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Maxine's cbt progress.
Hello my name is Maxine I suffer from Agoraphobia and panic attacks and as some of you may already know im starting my No more panic CBT on friday the 4th of Febuary.
So i have decided that i shall use this forum to fill you all in on my progress and also i'm working on the basics that at some piont during this im going to need some encouragement,(and of course i can rant freely!!) :D
Well anyway this morning i recieved my cbt course papers,to be honest my first instinct was "how do i get out of this" silly i know ,but after about half an hour i calmed myself down and relised I WILL BE FINE!!
I had to tell myself that about 10 times but it worked.
Oh,for anyone who is intrested my group leader is called Lynne.
And also if the people on my group(you know who you are) want to post here too,please do so i would like to see if you are all feeling the same way about the CBT as i am.
O.k thats enough ranting for one day but i will keep you all updated on my progress.
Thanks for reading this.
Keeep your fingers crossed for me!!! :)
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Maxine --
All the very best to you for this . We are with you all the way !!
Meg
www.overcominganxiety.co.uk
You cannot conquer fear until you have learned what it is you're afraid of. The enemy is ignorance. Vivian Vance
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Hi Max
Good idea, I'll be looking forward to seeing how you get on. And yes, I'm sure you will be fine.
Good luck
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Good luck with this Maxine.
Karen
It is not easy to find happiness in ourselves, and it is not possible to find it elsewhere.
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Hi Maxine:D
GOOD LUCK.
:D:D:D:D
LOVE JILLXX
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Great idea Maxine cos you have a record here and we can help you and support you along the way.
Good luck!
xx
Nicola
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Hi maxine. Good luck. take care, Vernon
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Hi Maxine,
really interesed to know how you get on, good luck and all the best to you.
blessings
moon
xxx
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best of luck maxine
let us know how it goes
camilla
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good luck im sure you will excel take care and let us know how you get on xxxx
Love Sarah-Jane xxxx
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Hi guys,
First of all thank you to those who replied you good wishes are much appreicated.
I'm feeling okish about starting the CBT still a little nervous but I'm hoping that will disappear once it starts.
Anyway i thougt i'd post up what exactly CBT is or at least what the NO more panic CBT involves for those of you who are intrested in possibly doing it at some point so here goes...( get comfy this is going to take a while:D)
Ok first of all you get a form from no more panic you fill it it then return it of course and then your on a 4-6 week waiting list,
It took about a month before i got a phone call from nopanic he gave me a date and time and asked if that was ok for me, once i agreed the notes i am going to need where posted i recieved then a few days later.
Now what was on these notes i hear you ask, well give me a minute i'm going to tell you!! :)
I am doing group cbt so the first page tells me who is going to be on my group there are 6 people including me,all female and all suffering the same type of symptoms, it also tells you how to use the teleconfrencing which sounds quite odd at first to be honest.
As the group runs for 14 weeks there are diffrent tasks for each week it builds up slowly step by step(which is good because i was terrified they were going to tell me to go to the supermarket on my first week!!)
You are also give tips and advice on how to keep the conversation flowing and goals to set yourself so all in all it does't look to scary.
Oh and i had to laugh in the back of your notes it says that the group leader can ,well lead ,if the group does't have a natural leader, the first though that came to my head was i hope i can be quiet enough to not to get allocated the "natural leader" position!!:D
Right thats enough of me rattling on i hope i explained that ok.
Ok bye thanks for listening.
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Max
That is great news - I am so pleased that you are doing it.
It will be a BIG help and you WILL succeed at it I know.
Very proud of you mate
x
Nicola
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Good luck Max - I hope it goes well for you!! :D
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Hi Maxine
Good luck and i hope it all goes well
Lucy
xxx
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Hi All,
Just thought i'd fill you in on next weeks plans, first of all im going to be on the missing list, my computer is broken and needs to be repaired so i won't be online till at least Friday (Im going to be so bored without my chatroom mates!!) So dont worry i am still alive!:D
And I've got a new sofa being delivered on Wednesday and then my CBT starts on Friday.
AAARRRRGGGGHHH next week is going to be stressful if i can control my panic attacks next week then i can do anything!! [8D]
Well here's hoping i get my computer back before my CBT starts.:)
Thanks for all the good wishes guys your support means alot.
Ok then hopefully i'll see you all next weekend.
Take care
Maxine
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HHEEEELLLLLOOOOO!!
Well as you can tell im happy!:Dafter a very stressful week im feeling really good ! yippeee.
