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Exposing my panic for what it is.

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Exposing my panic for what it is.

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 286

Hi Dennis,

Welcome! This site has definitely been a ray of hope to many of us, and has turned into the road to recovery. I too hope you will stick with it - the program really does work! This forum is incredibly helpful too, as here you will find people who understand. Some are just starting out, others (like me) are in the process of recovery, and some are pretty much fully recovered. There IS a way out of this!

I saw you were having trouble printing the homework sheets. The homework really is worth doing, so if you can't print the worksheets maybe you can still write the answers out on a sheet of paper and just read the questions off your computer?

Keep posting, we're here for you,

Teebs

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1665

Hello dennis: welcome to the site. Yes, you will find hope in the CBT program. It is the best for anxiety and stress. Hope you stay with it and post often. We are friendly and supportive. Keep the faith.

Sunny

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 6

I am brand new to the program and have completed lesson 1. I find that reading about my anxiety and panic gave mew a small seed of hope. I had lost all hope and had even gotten a Drs. permission for future euthanasia. Now I read that tha panic can be controlled by something other than a whapping dose of Ativan.....I would love to have my life back!!!!! I filled out the form and the report came back saying I had anxiety and avoidance without panic. I think it is becasuse they asked if I had panic attacks that last up to 30 minutes, or something similar and I put no becaue my paqnic attacks last much longer usually ond only subside if and when the Ativan kicks in. When talking to a couselor recently she asked exactly what set of experiences set all of this in motion...I ended up throwing up and then had the dry heaves for asbout 1/2 hour...which, expectedly, ended the session and I haven't been back.

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 286

I think Sunny is right on with the list method. I do this all the time - sometimes with a to-do list for the day, other times for the week, or longer. Then I can realize I'm accomplishing things as I cross them off my list. One thing I haven't done is save the crossed off lists, though - Sunny this is a great idea! I'm always making more lists, but it would be good for me I think to keep some of the old ones to remind myself of how far I've come and how much I've done.

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 653

Hi Brittany,

Sounds like you have made a breakthrough by finding the source of your panic. Good work! You also sound like you need some guidance. Setting some goals 'formally' would be a good first step. In your post, you refer to several things that you want to change and/or do- I suggest you go to the program, to the Interactive Tools, and go to the Your Goal section. Determine 2 or 3 short terms goals for yourself. These can be for today or this week- you decide. Start small but don't delay doing it!! Right?!

Next, I recommend starting with the weekly sections of the program, starting at the top with the Panic Program. Read it, mull it over, start today!

Good luck! You can do it!

Tiana, Health Educator

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 5

Oh and I remember she disconnected the internet for a week. Must have seemed horrifying to her at the time since she practically lived on it but if you make it into a challenge maybe you can see how much you can get done without it and by the end of the week the need to be on it all the time might have subsided a little.

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 5

I feel like you've just described one of my best friends down to a tee. It was about 4 years ago now when she was 18 and she started to become really shut up. She would spend all day on the computer talking to internet friends, writing fanfiction or RPGing. She wouldn't get out of bed to go to work and tried two different university degrees before they banned her because she wouldn't attend or complete assignments. We all went to a school that required a high scoring IQ test of 120+ to attend so she definitely had the smarts to do whatever she wanted. I'm fairly sure she was diagnosed with depression at some point and given medication but I cant tell you if it was effective or not.

Now though she is 23 with a new job she enjoys, more social than ever, and a ton more motivated. I know she's seen a psychiatrist which might not be such a bad idea, I think it has helped her but I havent asked specifically. She also found something she really enjoys to do (local musicals/theatre) which gets her out of the house and there are friends in the group for her to be around.

Maybe have a think about what sort of things you enjoy and look around in the community to see if there is something similar to get involved in? Might be an idea to ask a doctor for some suggestions as well and they can make sure you're eating right and there isnt any underlying issue.

Best of luck. Im sure you'll be able to get back on track just as my friend did.

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1665

Hi Brittany: Here's what I do when I feel unmotivated to do anything. First - what are my goals? What is it I want to accomplish today, this week, or this month? There are usually short-term and long-term goals. You can start tomorrow, it is Monday, the beginning of the week. Start small. What would you like to accomplish during the day? You mentioned getting out of the house. Okay, take a walk around the block every day. Pick a time, morning or afternoon, up to you. This would be a short-term goal. Are there any other things you would like to do during the day? Make a list of short-term goals. Some could be for the day, some could be for the week.

Next, make a list of long-term goals. Such as wanting to go shopping one day this week. Maybe visit one friend this week, go for a coffee, a movie. You get the idea.

When you have accomplished your daily goal, put a line through it, or a check mark. Do it every day of the week. Now you can see your progress. Save these sheets of paper.

As you progress, you can add more goals and longer term goals too.

By completing and achieving these first small short-term goals, I think this will give you confidence and a bit of discipline to help yourself. No one can do it for you. You have to love yourself enough to want to take care of yourself.

Just some ideas. Good luck.

Sunny

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 6252

Brittany

Very perceptive and right on the mark. That is the start. I presume when you say you spend too much time on the computer it is not writing a book. Yes I can see your intelligence in your writing. Internet is addictive and the only thing that saves my butt is that I pay by usage. So much a kilo. All your symptoms are probably due to anger at yourself.

Could you pick out one thing that you want to do and do it before the computer or what ever other distraction. I would say do not go cold turkey. Wean yourself off the procrastination by doing one thing you want to do over and over till it becomes habit and then add on another. I ignore my butler in the morning till I'm up and have had breakfast, thrown in the laundry etc. Then I get My cup of tea and check this site and my mail. That is it. No Utube Till every other thing is done. I don't know why some people procrastinate, other than perfectionism. Some times people don't do things because they won't come out good enough so why bother.

Some thing to think on. You are bright you will find it. I'm hoping you will share it when you do.

Here for you

Davit.

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 11

So I've hit the breaking point in this. I've had a few issues tonight, but nothing much. Just a bit of swallowing issues and some dizziness. Whatever, I've had so much crap in the past. I'm now tackling the source.

For so long I thought there was no real source. And now I know what it is. It's my procrastination.

The truth is, I procrastinate everything. I don't sleep right, I don't do the things I want to do if they require effort, I rarely do work. And I'm slowly watching my life spiral into something it shouldn't be. I'm a bright girl, I won't be arrogant, but I'm sure my writing skills give it away that I'm not a teenager who tries not to make something of herself.

Every time I want something, it doesn't happen, because I don't put in the effort, I give up, and I continue my disgraceful 10+ hours a day on the computer lifestyle, and I beat myself up for not doing the right things to keep myself looked after.

I want to take upon this opportunity. I think that to truly defeat my anxiety, I must begin putting my life on track. I want to start doing work on the projects I've taken up, and then, when I really do start fulfilling myself, educationally, physically, hell, just getting out of the damn house, then maybe I will start to see this pain go?

I really would love some help from people to get my life up and running again. I don't know what it is that makes me this way, but I want it to stop, and the first thing to do is to WANT to make the changes. If anyone can give me some advice, to help me get my life organised, to help get everything into a routine that works for me, and get me out, happy, and healthy, then please, be my guest and help me out with some advice!

Thank you in advance, I really love self-help forums, especially when there are so many nice people willing to give drawn out responses in order to help people so much. :)

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Exposing my panic for what it is.