Hi, I'm in Florida again tonight as I write this. I came down for dad's surgery this round which was yesterday. He's had a quad bypass & a defib put in on top of that. More information on that is in Mello Nello's prayer thread.

This is the second time in less than 10 days I've been here in Naples Florida. First time I drove it but this round, I flew instead. First time in 33 years I've been on a plane of any kind! To say the flight was easy...well..you be the judge of that from my 'journal' below, but now I know I can fly again if I need or want to.

We all can do more than we think we can, all we have to do is kick the anxiety/depression out the door and go for it. My life, in the past 10 days has changed so much that I'm having a little trouble keeping up with the changes but for the most part they are all good ones.

I have found out that the people up north, in Indiana, are having a hard time accepting who the 'new' David is and even a harder time dealing with it, but that's their problem, not mine..either they accept or they don't - their choice.

Ok, here is the 'journal' I kept on my flight down here...beware! Just Kidding!

Part 2 – Journey South Again – by Air

Jan 24 2008: Arrived at Cincinnati Airport – 7:30 AM

Jan 24 2008: With the help of the ladies at the Delta Ticket Counter was able to get a direct flight to Southwest Regional Airport in Ft Myers Florida – changed flights.

Jan 24 2008: Security 8:30 AM

Jan 24: Boarded plane 9:15 AM

Jan 24: Take off: 9:46 AM A little shaky on take off, in fact my stomach will take the next flight out…but still here!

Jan 24: 10:06 am - Leveled off at 33000 feet at 446 kts over Lexington Ky, nothing like asking the stewardess how high you are. . A little problem with my ears on takeoff – bad cold still with me. But ok – different!

Jan 24: 10:20 AM – “The Smoky Mountains ladies and gentleman are on your left” (great I’m on the right side but “Hey Lynn” I know your on the other side of those clouds)

Jan 24: 10:22 am – Hello Knoxville TN! Hey sis…look up!

Jan 24: 10:40 am – Note to self…do not fly into Atlanta – looks like a beehive of planes up here with us! Btw, hello Atlanta. (A lady sitting next to me was keeping an eye on me and kept asking if I was ok...yes this is my first trip on a plane to anywhere for a long time and no I’m not feeling air sick..yet…now let’s change the subject…please?

Jan 24: 10:50 am – Ok stewardess did you have to say ‘possible choppy weather” ahead? This is not a boat and I’m not at sea…I’m in a plane, hopefully in the air – choppy to me = water/waves not air!)

Jan 24: 11:00 am – that was interesting, so, how far down did we go in that little maneuver? Choppy sure…try the bottom just fell out of the plane! Contact Tallahasee, I think my head landed over there!

Jan 24: 11:15 am – Wow…check out the Gulf of Mexico…UNDER me, running the coastline now and the thunderheads west of me. 25000 feet.

Jan 24: 11:35 am – approaching Tampa Florida from the gulf side….to cloudy to see much though I can see the gulf of mexico once in awhile…she said land ahead….good, let’s stay above it just a little longer.

Jan 24: 11:38 am – Fasten your seatbelts ladies and gentlemen, we are preparing to land in Ft Myers Florida…(here go the ears...)

Jan 24: 11:44 am – pain in right ear…still on decent.

Jan 24: 11:50 am – Touchdown! Bristol the eagle has landed…we are taxing to the terminal now.

Trip time: 2 hrs 4 minutes – Cincinnati OH to SW Regional Airport, Ft Myers FL

Problem with ears on decent especially, right ear blocked but has opened up now that we are on the ground – too much of a cold to really do this but I have made it. Going to stay in Florida till this cold is gone!

12:05 pm - Will call Lynn as soon as I get done kissing the ground.

*Note: Lynn = MsPiP and a close friend from here)

David,

Wow... wow... WOW! You are amazing. You went on an airplane... that is like mind-blowing.

Let me ask you something. 10 years ago, did you think you would ever get on an airplane again? because MANY of us with anxiety never dream of getting on an airplane. You are such an inspiration! You totally kicked anxiety in the rear end.

I hope everything goes okay with your family. Congratulations, David. You can do anything now.

Hi Kari, no I didn't think I'd ever fly again nor did I think I'd ever go anywhere either. Now, as I sit on the front porch of this house, looking out at the gulf of mexico about 100 feet away, I know I've totally broken free of the anxiety. It will happen to you too and when it does, you will be as amazed as I am tonight.

DAVID!!! You are an inspiration!!! and yes, you've beaten anxiety!!! My husband, twins and I are going to Chicago in April, and I will also journal my experience. Now, I've flown a few times with anxiety but I can honestly say that each time it's gotten better. As a matter of fact, in 04 I flew ALONE!!! Thank God that the gentleman sitting next to me was a talker.. , however, he didn't out talk me. LOL..It wasn't until we were shuttling that he opened up to me and said that he was "anxious" about the flight, GO FIGURE!!! anyways, congratulations!!!

David...you rock and you are a rock (strong). I love reading your posts. You are a great motivator!