Well it all started on Monday,my laptop was picked up to be repaired and ive only just got it back but at least it appears to be working perfectly fine again.
Tuesday morning my bloody boiler broke down again, i spend 8 hours in the cold!
Wednesday my new sofa was supposed to arrive but the phoned me at the last minute and said it was going ro be saturday before they could deliver it! arrrggghhh.
Thursday was quiet but i was beginning to get nervous about the CBT.
Friday,( the first day of the rest of my life) I woke up feeling sick and anxious and on top of that i had to move all the furniture out of my front room to make way for the sofa,i thought it would distract me from the impending CBT,(it did't have the disired affect i was just annoyed as well as anxious!)
Well anyway I'll get to the good bit.. after stressing out the whole day and having panic attacks galore it was eventually 8:45pm (why does time seem to ground to a halt when your anxious?)I phoned the number i was given and guess what as soon as i started talking to Lynne our group leader i was perfectly calm!:DI could't believe it, all that panic for nothing i was fine no problems at all.
The first session was really just breaking the ice getting to know a bit about each other ect and they all seem really nice I felt so comftable talking to them the hour past very quickly and now im really looking forward to next week.
I was gutted i did't have my computer so i could tell my mates in chat all about it!(mind you they'll be pleased i dont think i would have shut up!):D
Then Saturday morning at a very unreasonable hour 7am my new sofa arrived,it is the worlds nicest sofa, ok i admit a bit of an overstatment but its my first new one and im so chuffed with it.
So anyway that was my week all in all i was't as panicy as i was expecting and im really pleased ive started with the CBT now its the best thing ive done!:D
Sorry if i rambled on abit there i was getting slightly over excited.
Well now you know im alive and feeling fantastic!
LIFE IS GOOD!!!!!!!!!
Take care all
Maxine
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Hi Maxine
Fantastic news! I'm so glad the CBT went well. It was certainly an eventful week for you. I am sure this is going to help you get back on track again.
You've been missed in chat!
Karen
It is not easy to find happiness in ourselves, and it is not possible to find it elsewhere.
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Max
That is great news! I am so pleased it went well for you.
Sounds like you are going to enjoy the CBT and I bet it will get better over the weeks.
Sounds like you had an eventful week! Good to see you back online again and I bet you will be in the Chat room later lol.
Nicola
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hi im glad you enjoyed it andfound yourself more relaxed about it than you expected hope it keeps going well keep us informed
fan x
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Glad it went well max!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Speak soon tc xxxxxxxxx
~Laulz~
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Hiya all,
Well a wee update for you on the CBT, it's going really well, i'm suprised to be honest how much i am enjoying it.
I've been set my first tasks this week they are as follows....
Breathing properly i.e through the nose, in 2-3-4 out 2-3-4.
I've to practise that daily for 5 mins.
Relaxation tape,continue doing the tense and release tape daily.
And last but not least....... i've to stand at the open front door for 5 mins a day no matter how anxious i'm feeling.(so thats going to be interesting).
All in all i'm enjoying the cbt and this week it really gets going.:D
Fingers crossed for me please!
Take care
Maxine
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good luck you can do it! keep us posted
fan x
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Max
Great news - hope you are well.
Stick at it ok - you are doing great!
x
Nicola
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Hi Max
I'm glad you are enjoying it and it is going well.
You're doing great. Keep at it!
Karen
It is not easy to find happiness in ourselves, and it is not possible to find it elsewhere.
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Hi Max
We've spoken a few times in chat and I think it is great that you are prepared to share your CBT experience with everyone.
I recognise the breathing exercises. Amazing how relaxing they actually are.
best wishes
no one ever died wishing they had spent more time at work
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I'm glad that it's going well for you Max :D
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Help.... crisis occuring here.
I've been doing my cbt tasks and i was okish with standing at the open door so i decided i could go a bit further, i was feeling all cocky![8D]
Anyway i took a wee walk up my street and i was alrightish(apart from the very wobbly legs and the overwellming urge to leg it back home) when i was accosted by my bleeding neighbour who just happens to be a neighbour from hell and she decided she was in a good mood and wanted to talk to me, so i against my better judgement and being the poilite person that i am ,did't want to tell her to bugger off (she does't know about my phobia) had to stand there like an idiot trying despertly hard to keep myself together while she prattled on about her herion addict son, it was hell and after about 5 mins i could't control my panic any more and because i could't think of any decent excuse apart from (wait for it you'r going to laugh your self silly)I told her i was in ill with food poisoning and i needed to go to the toilet right now and i was sorry but needed to go and then i ran off and go home as quick as possible.
