View Full Version : has anyone been cured
Hi all, was just wondering has anyone recovered fully from anxiety/panic/ and different phobias? I mean 100%. I don’t really think so. I mean cured no medication also no alcohol, as alcohol is also a drug that I used to use regular to hide from my fears. I know I am lots better now than I was 12 months ago and that’s without alcohol I stopped drinking about 18 months ago. I believe we can come to terms with anxiety and with use of right tools can lead an almost normal life, and even eliminate panic attacks. But has anyone really recovered 100%. I recovered and had hardly no symptoms for about 12 years then they returned about 14 months ago. Can we possibly say if we are cured even because who knows if they will return again in the future, which seems very common in lots of people to be ok for years then suffer again. As I say I feel lots better at the moment but notice when I get a real problem I seem to head back that way and have to work hard to keep these feelings at bay. Take care you all. Vernon
I'm not on medication and whilst I can down a few bottles of beer or bubbly on occassions , I don't drink regularly or to medicate.
I have a full time job, a busy family life and lead the life I led before panic struck -apart from the hours on this forum that I didn't do before..
wil the light at the end of tunnel go out suddenly (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2983)
Meg
www.anxietymanagementltd.com
Watch your thoughts, they become your words...
Watch your words, they become your actions... Watch your actions, they become your habits... Watch your habits, they become your character... Watch your character, it becomes your destiny...
Hiya Vernon - How long is a piece of string?
Cured is a bit of strange word I think as the fight or flight instinct is there for a reason, to protect us from harm. It is like saying can we ever be cured from falling in love (this I am sure has hurt most of us at one time in our lives). If I met a man who proudly boasted that he was cured 100% from ever falling in love I would run a mile, the same as I would if anybody said they 100% turned their desire to be safe, respect life and live off!!!!
We just all need to get healthy anxiety into perspective - don't do drugs (they really can kill), moderate the fats and alcohol, and enter into an existance that makes our lives feel fulfilled - that is all I am aiming for anyway! I accept that I am a control freek, list maker, plan b obsessive but I also accept now that living like this can push your anxiety over the edge. I am kinder on myself these days, and on others and am on my way to as cured as I will ever be (still being me;)).
Those are my thoughts anyhow - for what they are worth - interesting post though, can't wait to see how everyone else thinks about this one.
Have a good weekend Vernon, we are having a chinese (naughty), wine (worse) and a DVD night tonight - Boy do I know like to live dangerously...LOL[8D]
I dont think we can ever be free but i think we learn how to handle them better and stop the anxiety before it goes to panic.
I havent had a attack in months i work part time do my shopping and go out and i look after my 3 kids.
Cured? no, learn to live some kind of a life around it? yes, live life in the same way as prior to this? no.
Kate
Hi angib. You said...(Cured is a bit of strange word I think as the fight or flight instinct is there for a reason, to protect us from harm. It is like saying can we ever be cured from falling in love) I didn’t mean the anxieties everyone gets every so often I meant us nervously ill who's anxieties are amplified and blown out of all proportion
I've often asked the same question myself Vern, in fact I remember posting a very similar topic about a year ago.
Unfortunately, most of us here can't speak from experience on this one (one of the downfalls of these places is that when people become 'cured', they tend not to come back).
So, without the experience, I can't really answer that question fully, but I have opinions on it.
<b id="quote">quote:</b id="quote"><table border="0" id="quote"><tr id="quote"><td class="quote" id="quote"> I didn’t mean the anxieties everyone gets every so often I meant us nervously ill who's anxieties are amplified and blown out of all proportion</td id="quote"></tr id="quote"></table id="quote">
I believe you can diminish the foundations that has created our 'nervous illness'. By this, I mean, I believe we can reach a state where our general anxiety levels are the same as what they were before.
What I think holds us back on this one, is our memories. Anyone who has suffered any length of time has many negative memories practically ingrained into them, and all those memories will remain to a degree. The downside is that these memories can trigger further episodes in the future. Even on your non-anxious days you will know yourself that you can come across a particular situation, event, sight, place, or sound, that can have a negative effect on your anxiety levels. These will diminish with the anxiety, but I believe it would be difficult to reduce it to the level that you had before the anxiety started.