David so awesome you are rockin now boy even without the guitar lol. You are so amazing wow I hope one day I can be as strong as you are hon. I am so happy for you and the people who can't except the "new" you well can't say it on here but you know what they can do lol.
I am so proud of you and so glad that you are sharing with us your journey my dear friend. Take care breath in some fresh ocean air and I wish I was there with ya. You have beaten this thing down big time. WOW YOU ARE AWESOME
Love ya
Mimi

Good morning all, well here we go again. My uncle, mom's brother, suffered a heart attack in Indiana yesterday, lives near where I do, so, with mom not being able to leave because of dad I'm outbound again today at 12:07 pm going home.

I'm not ready to leave here, I'll state it up front, because of dad and mom, but because our family is so small now there's no one else to go so I have no choice. My uncle has his wife but she's a cancer survivor and a very anxious lady at the same time so all I can do is go back and help out where I can.

I'm going to miss Florida big time. Yes I'm sad but as I said before, life changes and challenges come about...all I can do is my best.

See ya on the ground in Cincy soon.

David

Thanks for this post!! It was funny and inspirational! WELL DONE!!

Good luck with your future challenges- and I sincerely hope good health on your family members.

David, you are amazing! I remember when I broke the anxiety over driving. I wanted to drive everywhere. I still had some lingering anxiety, but I drove. I am so proud of you and happy for you. Please continue to let us know about you and your family. Way to go!

Missletoes = Missi

P.S. My thoughts and prayers are with your family.

Wow quite a journey David I am so glad to here your Dad is home and so sorry to here about your Uncle I will keep you in my prayers as always. You are quite a writer and I am so glad that you found that special friend in here she is quite a lady your Lynn and it is wonderful that you two have each other for support. I have found a special someone here myself and can't imagine my life without her in it and her love and support. You are truly a hero and wow what a wonderful man you are. I am so sorry to here about your accident man you need a break (pardon the punn)lol. Well God bless you my friend which he seems to be doing and what an inspirational story for us who are suffering daily we can only hope to be in your shoes with anxiety one day.
God bless you and get some well needed rest
Mimi

David

I like your wolf picture. When I am on a plane, I find comfort looking at the scenery below and am amazed by it. Reading a book, talking to people or listening to ipod/radio to help reduce anxiety. Remember that flying is supposed to be the safest in travel. The pilot are experienced fliers and it is okay to trust their abilities.

AmandaJ

Hi Amamda & Mimi, well been out for a week with the flu and it's still trying to hang on even today but I feel much better than I have.

I did have a touch of anxiety when I first caught it, you know the kind...why me? I was rolling great then all of a sudden some kind of crud hits and boom back down I go, but I remembered what to do, throw the negative thoughts out, take the medicine, rest, drink plenty of liquids (I now own half of the company that makes Gatorade..j/k) and go on and I'm coming back up again.

Amanda, no I don't mind flying at all. What was getting to me coming back from Florida wasn't the actual flying part but what was waiting on the end of the flight with an uncle in the hospital and leaving dad behind in one. Sort of a should I go or should I have stayed syndrome but talking to the gentleman next to me, enjoying the sights out the window, etc took those thoughts out of me for a few hours and in the end everything worked out just fine.

I still prefer to drive because I get a chance to see things & people up close where as in a plane one can't do that. To ride down a two lane highway through a forest with a rolling stream next to you is an amazing feeling. Or to stop at a gas station in a small town and talk to the guys/gals about their area and what goes on in it is like an adventure in itself. That part of me will always be around because I enjoy people and nature. Flying gets to point b faster than a car does but sometimes it doesn't matter how fast we get to point B does it.

So how's my anxiety today? Normal, no fears about the flu, just plain normal. People keep asking me did you ever get totally clear of the anxiety? Yes and no. Yes to the point of not fearing anything anymore or letting something bother me to the point of not being able to go out and enjoy life. No to the point of not having any at all inside me. We have to have a little anxiety in order to protect ourselves from on coming trains, crazy people in cars, etc. Normal anxiety keeps us safe and secure in our lives.

On the actualy MWC program, I read where people here are having trouble with things as simple as a relaxation cd. I find that strange because I had the same exact problem as they did in the beginning. What did I do about? Simple, the first week I listened to the cd 1x a day and sometimes just parts of it each day. The second week I made up my mind that if I'm going to beat anxiety I had to make a change in my thinking pattern so I listened to the relaxation cd 3x a day, every day, and all of it each time. Sure I got anxious the first few times I did it, that's only natural, but the more I forced myself to listen, do the exercises, and take a walk with Lucinda thru the forest to the waterfall the more I learned how to totally relax. From week 2 until week 15 for me, I did did the relaxation cd 3x a day and sometimes more. Right now, as I type this, I'm listening to it here on the laptop and it helps opens me up to talk to you all so there must be something good in there somewhere don't you agree?

Ok, everyone have a great day & upcoming week. I've got a full schedule coming up and today is my 'off' day..a day I take for myself to do whatever I want to do, so..time to get at it, but wanted to take a minute to just say hi once again.

Take care,

David