When listening to the group session part of this lesson I found myself getting anxious. I guess it was from listening to all the people talking about how they used to feel anxious. And then Lucinda's high energy style of speaking about anxiety increased my feelings of anxiety.

So right now I don't feel like listening to this lesson again. I suppose this is a good opportunity to practice the six steps. But I find that when I'm in a situation that makes me feel anxious i feel completely gripped by it. So I don't think I will even remember to do the six steps until the anxiety has significantly decreased.

It is normal for you to feel anxious when you start this program its because your facing your own anxiety. The more you keep listen or do the program it will decrease through the program. Its a new concept for you to deal with anxiety thats your anxiety try to keep on going.

I felt terribly anxious too! But, if you try some of the steps, you will find that they do work. Look at your anxiety and accept it for what it is. You know why you are anxious. I am on week three and last week was rough, but I found that when I turned and looked at my anxiety, it wasn't so bad. The breathing really helped too. I know how uncomfortable it feels, but if you say to yourself, "This is just anxiety. It can not hurt me. I know why I am having it. It will go away." Say that over and over. I promise, it does help!

Hi Peter--

I felt the same way when I started listening to Lucinda's tapes. I thought that she was talking far too quickly, and it made me question whether I would benefit from the program. After listening to the first tape a few times, I started to get used to her voice and, now, I really enjoy listening to her. I'm on the Assertiveness session, and I listen to the tape in my car, at home, wherever. Her voice has become almost soothing to me.

Thank you all for the comments.

It is weird to start an anxiety program and feel more anxious. But it is good to know I'm not the only one.

I've found that I feel more anxious when I listen to the Relaxation tape. I can't believe that I have a hard time relaxing. I get anxious thinking about lying and listening to the tape, I feel like I should be doing something all the time and then just fall asleep. I haven't gotten to where I can listen to it more than once a day. Has anyone else found it difficult to unwind and relax?

quote:

Has anyone else found it difficult to unwind and relax?

I imagine that is probably an issue for everyone doing this program. It certainly is for me.

I cant relax either...I cant even make it through a movie. Dinner is hard enough.
I am way too high strung. I need to LEARN how to relax. Any ideas??

cinderellamom-

i am the same way, i was eating dinner with my family last nighta nd was so restless, i couldn't just sit and eat a wonderful dinner!! i have been like that alot lately, but i have found that telling myself "my mind is at peace" for some reason it makes me relax. the words "calm, relaxed" all those words they tell us to use helps me. it is sure hard though!! i need something to do all the time, i can't just sit!!!

I know you guys may not want to do this, but maybe substitute the cross-stitch with building model cars or something. I've started doing cross-stitch because I too cannot just sit and listen to the tapes. I start by listening to the relaxation tape to get calmed down a little, then I get my cross-stitch and work on that while I'm listening. I've been able to listen to the session at least 3 times per week and it gives me time to myself which really helps me.

hi vicky i;m chris i;m very new and not good with comp... but why are this dated so far behind i see u wrote this at 9;30 today march 19 oh well i cant relax ethier i;m to afraid to share some of my fears i no no one feels these ones but im not giving up

Hey fearkills,

It's OK to be heistant about sharing your fears if you're new to asking for help or addressing something so personal in a relatively public forum.

HOWEVER...I think you will be shocked to find out that so many people in here DO have the same or very similar fears to what you have. I am not kidding. I was stunned. So many times in the past two months I have been like, "WHAT? YOU'RE KIDDING? YOU'VE DONE/FELT/EXPERIENCED THAT TOO?"

We really think that no one else will understand or has been there, but trust me...we have. That is why we're all here in the first place...we deal with a similar issue in depression and/or anxiety.

Give it a try...I promise you won't be let down. People will relate to you and you will feel better if you can get some of that weight off your chest.

Blessings,
Dawn

ROCKROCK: I am totally with you about the relaxation tape...I actually didn't do it yesterday or the day before because it actually got me totally spun up, as it made me think about my anxiety, made me too aware of how i was feeling and just totally sent me into a panic. I'm going to try it again and really try to get into a peaceful space with it. But please know you're not alone! i actually signed on this morning to post and ask whether people were feeling that way about the relaxation cd also!

PeterT,
believe it or not, and soon you'll believe it , those steps will kick in automatically. Maybe not each little step popping into your head in the exact order on the card/program/workbook, but it will work.
Sometimes I used to just start off with "OK now, breathe in slow and out, remember the 2/4" I'd start with that and then remind myself that I knew what it was and it was going to pass and kept telling myself all would be Ok. If I was home , I'd get busy with something to distract myself after starting the breathing, or repeatedly tell myself out loud that I was my own safe place.
It took a while to really get the 6 steps in there somewhere while overcoming the panic attacks.
That's OK . I did it and so will you.
I used to have at least ten panic attacks a day and was agoraphobic and had a tremendous fear of driving. YEARS of that! No more.
Go for it, listen to that tape again and take it easy on yourself.
Don't go for perfection, just relief.

huge hugs to you.

Hello,
I'm on the third session now but I had problems with CD#2 also. I thought everyone was really chatty and too much laughing. I thought great here I am supposed to be using this CD as a group session to help me with the six steps but not one person was were I was, actually just doing the 2nd CD for the first time. I was extremely nervous after listening to the CD. Now I'm supposed to re listen to the 2nd CD in after lesson #3, I don't think so. The 6 steps are great but I think some of the people on the CD's should be newbies like us. I would feel more comfortable listening to people going through the experience with me and maybe another part of the CD to listen to after the weeks lesson is done that has people that have done this program years ago.
Sorry I went on so long but I do that when anxious. Anybody out there think the same things ? Also do any of the CD's group sessions have people that are actually on the same session that the group talks about?