I started reading session two last night and picked up some coping skills on how to deal with panic attacks and anxiety on the horizon. I found the material very helpful and I applied those steps during my morning drive to and from the airport. First, it is often difficult for me to ride with others especially when it is foggy outside with visibilities at .25. But I just strapped myself in and began the ride with “positive” thoughts. Positive thoughts help to release serotonin which according to my reading calms the mind and allows us to think a little more rationally while reducing fear and anxiety. In with a deep breath and out with a deep breath was my best defense. Remarkably, although I felt a little anxiety, it was more of a “normal” level of it. I did not feel like I was about to lose control due to my fears. I just told myself that we would soon be at the airport and that the drive would be over in 45 minutes. It worked; I stayed calm and actually enjoyed the ride there as I talked to my husband about what I had read in Session Two.

On the way home I applied the same technique. I will admit I had to breathe more often in and out slowly, but I found the drive to be a milestone in accomplishing something that normally would have sent me off the deep end into anger, ruining the rest of my day. Normally I would have been angry with my husband for booking a flight so early in the morning thinking to myself that he should have known the fog is bad in the mornings this time of the year when in reality the fog it is a hit and miss this time of the year and certainly nothing he can forecast 2 months in advance which is when he booked the flight. I would have had the “poor me” thoughts kicking in as I would try and rationalize my anxiety and panic due to all the “selfless sacrifices” I have to make in my life for everyone else, or I would have blamed my behavior and feelings on some traumatic incident that took place in my life previously such as a car accident I was in several years ago or because of hearing about a car pile up and losses of lives due to injuries sustained. I certainly would have picked a fight with my hb on the way to the airport because I would have wanted him to have the same fears so that I could feel more normal about my own reactions. Basically, my day would have been ruined simply due to all the negative thoughts I normally would have generated from this 45 minute drive to the airport and 45 minutes back from the airport. I would have paralyzed my day before it even got started. My brain would have gone into defense mode and I would have pretty much been catatonic in thinking about anything for the day.

However instead, I just kept saying positive things such as “You are doing great”, “Be proud of yourself”, and “This moment will soon pass.” I just kept feeding myself positive soup for the soul and here is the fun part about it…I started believing it! Yep, I started feeling confident, smart, and resourceful. I was proud of myself and I started believing in myself, knowing that I could count on myself to dig myself out of a bundle of nerves and fears. I praised myself because I felt worthy of the praise. I gave myself permission to say, “I have no control over the fog”, “I have no control over what lie ahead on the highway” and “I have no control over Gods will.” I do however have control over how I react to fear, anxiety and panic. Joy is a gift from God and I am not about to let the fear, anxiety and panic bandits run off with it again and again and again. I now have tools from the program which I can apply, all I have to do is take a deep breath and apply these tools with the intention of having only positive results over my mental and physical state of mind and character.

I am really starting to like the person I am becoming, ahhhhh lookie there, another positive. I love that!

Wish,

I am so glad to hear that you are doing so well with putting the program to good use. Keep up the good work and keep those positive thoughts flowing.

Wish~
That was so well said, I've felt this way so many times. I can also relate to getting angry with my husband over things I feel "he should know better". But of course I now know these are not realistic thoughts. I feel very encouraged by your positive outlook. Thank you for sharing.