I am just starting lesson 6 and it seems like I take 1 step forward 2 steps back sometimes. Sometimes my depression will hit me out of the blue for no reason. It is a struggle sometimes. Is it common for people who are doing this program to feel like they are taking 1 step forward and then 2 steps back at times? Sometimes I wonder if I will ever feel normal.

Jlotjen,
Yes, this 2-step you talk about is NORMAL and so are you! When I first started the program, I felt like I really started to get worse, but I finished the tapes anyway. I didn't do the workbook like I should have, and I set the program aside. I am re-starting the program now AND including the workbook with it. In the past month or so, I've found that I had indeed grown and gotten better, without much practice. I just noticed that I was handling normally upsetting situations in a much calmer, rational way. So, it's normal to feel as though you're not getting too far, but then when you least expect it, you'll see some wonderful changes have happened inside of you. Good luck!

Thanks for the input regarding depression. I have just started the program as well, only in my second week, and would love to hear from others about how the program helped their depression, rather than anxiety attacks. Thanks, Mataki

Hi Mataki,

In 1999 I was bed ridden sometimes with depression. I lost my job in Jan 1997 and didn't work again until Dec 2003. I didn't acutally start working again full time until Jan 2005, this year. I also had a very unpredictable sleeping pattern which I still struggle with at times, but it is manageable. I had no clue that I had worked myself into this state over a period of decades. But that's what I learned through the Midwest's program.

I was on a pretty high level of depression medicine and anti-anxiety medicine. I'm off of the anti-anxiety meds for over a year now, but still taking a much lower dose of depression meds. Our thinking creates brain chemistry. Good, healthy thinking creates and maintains healthy emotions and brain chemistry. Negative and depressed thinking creates emotional disorders and keeps us in this state. It is an addiction for some people and was for me as well. It took me over three years to break free of the thinking. I started out taking one step forward and two or three backward. But as you work at the program and developing thoughts which are more healthy you start a habit of trying to heal yourself with such thinking, working out of the failures, and over time you pull yourself out of the hole you are in right now. It doesn't all happen over night, but it does happen.

Pat yourself on the back for being smart enough to get the program and work it. You are on a journey which will bring healing to you. You will have many defeats, but don't be discouraged. You will also have victories and the longer you persevere and work the program the quicker will be the recovery from the depression. At some point it will be two steps forward and one step backward, then three steps forward and one backward, etc. Love yourself unconditionally no matter what. Don't give me any excuses for not loving yourself unconditionally, I don't want to hear them. They are all excuses for not getting better. Just do it. It may not make sense at times, it didn't to me, but it works and will bring you into healing and better days. Be kind and patient with yourself and always strive to believe in you. These are habits that need to be developed because you aren't loving yourself at the moment. Don't put yourself down, dont' call yourself stupid or worse. Be kind to you. Be your own best friend. Good luck, you can do it.

Wow Don, just reading your post helped ME out. You are very encouraging and have strong compassion. I stuggle with negatives thoughts about myself and your words are what I needed to hear. Thanks

Tammy

Don53's advice is awsome , he has helped me out a bunch of times when my anxiety would go into a tailspin ! LongIslandGirl

thank you Don, those words spoke to all of us.. they brought alot into perspective for me.