I've been thinking about this a little lately though. I don't know if anyone else gets this, but I can often change my perceptions on things in a short space of time. Very much like when you look at the stars and after a while you begin to create an awareness of how small and insignificant everything is, and in turn, your perception changes slightly and you begin to think differently. I can do this in many different contexts though, usually only lasts a few minutes, but lately I've had a few of these experiences and I've literally felt like I was 15 again. And I don't mean young, I mean I felt (for a few minutes) like I had the same frame of mind as I did when I was 15. In other words, without the anxiety. That got me on to thinking about letting go of these negative memories. I think it can be done to a degree, maybe not 100%, but still a considerable amount. Don't ask me how though. [:P]
Meg
I once remember you saying that you still carried a 'rescue pack' around with you (if I remember rightly). If that's true, I'd be interested in hearing some of your thoughts and opinions on it.
mico
hiya vernon,
100% cure is a lot to ask for but i feel 85% cured, i sufferd with ocd for 16 years and never thought i would escape. but the road to recovery has been hard and the last 5 months have been so 'free'- i feel free from my thoughts my compulsions and HAPPY :D i never imagined i would ever say that but it happend. was a tough long old road. i am heading for 95% maybey 98%, 100% sounds too scary. take care x
thats great to here mynydd
, hope u just keep getting better and better take care, Vernon
nomorepanic
22-04-05, 18:53
I don't believe I will ever be the person I used to be but I am fairly happy as the person I am now - warts and all!!
As for my life, well it has turned around more in the last 2 years than it ever did for the first 9 years of suffering and that is good enough for me for now.
There are things I still want to do and I will start pushing myself again but I just wanted to enjoy some years of being "normal" whatever that is.
Nicola
thanks all I just wanted to know what others thought but, I know it gets better in fact lots better, but i think we always seem to have bad few days even when we are as we think much better then the thinking seems to change again?
Cured? What's that? lol :D
vernon,
i understand your post and agree with alot of the comments made. however, posting a post such as that on a site like this is only going to get a reply of doubt as the people here are still suffering, what about the millions that have had anxiety and got over it and for it never to return. I understand nobody can ever say never, but you cant say never to anything in life.
you will never get a balanced view of if you can recover from suffering an illness by posting a post on a site for peole suffering with that illness!!!!!! the people who come on this site are, in the main, still suffering and of course when suffering, to whatever degree, you feel it will never go.
you will never find a site that is for suffers of anxiety who no longer suffer because once you have recovered thats it to some degree. alot ,like meg, who now lead typical lives are doing just that and have moved on from this and probably dont want to discuss it anymore. thank god meg does but alot wouldnt want to.
i have never taken meds, never drunk and after over a year i feel virtually fine.
so, i disagree whole heartedly with your opinion of "i think not" and some might say well he didnt have it as bad then, nonsense i suffered like most but what i did do is never ever stop believing in myself and that this can be beaten.
sorry if i sound harsh to some degree, but i truly truly belive that with the correct information, support, education and pure will power virtually anything can be overcome in this life.
we all have bad memories of our anxiety, i remeber some horrendous times but theres alot of people in this world who have horrendous memories and bad times and they get over them, as we can. they are in the past and thats where they belong, live in the moment, no the past or the future but right here right now.
to get a true indication youd need to have the names and addresses of all people in last 10 years that had been diagionsed with anxiety and I would bet my life if you wrote to all of them there would be a hell of a lot that would say, yep it was really bad for a while but im fine now........from what you are suggesting is that once you have been diagionsed with anxiety thats it, youve got it pal and forever, sorry but thats utter nonsense and based on nothing but a small sample of suffers and current suffers at that.
in my opinion that kind of thought is the root of the problem, what if? will it ever go and so on, well what if it does go? and what if it never comes back? always two sides to the coin.
doddy
Mico,
I don't have the rescue pack any more.
I went to get it to get a colleague out the lavender oil to put on a bite and couldn't find it.
When I went on the hunt I found it in still in the suitcase we took on holiday about 4 months previously. Looking at it most of the stuff was either out of date or looking too scrappy to keep anyway.
Meg
www.anxietymanagementltd.com
Watch your thoughts, they become your words...
Watch your words, they become your actions... Watch your actions, they become your habits... Watch your habits, they become your character... Watch your character, it becomes your destiny...
