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Success Stories Please
All:
As some of you may recall, I recently suggested that we have a stickied post that lists the many success stories that we may have to share with others, especially those who are new and who may only go through the first couple of posts.
I do not know about you, but think that knowing that someone was as bad (or had nearly exactly what I did) as I was and now is much better and on their way to healing helps so much more than anything else. It is hope, which we all know is lacking with this illness.
Anyhow, I had to send a suggestion to MedHelp and they FINALLY got back to me and really like the idea.
So here is the assignment:
The first thing that we need to do is to get all of our stories in one place, in this post. Once we collect the stories, we can submit them to MedHelp and they will incorporate them into a Health Pages document.
There are only a few requirements to this. These stories should not be the standard tips and tricks on ways to deal with anxiety and panic symptoms each day; rather, it should be something about a major improvement that you feel is either permanant OR something that is nearly a 180 of thinking as it realtes to your outlook. (i.e. I was hopeless and because of [insert story here] I am able to deal much better and am on my way to heal, etc.).
For examples, please see my own and JSGeare's profile "about us section". There are others as well.
I only have about 10 minutes this morning to post, so I cannot start with my own, but will circle back today or tomorrow with my story as well. If there are any questions, please contact me, JSGeare, or simply ask them in this thread.
Thanks for your help...and do not be fooled - this WILL help tremendously.
Mike
As some of you may recall, I recently suggested that we have a stickied post that lists the many success stories that we may have to share with others, especially those who are new and who may only go through the first couple of posts.
I do not know about you, but think that knowing that someone was as bad (or had nearly exactly what I did) as I was and now is much better and on their way to healing helps so much more than anything else. It is hope, which we all know is lacking with this illness.
Anyhow, I had to send a suggestion to MedHelp and they FINALLY got back to me and really like the idea.
So here is the assignment:
The first thing that we need to do is to get all of our stories in one place, in this post. Once we collect the stories, we can submit them to MedHelp and they will incorporate them into a Health Pages document.
There are only a few requirements to this. These stories should not be the standard tips and tricks on ways to deal with anxiety and panic symptoms each day; rather, it should be something about a major improvement that you feel is either permanant OR something that is nearly a 180 of thinking as it realtes to your outlook. (i.e. I was hopeless and because of [insert story here] I am able to deal much better and am on my way to heal, etc.).
For examples, please see my own and JSGeare's profile "about us section". There are others as well.
I only have about 10 minutes this morning to post, so I cannot start with my own, but will circle back today or tomorrow with my story as well. If there are any questions, please contact me, JSGeare, or simply ask them in this thread.
Thanks for your help...and do not be fooled - this WILL help tremendously.
Mike
that made me smile.........i will start singing my name now!
thanks for the reply too x
thanks for the reply too x
I love your operatic name. I sing it when I see it!
Anyway, success is measured sort of by taking a "before" and "after" picture of yourself. Success may be thought of as much as a process as a destination. Successes build on one another. Should I consider it a failure that I took an aspirin to take care of a headache -as opposed, for example, to meditation for the headache? I understand (brother don't we ALL understand) that we would rather NOT be taking meds for our condition because of the seeming dependency. We would rather "do it ourselves." But careful adherence to a medication schedule is "doing it yourself" also.
The idea here is to cull out and put on display the stories that show that panic and anxiety can, indeed, be managed and ultimately left behind, especially for new members who come through the door wondering what the dickens is going on with them; fearful, uncertain, lost. Because so much of the material on the forum is oriented toward a current crisis someone is having, or adapting to new meds or new symptoms, it is easy to forget, sometimes, that our disorder is very treatable. So, Success Stories are just a way of showing that people are, in fact, improving. But merely saying that we improve is not as powerful as the story that demonstrates it, because it is in the experience of others that we identify our OWN journeys.
OK?
Anyway, success is measured sort of by taking a "before" and "after" picture of yourself. Success may be thought of as much as a process as a destination. Successes build on one another. Should I consider it a failure that I took an aspirin to take care of a headache -as opposed, for example, to meditation for the headache? I understand (brother don't we ALL understand) that we would rather NOT be taking meds for our condition because of the seeming dependency. We would rather "do it ourselves." But careful adherence to a medication schedule is "doing it yourself" also.
The idea here is to cull out and put on display the stories that show that panic and anxiety can, indeed, be managed and ultimately left behind, especially for new members who come through the door wondering what the dickens is going on with them; fearful, uncertain, lost. Because so much of the material on the forum is oriented toward a current crisis someone is having, or adapting to new meds or new symptoms, it is easy to forget, sometimes, that our disorder is very treatable. So, Success Stories are just a way of showing that people are, in fact, improving. But merely saying that we improve is not as powerful as the story that demonstrates it, because it is in the experience of others that we identify our OWN journeys.
OK?
You bet it counts as success , your success isn't measure in HOW we manage the anxiety ... it's measured by the fact that you were willing to seek help and do whatever it takes it get your life back. :-)
Jerz
Jerz
does accepting that we may have to take meds for the rest of our lives count as part of our successess. as well of other things of course such as cbt and exercise healthy eating etc.............if all these things can manage our anxiety and we can then lead normal lives is this ok. it seems that if we have to take meds we are failures!
