To anyone:

Have you ever felt lost or behind in the program if you missed one day of your activities in the week you are in, or that you didn't do enough in your journal or support group? I know we all have busy day, so I just immediate get back on track when I get a chance. It can't be that bad, afterall we go at our own pace. We bought the program for it to successfully work for us! Any replies is appreciated! Thanks!

I am so far behind it's sad. I was going good for a month or so and then...I really don't know what happened. I have a very stressful, yet rewarding job, a great husband and one grown ADD child and one almost grown "child" with Tourette's. I have ADD and find it hard to focus and remember to even do the lessons. I have learned a lot and try to put those things into practice. It's just hard for me to spend time on me. Anyway, I'm going to try picking up where I left off. I want this to work for me and I'm trying not to feel guilty about spending the money and not following through.
Thanks.

This is actually a really good question b/c just the other day I was thinking about my progress...and kinda "beating myself up" for not doing the relaxation tape enough and not writing in my journal EVERY single day. But, I feel good and like you said, when I get the chance, I do it and that's the important thing, right?

I feel the same way. Although I haven't missed a day I'm not that great at journaling. I've been conversing with another member of the program via personal email pretty much everyday. It's nice to get feed back instead of writing in the journal. I'm really bad at the relaxation tape. I had a panic attack a couple weeks ago which I know sounds funny! I was really anxious and put the tape on but I guess I had past the point of no return. I know on a logical level it wasn't the relaxation tape but now everytime I think about listening to it I feel kind of panicky. I guess all we can do is try our best and try to make time for ourselves whenever we can!

I just finished Session 3 and feel guilty moving onto the fourth one because I have not written down my negative thoughts as much as I was supposed to. Let alone changing them into postive thoughts. So I started just paying attention in my head. I have so many negative thoughts that I could not see how I could write them down especially at work. It would not be easy for me to whip out my notebook and jot them down as my job is quite physical. I feel like I never have enough time. So I moved onto Session 3 with the intent of jotting down negative thoughts when I can. Maybe I was meant to move forward though because I am really relating to Session 4 and it is very helpful with current issues I am dealing with.

Hi Everyone,
I can totally relate to what you are all saying I just started lesson 4 and wonder if I am ready and if I am doing enough. I was thinking about that last night and wondered if part of the program is just about that, to teach us that it is ok to take are time and not do every lesson perfect and to be kind to ourselves and remember that life happens and we are doing the best we can. Just a thought about it teaching us that we aren't perfect and it is ok. Maybe that is part of what we are suppose to be learning. I'd be interested in any feedback on this.
God bless
Mimigirl

Sometimes I feel like I could just sit down and write my negative thoughts and do nothing else. They come so close together, in the car, in the shower, at night, etc. I feel like I could get nothing else done if I just focused on doing that. By the time one is in and out, another pops in. But today I will try and write them down again. Yesterday my husband and I were driving in the car and I noticed that the majority of my negative thoughts were focused on him. I feel bad, but he was really annoying the heck out of me. However I was trying to replace them with positive thought althout it is hard at times. I don't want to get stuck on Session 3 and perhaps interrupt the natural flow of the program. Aren't we supposed to move forward even if we feel we are not ready? Or do we move forward only if we have done the homework part?

you know its funny how you find things when you need them. I was having all of these thoughts, in fact it was like reading my own thoughts. I agree with mimigirl, I think that this is where we learn the dreaded word "patience" with ourselves. I know when I personally started this program I was looking at it like"Ok I'm going to look at this like going back to school to achieve a hundrand in every part of it." Big shock life jumped in the way. I started four weeks ago and now feel lost, oh so lost. But I'm remembering something I once told my sister ( who also suffers from panic and OCD) You have to hit bottom, fall apart, and rebuild your life. Maybe that is why we all feel lost, and behind right now, because we are rebuilding our new, stronger, confident selves. I feel I am literally deconstructing me to change the old building so to speak, and updating it to make it stronger. I've been stuck in this stupid hole for so long I have to. The main thing I have learned to this point is slow down and listen to myself, and it does not have to be perfect or done on time. (She says through gritted teeth)lolol. I am also struggling with those fun negative thoughts and my dh unfortunately got some of them today. (PMS what a wonderful world), but as you can see I try to deal with it with humor. It really does help break them up. As far as moving forward in the program. I personally go week to week but if I am struggling in one part I go back to it, because that way I feel I'm getting more support, and I might find something that I missed the first time. I have also found things in the new session that have helped me with the previous one.
Ok I've rambled enough. I hope that I made some sense, and I wish you all better health.

YES!! I was going through the program and doing great, up until lesson 7. I got really busy with some things going on in my life and I was feeling so recovered and so good, that I started to slack a bit. By lesson 12, I had slacked so much that I kind of gave up. Again, I felt pretty recovered, so it was ok (although I was mad at myself for not finishing). I find myself worrying a lot lately and have decided to restart the program from the beginning. What have I got to lose? It really did seem to be working...just lately I find myself worrying about everything and I am so sick of it. Especially since I know that I am not following the skills I have learned (changing negative thoughts into positive ones). Instead, I have been worrying and obsessing and analyzing and working things over and over in my head. Thankfully, I have not had any panic attacks, but I am so done with being worried and sad and unhappy so much. So, I am buckling down and starting over and really giving it 100%, like I was when I first started. I have to beat this thing, because I know how it feels to be happy and satisfied with my life and I'm unwilling to succumb to the way that anxiety and depression make me feel!

Dear Friends and Fellow Travelers,

Number one: be compassionate toward yourself.
Number two: focus on "next."
Number three: shift the idea of writing down your 'negative' thoughts to writing down your RESPONSE to them. That is the REAL focus of the exercise. Do not write the negative in any detail at all...Do write in detail your compassionate, truthful, response. Make sense?
Number four: Begin.

No more beating up on yourself- Carolyn

Hi everyone! sorry i've not frequented on here in the past some days. I enjoyed reading all your responses. It reassures me to know that i'm not the only one. After repeating cd sessions 3 and 4, I was able to once again pick up on the important keys to making yourself feel better. The big thing is to always remember that your best is what counts! Use the relaxation cd whenever, wherever, and many times as possible! I have noticed if I use it on my lunch break, it helps me get through the rest of the day with a clear mind! I'm now moving into week 5, and it's very clear to me that any anxiety is result of eating badly. This can be tackled and conquerred, not easy i know, but it's all about will power! The end result will be so wonderful, why would we just through away all of our progress that we've already made? Chin up everyone! Always remember positive thinking to reverse the negativity and self talk to perk up your spirits each day!
Oh- and Happy Halloween everybody!

I love desserts and sweets. I know that I am supposed to eliminate that from my diet, but I love that stuff. I know I use it as comfort food when I get stressed too. How did you conquer your bad eating habits sfargom? I am not looking forward to that and know I should be starting to eliminate it even now. I am stuck on Session 3 right now.
ooc

Hey ooc- well i haven't really officially got rid of the sweets in my life completely. It's an on-going process, but I guess it's just my will power. I want to rid myself of anxiety because it holds me back and just feeds my fears. I much rather like the idea of feeling free and once again confident in everything i do! Caffeine i have no problems, for one my pop is usually non-caffeinated, and i don't do coffee. Anyway, its a rough ordeal, but if others have completed the program then I believe anyone can do it! The trick is to reduce your sweets/caffeine intake gradually, and then find a good substitute in place of those things! Good luck to all of us!