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Posts created by Ocean

13 years ago 0 +0 / -0 43

Can´t remember it being this hard before...

Hi Guys,

So I've been dealing with anxiety for about 10 years now, and I always have set-backs in the winter. I usually reduce my meds in the summer, and forget that I need more until I start having attacks again. I have only ever dealt with this with medication. I didn't know I could do CBT on my own, and therapy is out of my price option. Either way, now I am working through this program (I'm on session 3) and it's been 6 weeks since I went from 5mgs/day to 25mgs/day and my panic still creeps up on me. I'm wondering why it's taking so long for the attacks to go away. The meds usually help me to forget any anxious thoughts completley (cures me in a sense).

Could it be that the meds just aren't working for me anymore? Or is it because I've started to activley think about what I'm thinking about?

It's gotten a lot better, this time the attacks were especially bad. I've never been on more than 20 mgs before. I've also started working after being at home with the kids for 3 years..

Help?

Thanks

Ocean

13 years ago 0 +0 / -0 43

Can´t remember it being this hard before...

Thanks guys, I needed that!

Ocean

13 years ago 0 +0 / -0 43

Exposure goals?

Hi,

So I am now on Session 4, starting exposure work. I can't think of anything that I avoid because of my panic. I was afraid to go to sleep, but I overcame that (8 years ago) then I was afraid to eat (6 years ago) I overcame that. Then I was afraid of taking medications, and I can deal with that one as I have to be on medications for my anxiety (2 years ago) and just recently when my panic attacks started again I was afraid of waking up, but obviously I'm OK with that now- so really all of my fears are situations I couldn't avoid.

And so now my panic levels are down, my medications seem to have started kicking in, and the more I think of it, I am afraid of the feelings. So how can I do exposure work?

Does this mean that this program will not work for me?

Ocean

13 years ago 0 +0 / -0 43

Exposure goals?

Hi guys,

Thanks for the tips. Yes, I do totally have thoughts that I avoid. So my medication helps with those thoughts. (Celexa)

So now I have to try and figure out which thoughts I will expose myself to until they don't scare me anymore? Yikes - this is going to be harder than I thought.

Don't worry I am not going to give up on the program! This program is giving me hope that I can perhaps overcome this terribly intrusive disorder!

Ocean

13 years ago 0 +0 / -0 43

Exposure goals?

Thanks for all the positive help you guys. This panic center seems to be an answer to my prayers!

So I guess in order to start exposing myself to my thoughts, I needed to decrease my medication - don't worry. My doctor is very supportive of me adjusting my medications as I feel I need them. I have never before needed more than 20mg, and for the last month I was on 25mgs. So now I'm down to 20 again just so I can expose myself to these negative thoughts...

So I woke up this morning, two hours early - for no real reason. Which is what I was doing when my panic attacks were at their highest. So immediatley I started to think - oh no I'm going to have a panic attack. But then I started challenging them, and it seemed to work.

But how do I challenge "What's wrong with me?"

Is it true? Yes - something is wrong with me!

How do I know it's true? I have medication that makes me better - so it must be true

Evidence? Meds

Evidence against? None

Has it happened before? For the last 10 years

What's different now? Nothing

How bad would it really be? It could NEVER go away!!

What's the worst that could happen? I could NEVER go away!!

If the worst thing happened, how bad would it really be? Pretty darn bad! :(

Ugh - this is so tough!

Ocean

13 years ago 0 +0 / -0 43

Top 5 Reasons for Chosing the Panic Center

Top 5 reasons I joined Panic Center:

5. Support group

4. No wait list to get into program (over a year in my city to get into a CBT program)

3. It's free

2. I don't have to go anywhere to do it

1. I can do it on my own schedule

13 years ago 0 +0 / -0 43

Exposure goals?

Hey Thanks Guys,

Debbie, No, I didn't end up having an attack.

Davit, I totally understand. And at no point was I taking it negativley.. dont' worry - you didnt' hurt my feel-bads!

So do you guys think that with this program there will ever come a day when we will be able to live without being medicated? (that, of course is my ultimate goal - just wondering how attainable that goal realistically is).

Ocean

13 years ago 0 +0 / -0 43

Exposure goals?

Sorry - not Debbie, Juanita!

Sorry I get confused - there's so many caring people here!!

13 years ago 0 +0 / -0 43

Something disturbing

I am fairly new to this program - about 2 months now. And I am looking forward to stick to this program.. I too will need to do this program a few times, but hopefully I can eventually live a med free life.

Davit, you said it best - we weren't born with this. I remember being the life of the party in my early 20s and 10 years later, I can't remember the last time I was at a party - could be age related too, I guess. Hubby and two small kids kind of dampen a partying lifestyle (which isn't what I want anyways) -- but I digress.

~m,

just hang in there. At the very least, keep in mind that there are others with the same thing.. some doing better, some doing worse - but, we all need to know that people out there understand us. Which, in our personal lives, I have an aunt overseas who suffers the same, but denies it to everyone else (except me)... I don't see anything wrong with admitting that I have a Panic disorder, hey - at least it's not contagious! :)

So, I look forward to getting to know y'all over the years...

Ocean

13 years ago 0 +0 / -0 43

Homework ??

Hi -

I know that in order for this program to work, I need to do my homework. My homework is doing exposure work. I've come to the conclusion that my triggers are my thoughts. So I'm supposed to expose my self to my thoughts. Problem is I am not sure exactly which thoughts I'm afraid of! So I'm waiting for a panic attack or an anxious moment to come on. But I'm on medication, and I'm not experiencing them anymore!

So, where do I go from here?

Ocean

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