I have been experiencing panic attacks and anxiety for over 3 years now. They were brought on by the deaths of several close family members, including my father. Actually after going through therapy and counseling I have discovered that I have always had anxiety issues and just never realized it.

When I started "researching" whether or not I was going to purchase this program, I spent a lot of time on this message board. My favorite reads were from people who had triumph stories. I made a promise to myself that someday I was going to write my own, and here I am.

When the panic attacks first came, I tried Lexapro and had a bad reaction to it, so I just took Xanax. I wound up staying on it for almost 3 years and never took anything else for my anxiety. I went to a counselor but didn't get much out of it and so I quit. My anxiety would come and go, but never really go away. I actually made an excel spreadsheet to track my daily anxiety level and the occurence of my panic attacks. I was trying to find a pattern.

I gave up caffiene and alcohol completely, I tried accupuncture, herbal supplements, adjusting my diet, and eventually wound up at a hollistic clinic. I didn't want to be on any drugs at all. The hollistic doctor refered me to a therapist who specialized in "guided image therapy" and told me I would be cured in 5 sessions. I went to her and she did help me some. It was like hypnosis regression. Finally one day she asked me what I was ultimately afraid of, and I told her I was afraid of dying. She asked me what I thought would happen if I died and I told her I belived I would go to heaven, so then she asked if I truly had that faith then why would I have fear?

It triggered something in me. I decided to quit therapy. It had been 5 sessions and I wasn't a whole lot better, but now I had a new idea, one I hadn't considered... I started to read my Bible. I have been a Christian all my life but I have never read more than a very tiny bit of the Bible. I started with the New Testament and read through, skipped Revelations (it always scared me as a child) and I started back at the Old Testament. I was amazed at how much it soothed me and comforted me.

Finally I started tapering off of my Xanax and I had a new job with a comfortable environment, and then suddenly one day I was in a very stressful situation and I felt like I was going to faint. I made it through and from that point on I was dizzy. Not like the room was spinning; just like it felt like I was walking on a boat all the time, and I felt spacy. I thought I must have something wrong with my ear, so I went to an ENT. Nope, not my ear.

I had been under the care of a family doctor I'd been going to for 10 years and who was "treating me" for my anxiety. I decided to try a new doctor. My new family doctor was appalled at how long I had been left on Xanax and he devised a plan... he switched me to Valium (which was not a comfortable transition but very worth it) and once I had done that he started me on 20mg of Cymbalta. I was very reluctant but I felt like I could trust him.

Also from the dizziness I had spent more than a week off work, and when I returned my boss had a talk with me and told me I needed to "get help" because she couldn't afford for me to not be there. To prevent losing my job (and at the time I thought I was about to lose my mind) I made an appointment with a therapist who I found through my minister and started sessions with her.

I promise I'm coming close to wrapping this up. This new therapist has done wonders for me. It's just talk therapy, but she's the only therapist or counselor I have talked to who I feel really "gets" me and why I am the way I am. She's fabulous. It wasn't long before I started feeling better.

While on this road of new doctors, therapists, newfound faith and new medications, I decided I would go full force and purchase Lucinda's program. I got the program in January of this year and I think I did a pretty good job of following it the way you're supposed to. Week by week I felt better. I can't even tell you when the dizziness stopped, but I just remember driving in my car one day and I realized that I felt... just fine! No worries! No symptoms!

Well my true test came a couple of months ago when a mentor of mine offered me a job at the law firm where she works. It was the greatest opportunity I had ever had, but I was SO AFRAID to take the leap, leave my job and go for it. Honestly if I wasn't so hard up for income I don't know if I would have done it or not, but I practially had no choice. I accepted the position, I used my skills I learned in the program, and now here I sit in my big office on the 16th floor with a view of downtown making 50% more than I was one month ago. And you know what? I just realized I have not had a panic attack since last year.

For the longest time I wanted to come here and write about my success, but I was convinced that if I did, surely I would have a relapse and regret doing it. Well the "new me" refuses to buy into that kind of thinking and I reminded myself of how inspired I was when I read "Motor City Madman's" triumph story.

For those of you out there who are still reading this beast of a post, I pray that you will write your triumph story someday too. If you have questions or want to talk, feel free. I think we can all attest to wanting to not just help ourselves, but help each other too.

God bless you,
Sandina

Thank You Sandina you have truly inspired me Hurray for you!
Kathleenjh

Thank you!

Thank you for your inspiring story. It feels so good to read other peoples triumphs. Congrats.

Thank you for sharing your inspiring story. I love reading other peolpe's triumphs.Congrats and keep up the great work.

A heartfelt and much deserved CONGRATULATIONS!!! You are an inspiration for all of us. I'm gradually making strides, and, yes, Faith has sustained me, too.

Blessings,
fischee

Wow!!!!!!!your story sounds amazing........i know one of these days i will write my own thrump strory up here and try to inspire others like me...........Can you help me with some advise? Thank you so much i love your story.

What a beautiful story!!! When I began reading your story it reminded me of so much of what I've gone through. I'm on week 4 of the program and I do feel better every day.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for posting this triump in your life.

It gives me and others so much hope. With God (and Lucinda ) all things are possible! He is in the miracle business.

God Bless You and may your life be filled with happiness and prosperity.

Donna

Great post!
Just curious...are you still taking medication?

The job sounds amazing! I don't live in a big city, but it always looks great in the movies

what an amazing story! thank you so much for sharing your journey - you've inspired me to write one of my own one day

This is the first post I have read. I am considering the program. You sound very much like me. I was considering all the natural routes to getting help but maybe I will go this route instead. I need a success story and to learn to fix myself.
Thank you for sharing!

quote:

Originally posted by KDlady:
Great post!
Just curious...are you still taking medication?

KDlady,

I am still taking medication. I am now almost totally weaned off of the valium and only taking Cymbalta (30mg/day). I fought and fought for so long to not take the Cymbalta or anything like it because a) I was afraid of the side affects and b) I didn't want to be a zombie. I can tell you that I feel more "normal" with the Cymbalta than I ever did before I took it. I am thankful for it. Hopefully someday I won't need it but if I do, I do and at least I won't feel like I did before I took it.

Also I will say that although the meds have helped tremendously, I don't think I would be where I am without the tools I learned in this program. Even with the drugs I still have my moments where I get anxious and think irrationally, but the skills I have now help me to combat those negative thoughts and they totally prevent the "downward spiral".

Let me know how you're doing and NEVER GIVE UP!

Sandina

Great story Sandina. The program has done wonders for me as well or maybe it's the OKC water.. LOL

Dear Sandina,
Thank you so much for your wonderful post! I just came "on board" today, and when I read all of the comments from people who are doing this program for the 2nd, 3rd, even 4th time, I became SO discouraged. Your posting is the first that I've read that I really feel I can relate to. And I can tell that you are a very smart and kind individual. You're a great writer too, by the way. Again thanks...Anita 2008

Sandina,
Thank you for your post. I feel truly inspired.
I've been dealing with anxiety all my life, but feeling completely hopeless for about 6 years. I'm probably what some would call a functioning agoraphobic. I can go to work, and other small places without totally freaking out.

I'm looking forward to the day that I'll have my anxiety under control. Looking forwad to being able to live my life to the fullest and not be afraid of everything.

Tye