Setbacks Happen On The Road To Recovery
Have you ever wondered why people often experience setbacks when they begin to tackle their anxiety? Setbacks happen because, as you face your anxiety and the situations that make you feel uncomfortable, the avoidant/protective side of your personality becomes active.
When you decide to tackle your anxiety issue head on, the protective side of your personality would rather that you left well enough alone. Your protective side doesn’t like taking risks and feels better when you don’t put yourself in situations that make you feel anxious.
It’s the part of you that says:
“Let’s stay in our comfort zone today. At least we’re safe here.”
This part of your personality has your interests at heart, but you know deep down that a life cocooned from all adversity doesn’t lead to happiness. When you begin on your healing journey, it’s all new and it can feel like you’re moving into unknown territory. You quickly master areas of your life that were causing you problems.
Your protective side takes a back seat and watches with suspicion as you make this progress. Then, after a while, your protective side becomes more active for fear that, with all this progress, a great fall must be just around the corner.
As you move upward and onward, your protective side gets scared and tries to put on the brakes. This creates a conflict and fuels feelings of anxiety. The feelings can be very intense and might be similar to what you’ve experienced before-such as panic and general unease-or there may be new sensations never experienced before.
You might have been doing really well for a week, but then your protective side pops its head up and says something like this:
“Okay, well done. We’re not worried about dizzy spells anymore -fine. But what’s that ringing in your ear?”
“That sounds like trouble to me . . . LET’S GET WORRIED.
“No panic attacks in a week-great. But don’t be fooled. That means a really BIG one is about to pounce!”
These thoughts undermine your confidence. Suddenly you’re feeling vulnerable again, and the anxiety can return as your confidence dips and you obsess again about the way you feel. This kind of response is natural in recovery, and if you’ve experienced a setback recently, I want to show you how to best deal with it.
The first thing to remember is that setbacks happen. Try to never let a setback convince you that you’re not making progress. It doesn’t mean that all your progress has been undone. In general, setbacks are inevitable, and you need to have an accepting attitude toward them.
Secondly, setbacks form part of your healing. To move beyond the anxiety, you need to work with the protective side of your personality and teach it that there really is nothing to fear. When setbacks occur, it’s an indication that you now need to take your new understanding and work with your protective side, which is resisting the change.
You might want to think of that protective side as a small child who doesn’t want you (the parent) to take risks or do anything out of your comfort zone. Talk to this part yourself. Reassure it that all will be well and that it’s necessary for you to work through the anxiety in order to experience more freedom and happiness.
Setbacks can feel like a big step backward, but they’re generally followed by rapid progress on many levels if you engage fully with this protective side of yourself.
There’s an opportunity here for you to create a new working relationship with your protective self, and this will really seal your recovery. When you educate your protective self that you’re really safe and encourage it to take the steps with you, you become fully empowered to end your anxiety problem. All of your internal energies go in the same direction, and there’s no conflict.
Persistence will carry you through all setbacks and ensure your success.
Keep your confidence intact. Build it on the past, on each time you’ve succeeded.
Play those previous successes like a film in your head, again and again, each night as you go to sleep. All the panic attacks you’ve dealt with, all the sensations of anxiety you’ve felt and yet you still got on with it.
General anxiety disorder and, especially, panic attacks are probably the most frightening experiences a person can go through. In most cases, you feel like you’ve had a brush with death itself. That’s no small feat to deal with while on your lunch break!
Be proud of your experiences. You’re not a cowardly victim, but a survivor of a terrifying experience-and what’s more, you probably stayed at work or collected the kids from school. You continued living. Sure, there may be a few hairy anxiety memories in the past that you’d prefer to forget, but the underlying emotion to build upon is that you survived and you’re here now, alive and living a new day.
Build a wealth of memories, and they’ll be your resource from which to draw strength. Write them down, because that solidifies them and makes them more real in your mind. Read them to yourself regularly.
Be sure to keep a diary as written proof of the progress you’re making-the trips you take that weren’t possible before, the special days when you completely forgot you ever had an anxiety problem. You need to keep a record of these achievements because it’s easy for your protective side to negate the great strides you’ve made.
