You can do it! I have proof!
Well, I am going to post my story in the hopes that it helps someone believe that there is new life waiting for them - one with control over anxiety.
For sake of comparison, here is a snapshot of my "lowest point" when dealing with anxiety. My anxiety became so overwhelming a few years back that I found it creeping into so many areas of my life, taking over activities that I used to enjoy and then taking over activities that I needed to do to function on a daily basis. I found that entering any store, driving anywhere (even locally or to work), being at work, etc. etc. was such a challenge. I felt perpetually anxious, fearing the next attack and needing to really gear myself up just to leave the house. I was always in a fog and basically just managing to survive the day.
Well, I worked at the exposure training as best as I could (I have to admit, it wasn't always linear or progressive, but I did push my comfort zone in order to practice self-talk and relaxation techniques). My ultimate challenge was always swimming in the back of my mind: I had to get on an airplane in order to go to Disneyland with my family. The thought of being in an enclosed airplane with a bunch of people and not being able to escape was over-the-top anxiety for me (I'm sure you guys can relate). And then I had to survive crowds of people and stand in lines in enclosed spaces and crowded areas. This was not seeming like the best experience.
So, I worked and practiced the crowds, line-ups, enclosed spaces whenever I could and each time, I felt a little more in control and confident with being able to handle the situation and more specifically, my reactions to the situations.
Well, folks...I am now back home from the trip. I survived the airplane with not only a minimal of effort on the way there (in fact, I was bouncing around, I was so excited about the take-off). I did have a tad bit of anxiety on the way home, but all the relaxation techniques that I did helped and the self-talk helped. Disneyland itself held a couple of anxious moments (some of the lines wove and so I was in the middle of big, unmoving crowds). But, all in all, it was so positive that I didn't "escape" even once and I even went on some roller coaster rides and then I took my oldest kid to the park at night by myself while my husband stayed at the hotel with our youngest. It was so freeing to know that I could be able to enjoy such a special time with my child, rather than missing out because I was too anxious.
So, in the end (sorry this is so long), I have to say: THERE IS DEFINITE HOPE. It takes work and some awful, yucky-feeling times, but in the end, the payoff is incredible. You WILL be able to life your life like you did before the anxiety took hold. Hang in there for your own sake and keep beating away at it. Take each day at a time and each situation at a time. Keep at it and you'll see gradual results to the point where one day, you look back and go "Wow...that used to make me really anxious and now it's nothing to me."
((((hugs)))))
