Welcome- to those who are participating in the Attacking Anxiety and Depression home study program. I welcome you to the best thing I ever did for

myself.

Debilitating stress and anxiety do not get better by themselves-action, change, must take place and you've already started.

This program gave me understanding, education, tools, and life skills which enabled me to make the mental, physical and spiritual adjustments necessary to

rid myself of a lifelong struggle with anxiety, panic and depression.

Follow the program process (important word- process). We have been working with these materials for over 20 years. We know what works. You will find clear

directions in your guidebook. Following the guidelines will ensure that you get the maximum benefits from the program. Listening is not enough- do the

homework, make small changes as you advance through the lessons week by week.

And welcome to your Peer Support Group.

Only you and others who have signed up recently will be posting here. Everyone will be using the same section of the program and working with the same

topics, going through the same challenges and recovery steps. We hope you will think of this as your safe place for encouragement and support. No one is

judging you, other posters understand what you are thinking and feeling simply because we have had the same thoughts and feelings.

Making a personal commitment to use the program and participate in your peer support group daily is the best way to ensure your success and to achieve the

amazing changes in your life that you desire--and they will happen if you make this commitment. Going through the peer support process with a group will

yield much better results than going at it alone. There will be countless opportunities to help other people going through similar experiences, and there

will be plenty of times that you will draw strength from other participants.

Previous program users will also be sharing advice periodically. These program “Veterans” have been through the same process you are going through

now, and experienced the same fears and excitement. You’ll find their wisdom and support a true source of strength. And their progress a true inspiration of

what you can expect.

I will be checking in often as well...I love watching your personal growth. I have worked with the Center for over 20 years. In addition to having

recovered by using the same program you are using, I've facilitated group sessions, and studied this subject for many years...I've learned the MOST from

fellow travelers like you-please teach me more.

So I’ll be here if you need me. But my hope is for you and your group to actively participate amongst yourselves and to support one another. Please be a part

of it!

PLEASE POST something here on your first visit. Introduce yourself, tell us a little bit about you and your experience with anxiety disorders. What

part of the world do you live in? Why did you decide to try the program? How long has your life been negatively affected by anxiety and depression? What

would you like to do with the time you now spend worrying? ...

And PLEASE REPLY TO POSTS AND WELCOME OTHER NEW MEMBERS, AND REPLY BACK TO PEOPLE WHO REPLY TO YOU! Be an active part of the community. Supporting

others is a great way to support yourself. And remember to check back and participate daily!

Here are a few tips to help you get the most out of your Peer Support Group:

1. Reply to a Topic

Introduce yourself, give advice, and keep the conversation going. Whether you help yourself or someone else, this is the fastest and easiest way to get

started!

2. Post a New Topic

Need support? Need advice or feedback? Start a New Topic!

Just click the “New” button at the top.

3. Visit the Main Forum

Our main program forum is used by thousands of program veterans and has information on just about any topic that you could possibly imagine.

We recommend that most of your time is spent in the Peer Support Group when you’re getting starting but we also encourage you to visit the main forum for

additional support and information. Just click on the community tab above and select “Online Forum”

4. Rate the Topics

Click “Rate This Topic” in the upper left-hand corner of every topic to rate it on a scale of 1-5, 5 being best.

5. Learn about others and give others a chance to learn about you by updating your Profile regularly

Check out someone’s Profile by clicking on their name.

6. And don't forget to have a little fun !!!

When I was going through the program I had the opportunity to speak with others who were also going through the program. You have that same chance by

participating here in your Peer Support Group. I’ll never forget how wonderful it felt to get the affirmations and advice from my peers and I also remember

how good it felt when I helped others in the group. There truly is no greater gift than the one you give to someone else.

If you read the postings in this group- your group, you’ll notice that everyone here has similar challenges, limitations and questions. You can help them and

they can help you. Please take a moment to introduce yourself, and then take one more moment to welcome someone else who is new. And please check in at least

once a day, and reply to posts when others ask for advice or feedback, and start a post when you’d like advice or feedback. And please be sure to reply back

to people who reply to you!

We have found in the past that those who get actively involved in their own recovery and that of others benefit beyond measure. Let’s all make an

effort to “speak” to just two other people in this support group- what a difference we’re going to make.

Welcome to a life changing experience, directed and controlled by you! (Please post now!)


You are brave, courageous, and a fabulous student.

Best regards, Carolyn Dickman, Education Director, Midwest Center, Oak Harbor, Ohio

I am having problems understanding how to post new message on forums or boards. I do not recognize the new random posting button. I can see how to reply to a posted question from someone else, but how do I just bring up a new post? Where is that button to click located? Thanks, What does notifications: Off mean?Dewdrop

Hello Dewdrop and Welcome!

To start a new message:

1. Select the forum you wish to post in.
2. Click NEW in the blue navigation bar (next to GO)
3. Put in a title
4. And add your post to the box and click Post Now.

A note, if you type for more than 3 or 4 minutes always copy your post before clicking Post Now. This system has a 4 minute timer on it that loves to eat posts...nothing happens and you wind up losing everything you typed.

If that happens, open up a new box to post in, re-enter the title and paste what you previously typed into the new box and immediately click Post Now.

Notifications are used by the staff to send specific emails to your registered email address and/or if you PM (private message) someone you'll be notified via email that someone responded to your PM.

Now because I've typed for 5 minutes I'll highlight what I've typed (ctrl A) then copy (ctrl C) just in case I've typed to long. If that happens, I'll click Reply again and paste (ctrl V) and paste this message into the box and click Post Now again.

Curious on how long it will take for the effects of thought replacement to be noticed. Any tips or tricks on making the most of this vital exercise? Mickey

Hi to all. Thanks for the welcome note. I am just now opening all the packages.

