To reflect the healthy attitudes and optimism encouraged by the Attacking Anxiety Program, the Procrastinators Club is now going by the name "Carpe Diem Community". We are working Lesson 2 this week...hopefully, we are not striving to work it perfectly! (smile)
On Sunday we will move on to Lesson 3. Don't beat yourself up if you've fallen behind this week. I still hope everybody will hop on board. It's not too late to gets started with Lesson 2 today -- you can always review it later. By the way, Carpe Diem means "Sieze the Day" (latin) and so it seems approraite for us...we need to seize every opportunity to work this program (imperfectly) even if it means listening to the tape on your walkman while walking to the car in the afternoon. Peace to all, Putas

quote:

Originally posted by putas:
To reflect the healthy attitudes and optimism encouraged by the Attacking Anxiety Program, the Procrastinators Club is now going by the name "Carpe Diem Community". We are working Lesson 2 this week...hopefully, we are not striving to work it perfectly! (smile)
On Sunday we will move on to Lesson 3. Don't beat yourself up if you've fallen behind this week. I still hope everybody will hop on board. It's not too late to gets started with Lesson 2 today -- you can always review it later. By the way, Carpe Diem means "Sieze the Day" (latin) and so it seems approraite for us...we need to seize every opportunity to work this program (imperfectly) even if it means listening to the tape on your walkman while walking to the car in the afternoon. Peace to all, Putas

I like the name Putas...thanks for the encouragement. I am working today...I feel pretty tired but will make an effort to look at the workbook on lesson 2 this weekend...then on to lesson 3...it would be good, I think, to detail some feelings and experiences.

I'm really having trouble focusing, and I'm getting very discouraged�I've been stuck on lesson four for the past month. I like this idea (and love the name), but I'm concerned it will create too much pressure for me...I do like the flexibility of doing it at my own pace, even though it's probably too slow! Are you planning on doing one week per lesson, pretty strictly? And then we'd all discuss that topic that week?

We're planning on doing one lesson a week, but on doing them *imperfectly*. Which is the only way any one can do them, anyway.

I'm actually finding that it lessens pressure because I feel like I'm getting support and making progress even when I'm not doing it all "right". But, YMMV

The most helpful thing I discovered working through Lesson 2 is to always keep the STOP! cards that are included with the program near by. Because, even knowing the right thing to do, my first inclination when I get anxious is to just worry more. By keeping the cards nearby, I have a very tangible reminder of what I have to do, and that helps a lot.

Also, I'm really seeing the value of the relaxation tape. I'm trying to make an effort to really do it three times a day, but I'm doing it as much as I can.

On a side note, I've been finding it a little hard to get inspired the past few days, because I ended up going back on medication. While I was hoping to complete the program medication-free, I've realized that, after being on medication for years, I simply didn't have the coping skills or confidence to handle being off of it right now, and my anxiety levels were so high that I was unable to really concentrate on the program. Of course, now I risk falling into the "I'm on medication and that will take care of everything" trap again, which I've done before, but I'm determined not to. I know that keeping up with the program will not only help with the anxiety that lefts even with the medication, but also teach me skills that will be a great help to me whether or not I go of the medication in the future.