It's like this. After three wonderfull clear normal wow days, thankfully over Christmas.I have taken a nose dive into the dark heavy cloud of head ache sick feeling spaceyness numb mind. I was ready to celebrate delivrerence but am very dissapointed. I am going to stay on session 3 this week. I just dony know what happened. Someone relate to this? D.L.

Yes, I can relate. For me, it can last weeks. I had to find out what was really bothering me. After some soul searching, I found out that it was work related. There may be more reasons, but for now, it's that. Also, this time of year is bad for many people for various reasons.

I am a euphonium player and we played Christmas eve and it was so great. I was on a happy high. then Friday I started down. I was as possitive as a person could be. Still it got me with a vengence. Thanks for your relating. Euphonium Dave

I know what you mean...there it goes again...This time of year is especially hard on me..I don't know why I can't deal with it. I used to look forward to holidays but ever since my dad passed away it's been sooo different. I just ordered the program and I hope it helps b/c I can't afford paying a therapist. The last time I went (2 different dr.s) seemed like a waste of money. Keep your head up!!!!

There will always be some setbacks now and then, but after a while you may notice that they will be fewer and farther in between. We never get rid of all the anxiety, but we can learn how to shorten the events and not have it bother us so much. Session three is a good one to spend time on. I wouldn't be too disappointed at this point, as you are only on session 3 and there are a lot more helpful sessions to go. Hang in there. It will get better.

I have had a set back too. I have severe agoraphobia so I don't get out of the house much. But for the past week and a half I haven't left the house and now I am scared since I haven't left the house for so long I will have a panic attack. I don't know what to do. I know I have to get out but I am scared to death. They say to face your fear, but I have a hard time doing that. I am now on week five and I feel like I am in a rut. Can anybody help with set back.

Hi Brandie,

I could say just do it but it's easier said than done. You just have to remind yourself that it's negative thoughts keeping you from going out. You can do it! Just keep trying...eventually you will get there. You owe it to yourself to live a life that you deserve!!!!

Hi everyone! Stay with it. We are learning to use tools. Tools are meant to be used as needed over and over. Mary Wargo's post has good wisdom and advice. Some of us may may feel worse at first. That's OK! It's normal. Feeling low after a high is normal too. Try not to read too much into that either. It may be a version of boredom. The holidays are full of high carb foods and little sleep. Those can play havoc on our perspective as well! Remember every day is an opportunity to start fresh!

Hi Dave and Brandie,
Dave, you were distracted by playing on Christmas Eve but before that all the planning and practice, and probably also by planning for Christmas with friends and/or family. Now that it's over with we tend to subconsciously focus on the anxiety again. I am sure you understand what I am saying. Distaction with new things or happy things always brings relief for a while. Now on the routine days we will have to use the tools provided by the program to go through everyday life.
Dave and Brandy, please do not ever see these as set-backs, because they arent. They are a bump in the road. The accomplishments you have made thus far are forever carved into stone and cannot be taken away from you! Maybe it would help to keep a Victory logbook so you can write your accomplishments and refer back to them often to see how far you have come-along.
READ and reread the workbook, stay in the program daily! Never quit the program even if you start to feel better, but rather finish it then start it over again because we alwyas miss something the first time.
Brandie, I will assume you cant go out because all panic folks tend to set themselves up by EXPECTING something to happen while we are out. That is the 'what-if's' we tend to do to ourselves.
Right now our minds and bodies are overly sensetized and we focus on every little detail which makes that worse.(over thinking and obcession) Use the program. Mine came with some blue reference cards that I could put in my pocket when I left the house.
There is hope because I was housebound, now I go wherever I wan to go, and do what I want to do, all without fear. I am cutting back off my meds and will be med free before long. YOU CAN DO IT! Yes you will accomplish great things just as many have!

Rod
ps I dont check back on posts I make, so if you want to talk any more please leave me a private message.

I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN. I AM BETTER BUT I WON'T FORCE MYSELF TO GO TO MY MOM'S YET. [HAD A PANIC ATTACK THERE AND GET ANXIOUS THERE ALTHOUGH I LIVED WITH HER FOR 3 YEARS] MY NEW STEP FATHER DOESN'T UNDERSTAND. SO I'M NOT READY TO GO THERE YET.

I have had a setback also. I was looking forward to Christmas with my family. It was going great till my mom had to be admitted to the hospital Christas morning. They kept her there for tests and it turned out to be a very severe case of vertigo.

The event put me into an anxiety zone that I have been in for 6 days now. I am so mad because I had three great weeks. I know that the old me is in there somewhere but right now I feel like I am back at square one.

I am not sleeping more than 4 hours a night and am extremly spaced out. I know that it will pass but I hate being in the fear zone.

Thanks for all of you good people for some helpfull sage advise. Just in reading the posts I felt hopefull and uplifted.On to another day. Dave L.