Now it's January 21st in 2009 rather than December 2nd in 2008. I haven't introduced myself by describing things about me. I am 58 years old with anxiety issues around childhood traumas. I was diagnosed with anxiety and prescribed Haldol and Artane in the middle 70's. I was in a peer support group then. Our psychiatrist was pretty hip that way.... I now live in a metropolis of over a million people in central Texas US. My Mom had a reading by a psychic who recommended that I do this program since I had been adversely affected by some 'black hole' for quite some time and she forecast I soon would find healing. Apparently she emails Stephen Hawkings regularly and he says a black hole is like a blob of ink on the tip of a pen. Not sure what to say here, yet I know I love metaphysics and have had a near death experience in the 60's where I was totally loved and reunited with the creation and free from any colors, sounds, touch or any vacuum thing like the scientist's hypothesize about, smells, tastes, anything hurtful, anything grand, just only totally relieved and loved and pure and forgiven and at PEACE with the all-in-all. I don't really think there is such a thing as a 'black hole'. Maybe a 'holy' though and I am so thankful to my mom for helping me do this program. I would like to meditate into cosmic consciousness and peak experiences with the time I now spend in worrying. HavingFun and BeingHappy

This message has been edited. Last edited by: anna brown,

Mike F,c On thought replacement, or reframing, When I am having a hard time, I put the negative thought in writing and reverse it into something positive. I have had some great revelations doing that. Make it a game, even if your positive things are a joke. I compete with my bird dogs and some nights before a trial I would hear rain on the roof and dread competing in the rain. I used to dread it all week if the forecast was bad. One day I decided to declare that my dogs did great in the rain. It became easier on me and the dogs have done extremely well. The first step in making thought replacement work is to recognize my negative thoughts and to start to figure out how I turn them around. My favorite anxiety dilemma is when I forget passwords, I used to get angry and frustrated and now I quickly get help. In terms of making thought replacement work you have to practice, and it helps to do the homework and listen to the lessons. I play them in my car all the time.

hey everyone. new to the program.

Ryan A,
If you work it, it works. I feel much happier since I started 10/26. You are going to do great.

hi this is my first try at posting. I think I may have a little a.d.d. I'm not real sure where to go from here. I just opened the package today. Checking it out for someone else and realized I need to take advantage of this program as much as the person I ordered it for. Well anyway Here's to better days for us all.

Thanks Stock lay for your responce. I am just curious how often one should write in their little note book in the course of a day. What is the minimum ? Thanks, Mickey

Hi everyone, I started this program back in September. I was doing real well with it but was sidetracked in October. My father-n-law was diaganosed with Pancreatic Cancer. My husband and I helped take care of him but sadly he passed away in november. So now I am restarting the program. I have dealth with anxiety and panic attacks for most of my life;although, it has really been a hinderence in my life for the past three years. I have tried medication but am currently trying to get off of it. I would really like to overcome this without medication. So now I am restarting the program with one of my good friends who also deals with anxiety and panic attacks. We are meeting each week to do the program together. We are starting session two today.

I got my materials today and finished the day one schedule. I started off excited, but soon found myself wrestling with my chronic negative, angry self-talk. I now sit here forcing myself to type in a depressed spacy mental fog. A tiny voice inside of me is whispering "this program will be the turning point in your life... ryan". While a much more powerful 600 pound gorilla voice inside of me is screaming... "YOU WILL NEVER SUCCEED LOSER!"

One part of me is hoping everyone else is experiencing this battle too... while another part of hopes no one elses would have to experience this.

quote:

Originally posted by Uneek:
I got my materials today and finished the day one schedule. I started off excited, but soon found myself wrestling with my chronic negative, angry self-talk. I now sit here forcing myself to type in a depressed spacy mental fog. A tiny voice inside of me is whispering "this program will be the turning point in your life... ryan". While a much more powerful 600 pound gorilla voice inside of me is screaming... "YOU WILL NEVER SUCCEED LOSER!"

One part of me is hoping everyone else is experiencing this battle too... while another part of hopes no one elses would have to experience this.

Hi Ryan and all...

Just got home this evening to find all my materials on the front porch, courtesy of the Express delivery man. Sat down and watched the Get started Tape and as it is late, I will really begin tomorrow.

I want to say that for the first time in a couple of years, I feel hopeful. I hope my foggy mind will become clearer, and I will be able to overcome the overeating, smoking, and other nasty little habits I've picked up over the years.

Ryan... I just want to say that we all have that 600 pound gorilla to a greater or lesser degree. It is part of what makes us the way we are. The only person who can overcome that bad boy is you. However, you can count on me to be among the first to tell you that by listening to it, then going ahead and ignoring it and doing what you felt, originally, to be right and completing the course can only be good for you.

I personally want to regain my clarity of mind and memory. I didn't realize that it could be a psychological issue until all the physicals and tests had been run, and my little psychiatrist had put me on Zoloft, because he doesn't know what is wrong...

I listened to the intro, as I said before, and that same big and ugly 600 pound brute tried to sit on my shoulders... But I've paid some hard earned bucks for this with the intention of following it through, because the only thing I have left to invest in this is time. And the time will pass if I do something, or simply do nothing.

Hope I haven't stepped on any toes, or over anyone's boundaries.

Dan

Hi
I just started the class today as soon as I discovered the box on my doorstep. I was really positive and excited at first and then after listening to it felt guilt and regret over firing my therapist! And then I'm like, why do I have to feel guilt and regret over every decision I've ever made?! Bollocks to it all! My new mantra - my journey has been perfect and my decisions were made for a reason. Looking forward to continuing in this.
H