Confidence, just like fear, is contagious. Soon you’ll find it spreading to all areas of your life, giving you a quality of life even beyond your pre-anxiety days.
Always try to focus on the success you’ve achieved, and it will grow and expand in your life.
Persist with it. Turn a setback into an opportunity to solidify your real confidence. Regardless of what happens, you can handle it. Regardless of how your body feels, you’ll move through the anxiety and come out the other side smiling.
If you remain persistent, setbacks can be quickly turned to your advantage, and you’ll be strengthened by the experience.
Setbacks are delicate periods to move through, so you also need to be kind to yourself. Understand that they’re the result of YOU just trying to protect YOU. Be your own best friend. When you take your protective self by the hand and teach it that there’s nothing to fear, you’ll quickly march toward a greater experience of freedom.
Recovery is not a straight linear process. It will help if you try not to measure success on a day-to-day basis. Some days will be better than others-that’s just the way it is, so don’t get upset if you complete something successfully one day but fail the next.
Keep your eyes on the end goal, and persistence will carry you there.
What If My Anxiety Comes Back?
After a person has successfully moved out of their anxiety it is only natural, to at some stage, fear its reoccurrence. I call this the anxiety shadow. It is a worry in the back of your mind that the anxiety could return with full force and disrupt your life all over again.
Anxiety leaves such a strong imprint on people’s lives that it is normal to have such concerns. Fearing a return of anxiety is common when your life becomes stressful again and you worry that the extra stress will tip you back into a state of general anxiety. If you find yourself worrying in such a manner have faith that all will be well.
This worry is just a shadow of what has gone, it is based on the past not the future. Generally the anxiety shadow passes quickly after a day or two and you forget about it again. Remind yourself of the new tools and education you have. Take solace in the fact that your new understanding will lift the anxiety quickly again were it to return.
To your success…
Barry Joe McDonagh
P.S. If you have experienced an anxiety setback and want to get over it quickly, get the support and information you need in my course Panic Away. Stage 3 of the course deals specifically with overcoming setbacks.
Visit: www.panicaway.com
All material provided in these emails are for informational or educational purposes only. No content is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Consult your physician regarding the applicability of any opinions or recommendations with respect to your symptoms or medical condition
Anne
Every other day seems like a setback. Some days I think everything is normal but I am not. Everything looks the same but I feel different. Like the cloud passing over the sun. I love these emails they always remind me I am not alone. Continued thanks.
shailesh patel
hello,here shailesh from india,glad to say that even a your mails helped me most.Now thinking of placing an order for Panic Away.it has miraclous effect.god will give u long life.thanks ones again.
Geraldine
So, So helpful,
Thanks so much
Bhargavi
The article have been helping a lot.I am trying to make progress.Over a few or more years i have been suffering but i did not know the right reason…
mahmoud m. s
Now after that essay i would like to thanks you enough , i am grateful to you ,
thanks alo for being postive thinking , but what can i have improvement from my experience .
caroline cordy
Hello, I would like to say thankyou so much. I am 31 years old and having been suffering with panic attacks sine i was a child. They got very bad when i was 25 and i suffered a break down. Which with the help anti depressents and my family i came through it about a year later. They got really bad again about 12 weeks ago an di just cant do it again. So i seatched the internet and found your website and signed up for your mini course. In just two weeks it is helping me so much. The panic attacks are less frequent and i am dealing with them differently. Its hard but slowly things are improving. I am still managing to work and also going out and driving. Night times are still bit of prob but still alot better. Iam sitting here writing this and feeling ok…………..Amazing. Thankyou again.
Kind regards
Caroline
lito combalicer
i am taking steps one at a time and it feels great i wish i can soar like an eagle again soonest and bring my life back.
thank you sooooo much!
Terrance
I woke up this morning is this feeling i was loosing my breath and this happens frequently. So this morning i invited this feeling in and observed and labeled it and moved on to relaxing. and it worked I’m going to buy your program to get rid of this once and for all thanks for all your info .
