I have had a great weekend!!! On friday morning I began having a pretty major panic attack right at the beginning of class, but I made myself sit there (I even had decided that if it came to me passing out I would just let it happen right there in class - I was that determined to sit it out). I felt like I wanted to scream and run out of the room, but I just sat there. I challenged my thoughts as best I could, tried to breathe right, and waited it out. After about a half hour or so the panic began to subside, and by the end of class I felt great. I was exhausted, but I felt very proud for having made it through a really bad attack without allowing myself to escape. Then today I drove down to a town a little over an hour away to go to a store I had been wanting to go to for a long time. I decided to take the freeway the whole way (one of my MAJOR panic triggers). I had some pretty strong anxiety both on the way down and on the way back, but I did not let myself pull over or get off the freeway. I challenged my anxious thoughts and pushed through. And I did it!!! That's by far the most success I've had on the freeway for about 6 months, so I am VERY happy about it! I also feel really excited because I think I'm finally learning how to live with the anxiety and panic rather than letting it run my life. I am starting to have the power to reduce my feelings of anxiety and avert panic attacks before they completely overwhelm me. I've got a ways to go still, but it feels great to feel like I'm making some actual progress!!!