Doddy sorry have to disagree with some of the things you said, also I didn’t write the post to upset anyone. I have used this site for a long time and people here do like to give different opinions on different things. I like Mico said only wrote it to see the response I got. It also depends on the person, some people are just born nervous types, and lastly yes lots of people who have recovered will talk about it, you see so many documentaries and books with views of people who have recovered. I am lots better than I was but I do get the odd blip but would always carry on coming here and into chat as I have made some very good friends here and hope others think the same just because they are better they still want to help others and talk about there experiences. That’s why there are so many help groups. NMP, No Panic, Mind, Share etc, and all these people are ex sufferers. Take care. Vernon
Vern
I completely understand your reasoning behind this topic.
Like I say, I have the same questions myself.
Doddy
The reason I question this, is because although I have heard of many stories of 'complete' recovery, there is often a 'but'. But I still can't do that, or, but I still can't go there. That's not what I call a full recovery. 90% maybe, and sure, if that's all I'm going to get, I'm sure 90% will be good. But it would be nice to know the possibility is there of a true and complete recovery, but finding this information is hard.
This is the exact reason I question Meg's 'recue pack' tactics. That tells me there is still a slither of fear telling you that you need to have this security in the event of a future attack. This fear is created by anxiety and suggests that such a person isn't fully recovered. On the other hand, this may not be the case, and it may just be sensible precautionary measures should a future attack take place. There doesn't necesarilly have to be any fear there to carry such a 'rescue pack', but it does leave questions in my mind to the reasoning behind it.
It just seems to me, most people claiming 'complete' recovery still have one or two hangups. Or even have 'blips' from time to time. It would be a great reasurance to find anyone who doesn't have any of this or can honestly say that they feel just as good as they did before any 'nervous illness' began. It's an interesting question, and I'm still on a quest for answers as to just how much is possible, and how much is likely, and quite frankly, I don't know where else to find those answers.
Sure, this site, as I said, isn't the ideal place to find the answers, but it's the first port of call to ask.
mico
Mico,
I dont think you will ever find an absolute anywhere, in fact there can never be an absolute answer to any qustion.
As to megs rescue remedy then id say why focus on this? millions and millions of none suffering people take this on occasions, this is not a sign of none recovery it is a sign of human nature as everyone needs a little something every now and again.
There is not a person in this wrold that desnt have some worries and to think that you will become 100% woory free will never happen, and would you want that? i know i like a bit of worry as i find it inspires me at times. it is dealt with, as far as im concerned, when it hits a level that doesnt really both you anymore, and when it doesnt really bother you anymore then well id class that as recovered. if something is 95% but you feel fine with that then the problem has gone.
I feel the reserach you are doing is looking for reassurance, looking for an answer and really there isnt one. Each individual is unique with there own experiences and that effects the outcome of this.
for example, i run my own business, i get up every day, i take no meds, i dont drink, i do smoke but always have but the days are pretty much normal for me now, a year ago they were horrendous, now i still get the odd moment but my life is fine, perfectly exceptable, so how cares if its a 100% or 80% its fine now and enjoyable and what more can you really ask for? they say this effects about 5% of the population, I would suggest that more like 15% - 20% suffer but in a mild way and never know about it as it doesnt have a huge impact on there lives so if we spoke to them and asked them if they will ever recover they would look at us like we were daft as they would say they havent got a problem to begin with!! but going off the 100% radar they would have!!
im rambling I know, and didnt mean to have a go vernon and i fully undertsand what you are saying it just that i belive that this can be recovered from, and percentages dont matter, what does matter is that life becomes enjoyable and if that happens who cares about percentages, who cares that meg use to have a bottle of rescue remebdy, more like look at what meg has achieved and if that dsent spell recovery then im perplexed to what does.
doddy
Yeah, I appreciate what you're saying Doddy and you have some good points.
I think my main concern for this, is fear of the illness itself. When you've had it so long, will you ever lose that fear? You can see from that why my concerns with rescue packs and such come in. I agree that there is no absolute, and no 100%, but what I don't want is to be living in fear of this illness for the rest of my life. If I can leave that fear behind, then that is mission accomplished in my eyes.
Personally, I believe it can be done. It would just be nice to hear more success stories where people have overcome that fear of the illness.
Incidentally, it is this fear that makes me question this in the first place. Maybe that's something for me to think about in itself.