Regards Terrance
Salwa
It is very amazing how u can take the time to write all this information that helps everysingle person that has suffered from panic attacks and anxiety disorder….ive been suffering for the last 4 years i was diagnosed as bipolar and know ive been stable for the past 6 months…. anxiety comes every once in a while when am gonna do somethhing i havent done in a while…. i stayed home for about a year didint want to go out always scared that i was going to faint or get a panick attack so now am trying to go out but to calm places where i can be calm….
reading this article just relives me even if i dont practice what u say it still makes me feel so good that there is someone out there that really understands and shares it with the rest of the people that suffer from it..
i want to thank you..
Regards from lebanon
Salwa
F
You have such a way with words its magical only someone who experienced this first hand could relate to conditions as well as u do. Your advice is priceless and i wait for ur mail every day.. god bless u and keep up the great work !
jenny
wow,wow,wow, thank you, thank you thank you ssssoooooooooooooooooooooo much. been suffering for the last 30 years. wow i feel good, thank you so much.
Bob Arora
Dear Berry
Thank you for the information on Panic away. I have read your daily mails and the corresponding pages and have started pracitising it. I have been suffering anxiety attack throughout the last 18 years but have never come out of it despite of the all the hard work. I am sometimes confused of the diagnosis or kind of given up on any natural cure for this (besides prescription from the doctor). Reading all the emails directed to you, i am now going to give this a serious try. I’m looking forward for more of your advices and really hope this works cause i am still skeptical about the success with my experience in the last few days. I am waiting for the day to be cured and like yourself would want to extend a helping hand to all the people sufffering this. God bless you and your family all the way.
Regards
Bob
robert fyfe
Thanks ever so much,These e-mails have been fantastic,i am learning so much and getting so much better,yes i do have setbacks but i’m glad i’m persistant,cause i’m just goin to keep on truckin,and get better,i;ve bin sending these e-mails to friends,and they greatly apreciate them thanks so much.your a life saver,
jenny
been suffering 4 thirty years now. wow wow thank you soooooooooooooooo very much, having good days, more than bad wow never thought that would happen 4 me. thank you.
Mary
i am 31 and i have never once had a problem with anxiety. then…all of a sudden…BLAM! i started to think that my life was never going to be the same. food didn’t taste good. my friends were no longer fun. things that i once loved seemed boring. with the help of this minicourse i am almost fully recovered! the best part is: i have a new tool in my toolbox. thanks so much for your generous work here!!!!
avantika
Thanks alot for this help. I’ve been suffering from anxiety continuosly for a few months. I had my first panic attack when I was around 16. Which continued for about half a year. It was fears about a particular person in my locality. Though I knew it was just my imagination I couldn’t get over the obsessive thoughts. But I made it through my anxiety. But last november, I was working hard for my exams. Suddenly my old fear started pouncing back. That gave way to various other fears(Some including fears pertaining to religion). I couldn’t concentrate on my studies and my life started fallind down around me. I was so happy before that. Irrational fears started gripping my nerve and the fear of the “unknown” started making m life a living hell. Many times I was pushed over the edge and thought of ending up my life. I knew what I was thinking was stupidity but still I couldn’t overcome. Later I spoke about it to my friends and strated researching on it. Thats how I came across your blog. Thaks sir for this help.
avantika
Thanks alot for this help. I’ve been suffering from anxiety continuosly for a few months. I had my first panic attack when I was around 16. Which continued for about half a year. It was fears about a particular person in my locality. Though I knew it was just my imagination I couldn’t get over the obsessive thoughts. But I made it through my anxiety. But last november, I was working hard for my exams. Suddenly my old fear started pouncing back. That gave way to various other fears(Some including fears pertaining to religion). I couldn’t concentrate on my studies and my life started fallind down around me. I was so happy before that. Irrational fears started gripping my nerve and the fear of the “unknown” started making m life a living hell. Many times I was pushed over the edge and thought of ending up my life. I knew what I was thinking was stupidity but still I couldn’t overcome. Later I spoke about it to my friends and strated researching on it. Thats how I came across your blog. Thanks again sir for this help.
