I'm in week 8 of the program I feel much better most days But a couple on weeks ago I had a really bad panic attack and kinda feel depressed about it, more fearful that it will happen again? I also notice a rise in my level of anxiety these days doing things that normally don't bother me I know Lucinda says as we face this problem thats normal can anyone relate I do want to say that I do feel alot more even keel now not so much up and down

Hello Lionsfan44. I have an observation for you. As Lucinda says in the tape give yourself encouragemnt for any little thing you do. I would like to acknowlegde a few things for you.

Give yourself credit for working the program. Here you are in week 8, which is a little more than 1/2 way through the program. You are doing more things than you have been doing, so its natural to have some raises in your anxiety level. View the rising anxiety as excitemnet for living life.

As Lucinda also says anxiety never goes away. We just learn to manage it better. Don't beat yourself over a panic attack a few weeks ago. View it as a opportunity to use your skills and "build emotional muscle" as it says in the program. The more we work our way through them, the less consuming they become.

I finished the program last spring. I still have my ups and downs. I will occasionally have a panic attack but I work my way through them. I don't beat myself up over them anymore. I am more accepting of where I am now.

Just this past week I had a "growth spurt" where I had a few days of panicky feelings and scary obessive thinking for a few days. I know from the program that means my stress level was high. I pulled out my materials and reviewed lessons 1,2 and 10. In the past these thought patterns would have gone on for a few weeks. Where I would be dumping all over myself for it. Using my skills I was able to come out of it within 2-3 days.

So instead of beating myself up over it as I would have done in the past. I celebrated the fact I was able to do the basics and make myself feel better within 2-3 days.

Be proud of who you are becoming and the skills you are learning. You are definitely on the road to recovery. Take care and God Bless.

thanks for the boost feel better already!

Hi Lionsfan44,

I think you are doing wonders and should reward yourself for how far you have come.

It's more important to look at the positive transitions and say " Great Job " than dwell on a 1 time happening from a few weeks ago.

If we don't praise ourselves for all the hard work and the incredible changes we have made then I feel we are again letting ourselves down.

I just started a post this afternoon about what areas we have found hard and which we find easier to overcome. I put that as a positive I hadn't had a panic attack in 3 weeks and 1 day. It was more of a complete melt down, really thought the men in white coats would be showing up for me. LOL, I can laugh at it now which I feel is good, before I would not have been calm again for days or weeks so it was a set back then but I learned soooooo much from that night and because of it being so bad I never want to let myself get that bad again...and I believe I won't.

You can look at your panic attack as a stepping stone to the new person you are today and remember how you hated that feeling so you won't let it get that bad again. It's so many baby steps and each one is a learning block towards the brand new happy, confident, person at the end of this journey you are on.

Will there always be some bumps along the way...probably but will you use your skills to not let those bumps become hills..I believe so.. and you MUST ALSO BELIEVE each and every day without fail.

Keep Up the Good Work.
God Bless.

Hi everybody,

I'm a little behind all of you (I'm on Session 7), but wanted to catch up with the Peer Support Group. It's been an active couple of weeks for me. I'm semi-retired and finding I'm working from home and that there is always so much to do! So I'm trying to put first things first and stay committed to the program. I agree that encouraging each other is a great booster and want to thank LionsFan for starting this topic. Hope you all have a great week and I look forward to catching up with you along the way.

Matthew