Thanks
mico
Hi vern,
This is a hard one, as i for as long as i can remember have always felt anxious, and like you had alot of years in between panics, when i was fine, i'm a worrrier that is my personality. i accept that, but how i much i let it control my life is up to me,
My sister is very laid back everything goes over her head she does not dwell on things, but she once had a panic attack, and was scared out of her wits, but it only lasted maybe half an hour, and never happened again. She didnt give it much thought, didnt worry about it happening again, and it hasnt. That was a lot of years ago, so there you go vern maybe she is cured,,,
I know i will never be as bad as the first time i had a really bad attack of P.As, because i know what to do to help myself get through, yes i will still have bad days but i accept that for what it is just an off day, the information i have read on this site has been priceless, it has helped me understand and help myself,
i had not had a bad attack for a long long time im not on meds, and like the occassional drink LOL, i still get that anxious feeling, but i just dont let it spiral, i try to nip those thoughts in the bud if i can, i think had i not found this site i may not be doing as well, but everything i have read has made sence, and i have believed it, and tried to put it into practice, I will never be cured, im a born worrier but how i cope with these worries i hope i can change and fingers crossed i feel im doing good ,,
not 100% and i'd never say i'll never be like that again cos who know's what is around the corner.
I really enjoyed reading this post and all the replies
kairen x
Mico,
to answer you question quite simply id say ive lost the fear of this illness, it no longer bothers me, if i do get anxiuos occasionally it soon passes and dosent take long at all for it to be forgotten. what i would say is that it used to take ages to get over an attack, now it takes minutes and what i truly belive is that this is a cycle, a slow one i know but one that diminishes with time. as you are less anxiuos the attacks are less and take less time to get over so your anxiety drops...and so on and so forth.
what i would suggest is dont look for more answers on the net, ive been there and can tell you with absolute certainity ( almost anyway!) that this site on here is the most realistic, informative, friendly and supportive you will come across. it gives a great balance view, with information that is fantastic.
i think that because its run by people who know how you feel they can help tremendously and with people who are now recovered, such as meg, to come back and help others is fantastic. what better support could you have than someone like meg who suffered just like us and has come back to say , hey guys it can be beat and life can be good again, inspirational stuff, and she doesnt ask for a thing in return.
its the fear of this returning that can create fear and keep the cycle going but again its just a worry and should be filed away in the worry box!! loved the reply about the sister who had a panic attack and just moved on.....millions like that........million having attacka today who will just move on back to a noraml life, few might suffer a little longer and then move on, but because they move on we dont get to hear from them, but they are definately out there.
i too have always been a worrier but have now decided when the worry comes along to put things into perpective and i must say in many ways my life is actually better than it was before, could class this as 110% RECOVERY...LOL
when my wife had a full blown seizure some two months ago and was subsequently diagionsed with scarring in the brain which will cause epilepsy i was able to sit down and use my knew skills to put the matter into perspective, if that had happened three years ago well id of been a wreck, but now i look at situations differently and i feel thats how we change, but change can be good for us.
anyway, this has been a most interesting topic that vernon posted and I have enjoyed reading all the replies.
doddy
hi vern,
my mum had anxiety/panic for the best part of 6 years,she wouldnt even answer the door to anyone let alone go out,that was 28 years ago, she doesnt even get a twinge of panic now,even when my dad had a heart attack and as you probably know,he had bypass surgery yesterday and she was there for him 100% she didnt even think about any it, and also she knows im suffering at the mo with it too, so i think it can be cured, i think it is positive thinking and your out look on life
regards sue
Thanks Doddy
I do agree with a lot of what you say. I guess it is just my negative side coming out to play. And when you begin to feel negative, a little reasurance doesn't go a miss. Sometimes I feel like I could just do with a forum crowded full of 'cured' people to talk to now and again to receive that reasurance. Unfortuanately, I have never found that place, so I guess I'll have to make do with you guys :D.
mico
I'm not worried about percentages.
I just want a decent quality of life back.
To me, that's all that counts.
Ray
Don't wait around for other people to be happy for you. Any happiness you get you've got to make yourself.--Alice Walker
I agree with Ray.
I just want to be able to live a fuller and more free life than what I am at the moment.
I would settle for under 100% as long as im happy.
I cant pressure myself to be completly free, I am learning to cope with it, so each day gets better, with a few hiccups on the way.
Tatty B xx
<b id="quote">quote:</b id="quote"><table border="0" id="quote"><tr id="quote"><td class="quote" id="quote">I'm not worried about percentages.
I just want a decent quality of life back.
To me, that's all that counts.
