Hi everyone. I am new to the panic program and I am currently doing advanced anxious thought forms. I am having trouble motivating myself to do them because writing out my anxious thoughts makes me feel worse. I have just started doing the advanced form so I am hoping that the emphasis on challenging the anxious thoughts will make me feel better, but so far I find myself avoiding doing the homework. I know that avoidance is one of the major problems with anxiety and I am working hard to put myself in uncomfortable situations and I feel like I'm doing okay with that, but what I'm really having trouble with is confronting the negative thoughts in my own head. Instead of thinking about my thought patterns, I find myself watching television or going (or trying to go) to sleep. When I do force myself to do the homework, I end up feeling worse about myself and feeling like I will never get over my anxiety and never be happy. Is this normal at this early stage in the program? I think I read somewhere that when it comes to facing your anxiety it has to get worse before it gets better. Is this true? Is this what's happening with me?
