Hey Everyone!

I am soooo exited!

I jog on the streets alot, but since my anxiety and panic worsened I began to make my routs closer and closer to home. I would go around the block like 20 times instead of taking off on a long scenic ongoing run. Well, yesterday I went straight forward, keeping in mind all the things from the program. As I went to the farthest point before I was to turn back around the corner (about 6 miles from home), I had split second thought "I'm so far away from home, if I wanted to go back I would never make it fast enough what if I get so scared out here and have a panic attack" that was my full thought. I replaced the thought quickly by telling myself "it's only anxiety, I will be okay, I have lived through it many times before, it won't hurt me, I will not die, I can do this, this is childplay" After about 30 seconds, the paralizing helpless feelings of fear went away, I was like WOW! this is what all these people on the tapes are talking about. Now, the fear did want to come back, but I kept telling myself the same positive things. It's almost like the brain can't think of two things at the same time so it lets go of the prior fearful thought and lets you consintrate on the positive self dialogue. The relaxing breathing was out of the question since I was running and breathing hard but the positive "true" thoughts alone got me through. And now I know I can get through where ever my panic creeps up on me and I did that same day as I took a road I was avoiding that did not allow stoping. When the negative thought came "Oh my God, I cant stop or turn to go back if I wanted to" I immediately replaced it with "I'm fine it's just a thought. I can make the final mile, It's only anxiety and I will live through it" It felt so good!

Thank you, all of you, for your continued support.

(Apologies if spelling and grammer is off- rushed through this, I'm at work but had to get this in)

CAdude

CA Dude!

AWESOME!!! Wow, I know exactly what you must feel like. I am a cyclist and scaled down my rides to remain very close to home back when I was really anxious. The first day I kept riding to challenge the anticipatory wall, I had all the "what if" thoughts regarding being far from home, etc. I too, kept going and realized it was all in my head. Ever since that day, I haven't scaled down my rides at all.

I hope this is the beginning of a long wonderful recovery into total peace and freedom. CONGRATS AND KEEP THINKING POSITIVELY!!! It really is the key.........