Ray
<div align="right">Originally posted by clickaway - 25 April 2005 : 19:14:55</div id="right">
</td id="quote"></tr id="quote"></table id="quote">
Percentages don't do it for me either Ray. In fact, I firmly believe statistics of any sort should be banned from human society altogether. I just used my 'percentages' as a means to put my thoughts into words, which I often have difficulty with. But the original question comes around from the negativity that asks if you will ever lead a decent quality of life.
Although, it's fair to say that I have been through a lot worse than the way my life presents itself right now (maybe I'm selfish) but a good success story doesn't go a miss to build up your hopes for a positive future, and positivity is something I've been lacking lately. And, since it's positivity that gets you half way to your positive future, it's an important topic to be discussed.
I better stop, I can feel my thoughts getting carried away on this one, I'll be talking about quantum physics shortly!
mico
Hi Vern :)
I don't know anybody who has recovered fully from anxiety....but talking from my own experiences, I thought I did at some point in my life as I felt much better, it was certainly a big "up" in my ups and downs.
<b id="quote">quote:</b id="quote"><table border="0" id="quote"><tr id="quote"><td class="quote" id="quote">and different phobias?</td id="quote"></tr id="quote"></table id="quote">
Yeah I do believe you can overcome some phobias (talking from experiences again)....I had flying phobia (or at least a huge fear of flying) until I actually decided to face the threat, and by doing so, the phobia has gone.
I am not so sure right now if its ever possible to be totally cured, but I do believe in coping and managing better , which of course isnt always easy.
Maybe , for some of us, some "scars" went too deep that they can't really heal.
Take care.
Florence.x
**A friend is one of the nicest things you can have, and one of the best things you can be.**
well i am prob repeating myself now but, i have been of meds for 3 months but new i could have come off them a lot sooner, just chose to be on the cautious side, and i have been really good having found this site has helped me stay on the right path to recovery where i think i may have slipped had i not found this site, i have had many years 20 at least that i have had those fears, and now i just have had enough, i know what to do try and calm myself, i still have my blips, but i think im in control, basically through to the advice i have read on this site, i can honestly say i feel better than i have in years, but its down 2 posittive thoughts and ignoring the bad ones sorry im babbling its to late for me lol anyway its just a thoughtnight guys xx
kairen x
thTS great Kairen It helps me to, specialy nice people like you. take care. Vernon
Hi everone,
Just caught up with this thread...and wow its an interesting one. I have also been struggling with trying to figure out how much better I will feel in the future. As a "new" sufferer, my counsellor has indicated that I need to accept that I have a problem, but I really don't want to, because I fear that that will mean that I will be like this forever:(
I have an idea for anyone that is game....I think that for us new people, or the many that are currently suffering, that it would be useful to read more detailed success stories. Like details about how bad you were before, how you dealt with it, and how you feel now (or what you are able to do now compared to before). I for one would like to hear from people who are even 50% better...anything to give me hope. I know that there is a Success Stories area, which I find helpful, but I for one don't know how these people were before, so its a little hard to put their successes into context. Does anyone else think that this is a good idea?
Lisa
PS. Aiming for 95% (here we go with percentages again!), but even hitting 50% at this point would be wonderful!!
PPS. I'd be especially interested to hear from people who had to take time off work, and then successfully made it back to the working world! Plus tips would be appreciated
Lisa
Just on the tail end of this subject and what an interesting one.
My mum has suffered anxiety for 30 years after a spate of panic attacks but has never had another one. She has taken Valium every day since, (which is not my way at all) but she is now 75 and has continued to have a good life working full time until her retirement, go on holiday alone several times FLYING!!! she unbelievably takes anadin everyday (scared about her heart) another thing I would never do and yes occasionally she does get down (who doesn't).
I think the difference between mum and I is that she accepted this might be a part of her life and learned to live alongside it, the same way lots of people have to do, plus she hasn't been ashamed of it either.
My view is that I have become a nicer and more compassionate person and I too am aiming to stop seeing this as me being weak or inferior in some way. Yes I do have a problem with my nerves that occasionally gives me some horrible scary symptoms which limits what I can do but any person worth their salt is seeing me as so much more that. Anxiety is what I have - not whole of me !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Whoa - go girl!!!!! (glad I got that off my chest).
I think in conclusion what I'm trying to say is the cure is in acceptance (been reading way too many books now) and admitting it to people where appropriate and then getting on with things.
I actually could go on and on here as I really think so much of my proud stubborn nature has perpetuated my anxiety, and I think that I am finally making some positively good changes. (Meg you shouldn't have got me onto those books you recommended - I'll be tree hugging next).