I have suffered with anxiety symptoms since I was approximately 18. It wasn’t until the spring of 2007 when my youngest son who was 15 experienced a life changing experience. This experience threw him into a depressive state. I pursued counseling for him and during this counseling journey the psychologist noticed I exhibited extreme anxiety symptoms. I had exhibited these symptoms in the past and it would die away and then resurface out of nowhere. I just thought that I was just overreacting to stress all these years. It was a living hell at times. Also in June 2007 my 15 year old son left to live with his Dad in Florida. Wow, was I devastated! My anxiety symptoms went out of control. I was unable to drive the car or do daily errands without having a panic attack. I couldn’t sleep and I suffered with extreme headaches for days. I asked my son’s psychologist to provide therapy for me and for the first time I was diagnosed with General Anxiety Disorder. My psychologist has been using Cognitive Behavior Therapy since my first session in June of 2007. I have learned a lot about how my past has been a contributing factor to the development of my anxiety. My therapy sessions are continuing to sort out the tangled web of past events that are stored in my brain that feed my anxiety.
Anxiety in my life has been a real tricky predicament to overcome, the more I tried to get rid of it the worse it became. So instead of fighting it I acknowledged it and now I am enjoying life more than before. Finally, I want to acknowledge my strong faith in God has been a #1 therapy even before Cognitive Behavior Therapy. The journey has been an adventure of emotional discovery and I am striving that one day I can truly love myself as much as God, family and friends love me.
Marie
Anxiety in my life has been a real tricky predicament to overcome, the more I tried to get rid of it the worse it became. So instead of fighting it I acknowledged it and now I am enjoying life more than before. Finally, I want to acknowledge my strong faith in God has been a #1 therapy even before Cognitive Behavior Therapy. The journey has been an adventure of emotional discovery and I am striving that one day I can truly love myself as much as God, family and friends love me.
Marie
I am posting this under the success stories thread as well. Anyone else ready to dive in?
Some may feel that success stories are when you are "cured" of your anxiety. I like to think of success as learning to manage anxiety. For me that's the key. I recognize that a level of anxiety is always there, there is anxiety if everyone.. it's just some people manage it different than others.
A little background - My intial adventure with anxiety started about 5 years ago. I had gone through some major life changes, my mother and my mother in law ( both who lived with me) died within a couple of years of each other. My youngest child was off to college, and my middle child moved out to be on his own. Since I identified with being a care giver which I was since both of the moms had health issues, the changes that occurred threw me for a loop. My identity was gone (at least that was my perception) I know longer knew who I was. There were some personal relationsip issues going on as well. I went to my family doctor not feeling well and complaining of palpitations and a host of other symptoms. He prescribed a well known anti-depressant which I did not tolerate well at all. Ended up in crisis center twice because I thought I was losing my mind. I was promptly weaned off of it and headed to a therapist for some therapy. It helped immensely and I learned quite a lot. My personal opinion is I don't think you can get better with just medications. You need to find the source of the anxiety and learn to manage it.
I was doing well for quite a few years until August when I suffered a health crisis and the anxiety reared it's ugly head again. I wasted no time getting my butt back to the therapist. Am I managing it now? For the most part. One of the ways I could tell I was improving was this, when I first started therapy my life was timed from one therapy appt to the next. As I improved this changed and I no longer counted the days until my next appt.
Here are the thoughts that work for me
- Understanding that our perception is our reality. Change our perception and we change our reality
- Accepting that 95% of what happens in my life is out of my control. The only thing I have control over are my beliefs, my values, my thoughts and my feelings. Meaning, how I react to the things that are out of my control.
- Learning to accept loss - it happens to all of us from the time we lose our baby teeth until we die. This means I don't have to be strong all the time. It's okay to be sad and to mourn.
- accepting that things happen the way they are supposed to be happen and that where I am in life emotionally and/or physically is exactly where I am supposed to be.
- And the most important thing of all - Believing that I am going to be okay NO MATTER WHAT
If any of this helps someone just a little bit than I am glad I took the time to get my brain in gear and write it out.
Jerz
Some may feel that success stories are when you are "cured" of your anxiety. I like to think of success as learning to manage anxiety. For me that's the key. I recognize that a level of anxiety is always there, there is anxiety if everyone.. it's just some people manage it different than others.
A little background - My intial adventure with anxiety started about 5 years ago. I had gone through some major life changes, my mother and my mother in law ( both who lived with me) died within a couple of years of each other. My youngest child was off to college, and my middle child moved out to be on his own. Since I identified with being a care giver which I was since both of the moms had health issues, the changes that occurred threw me for a loop. My identity was gone (at least that was my perception) I know longer knew who I was. There were some personal relationsip issues going on as well. I went to my family doctor not feeling well and complaining of palpitations and a host of other symptoms. He prescribed a well known anti-depressant which I did not tolerate well at all. Ended up in crisis center twice because I thought I was losing my mind. I was promptly weaned off of it and headed to a therapist for some therapy. It helped immensely and I learned quite a lot. My personal opinion is I don't think you can get better with just medications. You need to find the source of the anxiety and learn to manage it.
I was doing well for quite a few years until August when I suffered a health crisis and the anxiety reared it's ugly head again. I wasted no time getting my butt back to the therapist. Am I managing it now? For the most part. One of the ways I could tell I was improving was this, when I first started therapy my life was timed from one therapy appt to the next. As I improved this changed and I no longer counted the days until my next appt.
Here are the thoughts that work for me
- Understanding that our perception is our reality. Change our perception and we change our reality
- Accepting that 95% of what happens in my life is out of my control. The only thing I have control over are my beliefs, my values, my thoughts and my feelings. Meaning, how I react to the things that are out of my control.
- Learning to accept loss - it happens to all of us from the time we lose our baby teeth until we die. This means I don't have to be strong all the time. It's okay to be sad and to mourn.
- accepting that things happen the way they are supposed to be happen and that where I am in life emotionally and/or physically is exactly where I am supposed to be.
- And the most important thing of all - Believing that I am going to be okay NO MATTER WHAT
If any of this helps someone just a little bit than I am glad I took the time to get my brain in gear and write it out.
Jerz
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