Carolyn, if you are reading these I assume you are from your responses. Please advise me on how to handle going to 15 little leage baseball games dealing with a different group of parents from each team over and over etc. We all sit acrosss from each other viewing the batters and pitching activities. You cant help but look at the other poeple. When this happens my anxiety sets in I get nervous and it looks like people notice and then start talking about me. I almost go into a panic attack. The last game is Monday 06-28-2004 but I have suffered through 14 games. I listened to Lucindas advise and faced my fears and attacked the anxiety. It is much easier since the first game. Help ! How would you handle the above. It is one thing to handle an event. But things like this over and over and over its like a slap in the face. But I faced it TOUGHEST thing I ever had to do.

Please Resond. You or anyone out there.

Unfortunately,I didn't see this before Monday...
sorry.

Well-First-CONGRATULATIONS. Wow you worked on this 15 times. That takes courage and perceiverance. I for one am very proud of you.

I have done what you did, so I know it is not easy. BUT - you did it! You state that it got a bit easier as you repeated it-that's exactly what you want to happen. It's called, desensitization. If you repeatedly confront a limitation, it WILL get easier.

Tell me, do you honestly think you do anything to call attention to yourself when you are seated across the way? Do you wear huge red hats? (No offense red hat ladies.) What do you imagine you look like when you are nervous? Have you ever looked in a mirror when you are nervous to check it out. (I have a very humorous article on that topic if you want a copy - email (carolyn@stresscenter.com) me with your postal address.

I would change my image of what you did...it's not a "slap in the face" (OW! just think what your brain did with that remark ) It was an opportunity to practice the techniques you learned in the program.

For example: "Oh, NO that lady is looking at me. She thinks I'm weird."

I would breathe for 60 seconds the breathing technique on the back of the first flash card.

Replace with: "If so - so be it. I can not read her mind. She may be thinking something very pleasant. What I think of me is most important. I am a good and worthy person. There is no danger. There is no emergency."

I would then distract myself by focusing on the game.

What Other People Think of Me is None of My Business...the title of a book by Terry Cole-Whittaker, is a book you might wish to read.

Let me know what you think. And - Again, Congratulations on this BIG accomplishment.

Precious, present moments, Carolyn