Love Piglet the pompous:)
<b id="quote">quote:</b id="quote"><table border="0" id="quote"><tr id="quote"><td class="quote" id="quote">I think in conclusion what I'm trying to say is the cure is in acceptance (been reading way too many books now) and admitting it to people where appropriate and then getting on with things.
<div align="right">Originally posted by Piglet - 30 April 2005 : 18:10:57</div id="right">
</td id="quote"></tr id="quote"></table id="quote">
Claire Weekes's books by any chance?
I've been reading her books lately after being continually recommended them on here, and I have to say they are as good as everyone says they are.
The idea of acceptance is something that isn't at all unfamiliar to me, in fact I have probably preached it to some extent. But the context in which she describes it has put it in a clearer light for me. I may be contradicting myself a little talking about acceptance now after my previous posts in this thread, but, hey, no one's perfect :D
Thanks for the recomendation Vern
LisaD
If you're struggling with the idea of acceptance, I would reccomend you go and buy one of Claire Weekes's books. In fact, I'm off to write another thread about it now! [^]
mico
Piglet hi, I fully agree with all you say:)
Thanks Vern - much appreciated.
Love Piglet
hey there vernon, intersting question, unfortunately have to agree that i dont belive there is %100 recovery but i do whole heartedly believe that u can recover from the worst and live a vertually normal life. Ive been on medication 3 times in the last 8 years and while each time i 'fall back' i feel completely destraught i know that with time and patience and undertsanding i will get back on track to leading as normal a life as i did before, there is no cure and there arent all the answers we want but coming to terms with and accepting is the most we can do, look forward and appreciate the good times instead of living our lives in fear of the bad....day by day!!! which leads me onto doddy:
while i appreciate ur view on this subject i do feel however that the majority of people i know are still living with this illness, there lives can be like before but there illness is always with them, the key is to rule the illness , not to let it rule you, which i completely agree with u on. Unfortunately some of us really are not strong enough to pull ourselves back from the brink. sometimes i have managed to overcome things without medication but others as much as i have tried it just isnt possible. you are possibly one of the lucky ones or maybe u just have more willpower, either way it is nice to know that it is possible but i think maybe u should appreciate that to each individual there problems however small to someone else are as bad as them next persons. everyone deals with things differently and i believe that undertsanding and sympathy is what is needed when somone needs a shoulder to cry on or some advice in there ear, sometimes facts just dont count, but advice and help is what makes the difference xxx no offecne meant here to u doddy x
beth xx
bettyboo,
no offense taken.
what i would say is that the majority of people you know how are still suffering is because that people still suffering come to sites like this, the ones who arent disappear of to there normal lifes........and yes they are defintely out there.
you say you have overcome things without medication, so it can be done and you have done it. I fully undersatnd that a shoulder to cry on and sympathy is needed but this isnt what makes the difference in the long term. educating yourself and managing the illness is what counts in my opinion. I agree with the fact that it may remain with you, but when you no longer worry about it then i class that as recovery.
I fully understand how one persons problem may seem insignificant to someone else but to them it is life or death, i know this as ive have been there........i remember that fear being so bad i just wanted to put myself in front of a bus.......but i never did.....i know how low this can make you feel.....as ive felt it......but i also know when you manage this effectively, with help and support that i truly belive it can be beaten.....
i think if you hold the view that this will be with you forever just that thought, which is a worry, it is how you respond to that thought. if you think it will be with me forever as bad as ever then this second worry makes the first worse, if however you think it might be with me forever but then again it might not and if it is then it might ease massively or even go away then i prefer that option., why not think ok its with me now but perhaps it will ease and when it eases the spiral turns the other way and all the opther horrendous symptons ease........accept that it there, let it be there, let it do its worse but still carry on, still do what you want to, still make plans, still try and carry on...........and it eases........well it has for me and im no different from anyone on here, no stronger, just accepted it as it was and got on with my life..........as life is to short to worry about it.
i understand that my reply might of sounded harsh bethyboo, but I am adamant after dealing with people like meg, how know leads a completly normal life, that this can be put into your past.
i would not consider myself one of the lucky ones at all, what i would say is i was one who just refused to allow this to beat me, perhaps this in the beginning was a failing as it made things worse, but i am defiantely one who now just accpets it being there, and when you can just let it be there without worry then you have it beaten......as time passes and it slowly gets easier and easier.