Now if it's not bad enough that my cow of a neighbour thinks i have a very loose bowels, and am also impolite, but the reason for my mini crisis is that i'm wondering if im going to be ok going out as long as no one talks to me, which kind of defeats the purpose of my whole getting myself together stuff.
I'm so annoyed with myself that i let that stupid women see me in a state.
HELP... sorry to ramble on, i just had a rubbish time and i'm in need of some reassurance.
P.s please excuse the terrible spelling, blame my loose bowels..[xx(]
Maxine
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your post amused me anyway............dont worry about how it turned out focus on what you did, you pushed the limits and got further than you thought you would so next time it will get easier you can tell yourself "i did this once i can do it again"...........good luck and keep going
fan x
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Maxine,
Don't worry what she said or thought of you ~ just think of yourself at the moment.
Perhaps your neighbour was just being kind ~ teaching you not to be too cocky when you open your front door! :D
Seriously, you will do great, and I think we are all guilty of being over keen sometimes. Its difficult to get the balance right.
Onwards and upwards......
Ray
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Hi Max
Don't worry about it, you done well. Sometimes we try our best only to be confronted by situations that make us feel like we aren't doing very well at all. It's an illusion, you're doing great! Don't let it get to you. If you feel a little knocked back by it all, then just go back to standing at your door for 5 mins, small steps. But if you feel up to it, try your walk again tomorrow, just remember to be positive about it whatever you do - and I know you can do that.
Good luck
mico
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Max
Things like this happen I am afraid but don't let it knock you back. Yes you will meet people whilst you are out and yes some of them will talk to you. BUT - you didn't die, you felt rubbish but that is all. Nothing bad happened to you apart from Mr Panic coming to visit you but he is always there waiting to pounce.
PLEASE please do it again tomorrow. Don't let this beat you ok - it only gets easier with practice and you need to stick at it.
Big hug to make you feel better mate.
x
Nicola
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I guess that God can be a ******* sometimes LOL! Just when you summon up the courage to do something brave a do-good neighbour decides to make herself welcome.
I agree with the above comments that you should forget about what she might think and concentrate on yourself. The fact that you had the guts to go further than planned shows you've got the courage to fight this thing. I think you should also be proud that you decided to be polite to her and didn't just run.
Good luck
no one ever died wishing they had spent more time at work
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Thanks guys, i was needing help to put things in perspective, i will attempt to give it another go today, and i'll let you know how i get on(hopefully that woman will stay in her house!):D
Thank you for cheering me up.
take care
Maxine
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Hi Max
Sounds like you're doing great.
a) You went up the street
b) You did more - ie talking to your neighbour
c) You did it for 5 minutes ( even though that was not part of the plan )
You get 3 Big ticks as far as I'm concerned. Well done.
Keep up the good work - you're doing great.
Best Wishes.
Mo
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hey maxine,
i think you've done amazingly well, don't even give that woman a second thought. hope you gave it another go today, maybe see you in chat later.
take care,
henri x
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Hi everyone,
First of thank you for your continuing encouragement it's really helping.
Last night i had my fourth session of cbt and i was set another task, i was to go to the top of my street again, but only go as far as i felt i could handle.
Well the brilliant news is that i only got in 5 minutes ago after i went all the way around my estate,(which is a quiet large) with people around saying good afternoon to me, i was jittery but not half as bad as i expected.:D
I've got renewed confidence, i can't believe i done it, god i'm so proud of myself.. i can do it, i really can.:D
I have to recommed anyone with agoraphobia does the No More Panic cbt just 2 weeks ago i could't get over my front door, now i'm walking around my estate....Im so happy i think i'm going to burst.
Well i just wanted to share my news with you all, thank you i could't have done this without your support.
I DONE IT!!!!!!!
YIPEEE...:D
Thank you all
Take care
Maxine
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Maxine
That is such great news and great progress!:D
A big well done to you and I hope you continue to do it again and again.
Big cheer for you[:P][Yeah!]
xx
Nicola
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Hi Maxine,
You are doing so well indeed.
Daily walks now . How great is that !!
Meg
www.overcominganxiety.co.uk
You cannot conquer fear until you have learned what it is you're afraid of. The enemy is ignorance. Vivian Vance
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brilliant going maxine keep it up
fan x
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nice one max! u r making great progress, keep it up and u might get 2 gold stars next week!
x banana x