It feels great!!! I know I have overcome a major obstacle. I still have a lot of work to continue doing but taking a plane was the highest on my hierarchy of exposures. For anyone who is struggling, believe in yourself, have patience and continue to modify and rework things. We are all a "work in progress" so when you are hard on yourself, think of the sucesses you have had along the way, we have all had them.
Wishing all of you a wonderful journey to recovery.
I took my first flight in 8 years this weekend! It was a short one (approx. 45min) but I can't believe that I did it. As I was going through it, I kept looking around being an "objective observer" and noticed everything was fine. The flight attendants were fantastic. I told them that I was trying to overcome my fear and they were great. I was anxious, but I managed to use my CBT to help me through it. It was a bit uncomfortable, but I am hoping that the more I do it, the easier it will be.
Just wanted to give you all an update and to encourage you along your journey....
Thats fantastic Queens i have been wondering how you were going as we are taking the same dose of the same med only two weeks apart, i am also doing quite well at the moment, every little step you take gives you the confidence to take another
Thank you for the update, it is really great to hear that you have been doing well with the CBT program. Continue to strive forward and provide us with your positive progress to encourage others. And if you need to, you can lean on us for support.
Congratulations Queens and thank you for posting your success.... you are right.... it does offer encouragement to stick with the program. I'm so impressed at the progress you've made. Good information about finding the right therapist and the right combination of therapy and medication. Thank you for sharing your experience and insight. Good luck with the flight... ! Can't wait to hear how it goes.
It has been a while since I wrote in the forum. I have gone back to work and it's been quite busy. I wanted to report that my progress with CBT has been going extremely well. The prozac (10mgs) is definitley enhancing the CBT. I am now taking the highway, going to the grocery store and I have also taken the subway and enjoyed a lovely afternoon in the city! Now, I am taking my first flight in 10 years! It is a short one (1 hr) but I figure that I have to start somewhere. I am a bit nervous (anticipatory anxiety) but I am determined to do it.
I thought that I would report on all the positive things. I know that when I first started this program I would would want to read sucess stories too as it encouraged me.
I have been reading some of the posts and for those who are experiencing difficulty with the CBT, my psychologist has been fantastic. It took me a while to find her though. I went and spent money on some who didn't know what they were doing. It was frustrating. Also, her approach allowed my to try the prozac (it was one of this exposures on my hierachy). Now that I am taking the prozac I feel calmer and it is enhancing the CBT. My psycholoigst explained that the medication helps to "clip" the anxiety so that you can do the CBT more effectively. I am not advocating that everyone take medication, I know that I was trying to do the CBT without it for a while. I found that it reduced my anxiety so that I was able to do the CBT effectively. She also mentioned that once you are doing the CBT effectively (through daily practice) you can stop taking the medication. One last thing, CBT should at one point allow you to be your own therapist.
Anyway, I hope that helps. I will report back on the flight!
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