lucky is not a word id associate with what i have been through, lucky perhaps in the sense that i found this site, lucky to of met someone like meg, but not lucky really, just fortuante.
what we perhaps should consider is that we are lucky to have the opportunity to fix this, lucky that our destiny is in our own hands. I wasnt go to raise this, only meg knows about it, but my wife, after and epileptic siezure 2 months ago was diagionsed with a brain tumour last thursday, now she is unlucky as her life is now in the hands of others, she has to see what can be done, whereas we, we can do this ourselves, we can make this right.
no offense intended bethyboo....this topic of recovery is just one that i truly belive in.
doddy
hello doddy, am so sorry to hear about ur wife and know that this must be a horrific time. i both admire ur courage and determination it took you to overcome this illness and it DOES give me hope that one day i can live a life without fear. But it is a hard one lol.
Last year i for the first time had been medication free for a year and had for the first time become an lsa with learning difficulty children which i loved. I completely felt free of anxiety and was for the first time in years truly felt that i had overcome it. then out of the blue i had the first panic attack at work, i thought , right u know what this is, dont allow ureself to worry about it, just accept that u had one and take ur rescue remedy, think positive thoughts and u will; be fine. I went back to work and was fine for a week, panic free and felt very positive, then it happened again, and again and again, i sat in my bed and made myself have a good cry, and thought ok, ur dealing with this. but it doeant stop. i have 2 young kids and have no help from there dads, all my family moved to wales last year and while i have freinds that are great, nothing, no amount of positiveity and acceptance of what was going on could change the fact that i had over the space of a week become completely detatched form reality, my children were unfamiliar to me, i couldnt eat, sleep, clean anything at all so i had to go back on medication unless i was prepared for someone to take my kids away and have them put in foster car untill i was better. Im straying off the point here lol, but i do believe and respect ur positivity i just need to make a point of that sometimes it really isnt a choice. my freinds are people whom i have grwon up with not met on the internet, two of whom have been sectioned for various mental problems and one who suffers the same as me. we are all normal people lol, but i was trying to explain, like u said ureself, u accept what u have, i dont let it rule my life but i do undertsand that while some people can have the ability to cope and change, i know it will always be with me and im just awre that it can come at any stage for any reason, it isnt that i live in fear of it, it is a fact. thanku for answering my reply, u sound an inspiration to many people and for that i have complete respect xxxx
beth xx
bethyboo,
I thank you for your reply and kind words.
it was great to read you had a great year, sorry to hear about it coming back. I do belive though that when it does come back, as it has to me at times i just dont get involved with it....i know how hard that is.......but i just let it be there, annoying and as upsaetting as it is...just let it be there and distract myself..........and after is has passed i really dont think to myself well what if it happens again....i just move on......it might never come back again but if it does so what......if you have the ability and resolve to have a great year then i truly belive you have the ability to overcome this permantely........it just proves that this condition isnt permanent if you can have a great year, all it proves is that we are more vunerable than most to panic attacks but on the flip side of that we are more prepared, informed, and ready for it than most....
i have learnt now that im not invincible, that things do there toll on you, that asking for help is no weakness.....more like a strength and that im perhaps never going to be the same person as before but what i feel is that im actually going to be a better person for it......lol....still can be a quick to jump of the mark and dive in....but thats just me...lol
i know that im lucky in the fact that i have clsoe family, close friends, and hate to say it but i could pay for cbt staright away after being diagionsed and im sure all this is a help......but...and this is a big but...the most useful help i ever found was on here, the best support i ever found was on here...and the best advice i ever recieved was on here............and this made the difference.
i truly admire all the people on here as i belive we are amongst the most courageous people on this earth....as we have suffered horrendouly but are still here fighting.....or should i say accepting!!! lol
take care
andy
<b id="quote">quote:</b id="quote"><table border="0" id="quote"><tr id="quote"><td class="quote" id="quote">i have learnt now that im not invincible, that things do there toll on you, that asking for help is no weakness.....more like a strength and that im perhaps never going to be the same person as before but what i feel is that im actually going to be a better person for it......lol....still can be a quick to jump of the mark and dive in....but thats just me...lol
i <div align="right">Originally posted by doddy - 03 May 2005 : 23:10:27</div id="right">
</td id="quote"></tr id="quote"></table id="quote">
Regarding the above by doddy - this is a lesson I've learnt too (the hard way).
Love Piglet
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