on a paticular thing started when I was 29. It was a fear that produced a chronic behavior pattern which resulted in a phobia which brought on panic attacks. I believe that once you establish a fear (which is a phobia) and you don't nip it in the bud in the beginning, it becomes extremely difficult to break. Then, the anxious habit spills off into other areas as a result of stress and worries. Therefore, the panic attacks can come about as a result of other fears (developing new phobias) and worries.

If I had taken a similar course at the onset or prior to my anxiety disorder I believe that I would have been able to control it rather than its controlling me. Do you think likewise?

I think those of you with young children can, with this knowledge, break the pattern from develping in your children.

So, please think about this question, share your answer which could include, if you could have done things differently at the onset, what would you have done?

I believe that your answer may help you to retrace the problem mentally (and in your journal) do it differently so that you can begin believing it is different in a positive way. Thank you.

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Victoria

Hi Victoria, Interesting to ponder, and i have before. Now i thought about this again. So...Had i known what i know now, and had i practiced the lessons in this program WAY BEFORE i was hit with terror and panic (when i was 20) then yes...all of it could have been prevented. I may still have experienced some very scary thoughts and sensations at that time, however, i would have known HOW to deal with it. (this is particular to me, of course....I was pregnant, terrified that a human being was growing inside of me, suddenly became acutely aware of my existence, and the whole thing was like an existential crisis...i even lost my sight for 20 minutes or so.) So, something was triggered in me, that may have occured anyway. But i would have had some idea of how to handle it better. As it was, nobody knew what was happening to me, and so began the nightmare. As to whether it would have helped me to know what i now know, during the following years of debilitating panic..which then was 24 hrs.a day....the answer is NO. It was much too intense and i was too far gone at that point. Perhaps much later on, when i was able to walk around again (not too far from home, yet still much better than before) this could have helped. But you know, i feel that somehow "the teacher appears, when the student is ready". I began to work these lessons when i COULD. So, there ya have it. Enjoy a peaceful weekend. Lindi

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Linda

Victoria,

Yes. I firmly believe my anxietty would not have gotten so out of control had I known what I know now. My anxiety started when I was about 10 with a constant fear of my mother dying. Then when my children were born I started obsessing about them dying or being kidnapped. I did whatever I had to do to reassure myself that my children were ok constantly. This was so very draining. I am 40 now and my children are 12,13 and 15 and I really feel that my constant worrying and watching has led me to this nightmare I find myself in the middle of. I wish I had known the results of my thinking years ago. I can't change the past but I can and I do try to look at things differently now, and no, it is not easy.

Good post. Take care,

Hope40

Dear Hope 40,
Thanks for your reply. I understand what you are saying about fearing your children would be kidnapped. I had the same fear for my 18 year old which is one reason I took the course with the Midwest Center. Every time she took drove somewhere alone when it was dark I would worry that I'd never see her again. I'm reasonably better now. However, she obliges me and calls when she gets to her destination and when she's on her way home. I think my fear is because of hearing so many reports of those things happening. Once I started the program that fear lessened. One night I was driving alone in the dark and realized how peaceful it was and that how very few actually get kidnapped when you think of the thousands of people out when its dark. That thought calmed me down. The reason we hear of it in the news is because it isn't that common place.

It's not a pleasant fear but an unlikely happening. Wish you the best in your growth.
Victoria

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Victoria

DEFINITELY!

A question like this is good for me because it brings home to me how far I have come. Thanks!

I may not (think I) have complete control in not having a panic attack, BUT I sure know how to bring one on!

I can bring one on by eating lots of sugary stuff, not sleeping, eating chocolate, not excercising, drinking too much alcoholic beverages for too many days in a row (more than one glass of wine), laying around "what-if?ing", etc.

I bet you can bring one on, too.

Betsy

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Always Hopeful, Betsy H.
Marietta, GA (East Cobb)

I think that the #1 thing I wish I'd been told at the start of my panic disorder was to never, ever avoid doing anything for fear of panicking. Agoraphobia develops so quickly and so easily and so often without us even realizing what is happening. So, I think the most important thing I would tell anyone with panic attacks is to not avoid, no matter how uncomfortable they are. I wish I'd done that, because it's a lot harder to get back into doing things you've been avoiding than it is to just continue doing them.

Dear Betsy and Lori,
Ditto . . .
I too have found the foods I eat or not eating or eating too late can mess me up.
Spicy foods at night and night sweats. Lack of sleep and jumpy.

Yes, had we had the knowledge we have now we could have handled things differently. But, the best thing that has happened to me out of the whole emotional mess is that I can understand and empathy for others. THAT'S WHY ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WRITE ON THIS FORUM ARE SO UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORTIVE. Been there, done that, and visit there for fewer minutes once in awhile. That's us == join the club!


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Victoria

to eastcobb,
hi betsy,OH YEAH! YOU ARE SO RIGHT LOL. I CAN BRING AN ATTACK ON SOOOOOOO Easy! Im looking forward to the day when I can do all the things mentioned without triggering anxiety. once in a while when I feel the need to have that piece of chocolate or a sugary soda(about half a can)I prepare myself that i might feel the jitters so dont think its panic. Ive had about 5 days of calmness, just like I never had anxiety and panic attacks UNTIL TODAY..:O(
i should be starting my monthly cycle in about 5 days and I guess its about the time that my anxiety level goes up because of the changes in my body. I did feel a bit down because i was getting use to feeling good. I was having stressful thoughts about things I had to do in one day. and by the time I tried to take it back I was already feeling too anxious. oh well I'll live. take care
, vicky

[hi victoria,
just wanted to mention that I am now very careful about how i handel stress in front of my kids who are both over 21yrs. I dont think I really got stressed out in front of them growing up. I felt at that time that my kids didnt need to see that side of me. I never wanted them to worry about my worries.
most people that knew me back then thought i had it all in control. By that I mean my life and any problems that went with it. I was always smiling but I hid my pain and cried silently about how I hated myself.Now that they have to see me suffer with panic attacks, they dont know what it feels like but I do the best that I can to let them know how it happened to me and that its emotional. its all in my head. I have fear of these attacks but it wont kill me. I let them see the determination I have to get it in control. Even when they happen to be here when I have a full blown attack I play it off it front of them like it feels uncomfortable but "oh well I'll get thru it as I always do ha ha ha" but then I break down and CRY privately to my husband.
Now that i have my grandson and he's my sweety pie 15months, I will be careful about what he sees as far as my attacks go and I will continue to teach him as I have been doing with my 2 kids that theres no need to sweat the small stuff. Whenever I find out they are worried about something then my husband or I usually tell them to quit wasting thier energy worrying.
love Vicky

You do have to be ready to help yourself. A dozen years ago, when my anxiety ordeal began, I encountered help in the form of books, support groups, and programs, but to no avail. I worked at getting better and tried to apply the skills, but I just couldn't make it stick or sink in. I believe I wasn't ready, or mature enough, to make the changes I'm now starting to make.