noname
im working my way up and its really working so far. I am soo happy. thanks so much!!! I know in a little while I will soon get my confidence back. I have been suffering so much
Happy Feet
I first suffered a panic attack 30 years ago which got worse with each child I had. My eldest is 27 and the youngest is 16. I spent years thinking I was going mad. I had counselling and pyschotherapy which helped while I was having it but I never thought I would be free of it. I couldn’t understand it and any attempts to overcame fear nearly always resulted in disappointment and tears. I refused to take medication but after 18 yrs I needed to try something! My GP referred me, yet again, to the Mental Health Services in our area and I met a counsellor who changed my life. She was a straight talker who had suffered herself. I could see it was time to break the cycle and I agreed to talk to a psychologist who wanted to look at my diet. I also agreed to take anti-depressants. With the combination of a better diet, more water, less sugar and prozac, my life began to change. In the last 12 years, I have lived alone, remarried, worked full time, holidayed abroad and lived a full life. I have also shopped alone – which was my worst panic situation. The only thing I couldn’t overcome was supermarket shopping. I could not and still cannot stay at the check out with a trolley full of shopping. Then Tesco on-line surfaced – so, on the days that I didn’t have a fellow shopper, I ordered on line. I couldn’t see the point in getting hung up about trolleys and checkouts when I had achieved so much. Sadly, my Dad was diagnosed with cancer in May 09 and passed away in September 09. This has rocked my whole being and the panics crept back in. I lost the confidence to face my fear and slipped back into bad habits. The panic email about confronting your fear, ‘bringing it on’ and the 20 second rule reminded me how I got out of my miserable way of life. It really does work and I have gone back to the basics – healthy diet, plenty of water, reduce alcohol intake, good nights sleep and lots of natural daylight. Get out in the fresh air when you can. Luckily, I did not slip back too far and I can still manage to get to work. I have a wonderful family who appreciate me for what I am and although I have some way to go. I feel good in my own shoes.
manjola bishka
only before some days i read this wonderful material.i was happy when i learned that this panick attaks do not cause any harms to me.thank thank you.you gave hope to me.i love you.
Joan Lepore
Barry, Thanks so much for the mini courses. They have hepled me so much to understand what is happening to me. I never realized that there are so many others coping with the fear and anxieties that I have. It made me feel, I wasn’t alone, and gave me some confidence that I will be able to get my fears under control. I have read and re-read the material you sent me. I have found the 20 second countdown very calming. I’m taking one day at a time.
Thanks again. Joan
Jan Moore
Thank you for you info – have not had a panic attach in a long time – a few weeks ago someone really hurt my feelings and suddenly I felt worthless – went to department store the next day and suddenly felt like being around all these women shopping I felt the attack coming on – went home and got on computer – went to anxiety on computer and found you – thank you for helping me and all these other people.
Janie
Hi Barry, i have been doing really well, but a couple of days ago I had some thoughts going on in my mind and as I almost finished having my lunch, I had a small panic attack. I was with my husband and two children. I tried fighting off the sensation and started doing the 20 sec. countdown but only got to 10 and then bang it happened. I raced to the bathroom and threw up. I was disappointed in myself. But reading your lesson made me realise that I am doing well and having a set back is OK. I will move on. I have cut my Xanax 0.5,mg to only 1/2 a day. But on that day I had the panic attack, I took two halves.
Thank you again for your encouraging newsletters, keep up the excellent work.
Janie
andrea
Hi, thanks for the e mails I am finding then really helpful its nice to know I’m not alone with these feelings. I had my first panic attack along with an asthma attack in January whilst having a chest infection which i was given two weeks work of steroids for. It was the so scarriest feeling I’ve gone through, I felt like i couldn’t breath, dry mouth, dizzyness, diorrhea, felt cold, could think about anything else but panic, it lasted a few hours and passed but left me exhausted. I was fine for about a month then got toncilitis and was prescribed anitibiotics, after about four days I felt a little bit wheezy so I took my inhaler, but then started feeling the same as before panic, I think I though that I might have another asthma attack and all thoses feelings came back but this time it lasted longer and then turned to feeling worried, nervous, could not eat, could not relax, I went to see a nurse who told me that it was a fear of having another panic attack because i felt porly, she told me to tack deep breaths in throught the nose (count to 4) and out through the mouth, which do help with the dizzyness, I am also taking herbal Kalms (tablets) which relax me a little more. I am taking each day a time and trying to think possitive thoughts.
