Hello! I started on lesson 4 today and am still trying to soak up lesson 3 and apply it to my daily life as much as I can. I just wanted to know if anyone else has suggestions about how they react when they don't feel anxious, good, coolheaded, bright. I have been feeling this from time to time and it lasts for a few minutes. I think it scares me (to feel good) and then it goes away and I feel the spaciness again. The spaciness doesn't really scare me anymore, it's more irrating! ha ha. I guess maybe I'm telling myself that this feels too good to be true and feel something bad will happen now that I'm getting better. Okay, well, hope to hear from someone.

HealingGirl,

I like your username-very positive!

I am about to start lesson 4 also and don't feel ready to move on but I will anyway as recommended by the program.

This week I started experiencing some periods of non-anxiety for the first time in ages . I had forgotten what a peaceful feeling this is and I want more of it! It is definitely a feeling that we are not used to and it actually does feel awkward. During these times, I dread the return of the spaciness and also worry that something will go wrong and I won't get to feel this peace again.

When this happens, I tell myself it is just another negative thought. Then I remind myself how good the non-anxious times are and that it is more probable that things will keep getting better as I work through the program. After all, I didn't think I would make it this far!

Good luck with lesson 4....Sue

Hi Sue and HealingGirl! I remember the first time I felt that "non-anxiety" feeling and it felt really wierd. Not necessarily bad -- just different. I found that as I continued through the program, those instances of non-anxiety happened more often and for a longer duration of time. When I discussed them with my therapist, she suggested that I write down what I was feeling so I could go back to it and remind myself of how good it felt without anxiety. That was over a year ago and just this week, as I was unpacking moving boxes, I ran across that paper. I was feeling a little stressed by the move and reading my non-anxiety note to myself made me feel a lot better. It is still a positive reminder of how good I CAN feel!

Here's to happier, non-anxiety days ahead for both of you!

Hi Sue and Montaingirl! Thanks for your suggestions. I will write in my journal about the feel-good feelings and find a positive replacement. I'll just give myself permission to start to feel better no matter what. I think it's also "magical" thinking when we tend to worry that something bad will happen because we feel good. No matter how we feel, the world goes round, so we might as well feel good.
"Practice, Patience"
"I am deeply centerd and peaceful in life, it is Safe for me to be alive and Joyous"
Louise L Hay

quote:

Originally posted by HealingGirl:
Hi Sue and Montaingirl! Thanks for your suggestions. I will write in my journal about the feel-good feelings and find a positive replacement. I'll just give myself permission to start to feel better no matter what. I think it's also "magical" thinking when we tend to worry that something bad will happen because we feel good. No matter how we feel, the world goes round, so we might as well feel good.
"Practice, Patience"
"I am deeply centerd and peaceful in life, it is Safe for me to be alive and Joyous"
Louise L Hay

Originally posted by Healing Girl

Dear Healing Girl and Others in the same Boat,
I understand what you are saying. It feels so good to have periods of time to be happy and anxiety free. For me it is not just minutes, it can last now for a couple of hours. I might start thinking negative and then pull myself out of it for a brief time again. However, just as I think I am doing good something happens and I get very tired and can hardly function.
When I get that anxious free good feeling I do the following: Wake up early and use, in bed, my relaxation tape followed by reading something spiritual based on the Bible. I take all my vitamins and eat breakfast. Next, I top clean the house fast and then take my Walkman and taped lesson for a wonderful walk either by the bay or if I have to do shopping into and out of stores. I catch myself smiling and enjoying what I didn't used to like, namely marketing. I buy gifts for my loved ones and write cards of encouragement to those needing it, etc.
Within one week of starting the program I started to get energy. When I was in lesson two I took my Walkman and walked for 1 1/2 hours or approx. 2 to 3 miles listening to it. This is something I seldom do.
Today I couldn't even get through lesson 3 reading or my journal, etc. I felt like quiting. However, my wonderful husband encouraged me to keep going and so what if I don't do it today. He said he has seen changes. I didn't realize my problem was I ate something with a lot of sugar.
My husband noticed when I had to handle a recent confortation I was totally relaxed. That was not an act, I felt that way. So, like the rest of you I believe that if we have periods of calmness being anxious free than we will have more of those periods and they will last longer. The secret is not to worry about the legnth or we will shorten it. I believe that the positive is that they come and those good periods will come again.
One thing I know for sure is "Happiness isn't conditional." It is a state of mind. The mind has to absorb positive and truthful information and the body will happily react.
Endurance can bring joy even if we endure a test. The joy is we did not allow the test to bring us down. We learn from it and become better persons.
I wish all of you the best.
Victoria


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[This message has been edited by Victoria (edited 02-02-2001).]

Recovery is a process. We did not get this way overnight. Sometimes it is two steps forward, and one step back...but don't forget we are moving forward. I also like to think of it in terms of physically healing. Our "nerves" actually have to heal because they have become so "sensitized". The good news is we weren't born with this negative view of life, so we can "retrain" ourselves to learn the positive stuff, so IT becomes second nature. Blessings to you all on your road to recovery!

Chantal

I'm not "in" the program yet. I actually do not know how to get into it....

I just wanted to comment on this particular topic. Usually, when I have non-anxiety days I worry about it. I think: how long is this going to last/ I know that something is going to happened to bring me down again/ how do i make this last/ etc., etc.,
I no longer plan for social events. Not only does it stress me out but I never know how I'm going to feel from one day to the next... specially around my menstrual period when it's at is worse

Hi Cutufa,
Thanks for your info. First I really think you will benefit from ordering the AAD program. I know I have so much. I used to also dread going out to places, restaurants, shopping, malls, drive ect...but the program has helped me so much. I still have trouble, but I don't avoid doing things that I used to. I still have some limitations to work on, but I know little by little I can do it. I used to have severe panic attacks on a daily basis and not any more. In fact I'm starting to not be afrade at all of them. I have used some of the suggestions such as writing in my diary when I feel good and that is nice. I also tend to be really thankful when I feel well, for example when I start to feel good I'll talk to myself and say how nice it feels and that I'm safe, and it's proof that I'm getting better. I focus on the present moment, even if it's the sky, the sun the trees the smells. I also use the following mantra which has really helped: "It is safe for me to be alive & Joyous". I feel that it has helped to re-program me when I feel these non anxious periods. I have almost entirely "deleted" the old mantra of how long is this going to last, what's gonna hit me know ect.....I'm on lesson 6 today and I really feel that I'm going to benefit from the lessons on worry and obsessive thinking. I think these skills will also help to live in the present and enjoy the Non Spacy non anxious moments. Therefore creating them permanantly.