Thanks again
Dileep
thank you very much Joe.
lee
i do appreciate your invaluable tips… i’ve already felt reinvigorated and will try to go through… many thanks…
Samuel
Thank you for your emails or the course which contains basic steps which are very important to my life of panic attacks.I have arleady started feeling well and confident. Keep up the good work and look forward to more courses.
Samuel
carol
thank you so much for your help am feeling much better all sympathy to fellow panic attack sufferers
Ana A
Thank you so much for your help!
this helps alot im trying to recover from them and I need all the help I can get.
Knowing that im not going crazy is a great feeling
Jill
I have been suffering with panic attacks and anxiety for over 15 yrs. I have seen too many therapists, doctors, and counselors to count. Like most people with anxiety, I’ve read numerous books, articles, and spent money on medications. I saw Barry’s panic away article and clicked on it to read it. I figured it has been so long, why not keep looking for some answers. I’ve been receiving these regular e-mails, and tons of testimonies. It’s amazing that in just one week, I feel confidence building. The words are right on the money. FINALLY, someone gets ME. I was so sick of people not understanding, not having the symptoms I have. These are so accurate, I feel like he’s writing to me. Thank you so much for these e-mails and basic tools to use. I’m putting them to the test every day, and they are working. I look forward to reading the next one. I’ve tried so hard for the past 15 yrs. and now, I myself understand more.
Thanks again: Jill
Anne Honey
Well i have had anxiety for around 10 years now, as i look back i feel i have missed out on so much living. I was blown away on some of the readings, thinking to myself, WOW this makes sense to me. Last week i had to travel to a job interview i was held up in road works and felt a panic, i used the “Im going to give you (Panic) to 20 do your best, before i knew it traffic was moving again and i felt on top of the world, I then entered into a four panel job interview which took around two hours, half way through i felt tired and may have been “Mr Panic coming on, i quickly remembered the traffic i had conquered on my way and BOOM i was back in the game, i am now waiting to hear a reply from the interview, but i feel i have already succeed within myself . Thank you so much, i am finally finding my freedom of being me.
Suzanne
I’m glad that a friend told me about you. I’ve been having anxiety for meaning years. For years they kept giving me meds to take. Then I dicised to try reading books an get some help from my church. I just started in a womens group an going to church on sundays. Plus reading the bible an reading your course on anxiety an panic attacks. Thank you so much for sending them to my email. I was wondering about life coach that can really help me get over my fears. Its getting bad when i go to school now. Becuase I’ve been having to manying of them so I leave an I don’t want to go back , becouse I feel so scared an nerves of having it again.
Anne Honey
I have been offered a new job, higher pay, more stress, but good supports, today i feel some what anxious about moving from my current position, but i feel that my fear is normal, i am very comfortable where i am, but i need to go forward. Panic Away has offered me so much promise, i feel i can deal with so much more that comes to me. I am for ever grateful for this program
jide
thank u bro u have helped me in more ways than ul ever know .keep up da gud work!jay.and i am sooo cured thanks 2u man!
janet carrell
Dear Barry, you’re the first counselor in 42 years who has walked me through my GAD and massive panic attacks (w/O a drug prescription). Thank you for your course and this website–how very helpful to know that what we suffer is common. God has never let go of me and, I know that he led me to your site of healing. thank you so much for your caring work. Janet
Kojo
thanks bro, what you saying is true, i will put it to try.
Akram
Thank you so much , because of your mini-courses I really believe that I’m doing better after years of anxiety.
Stefani S.
First, I want to thank you for making these articles available to everyone for free. It’s hard to find this awesome advice without a price-tag. I’m only 18 years old, a senior in high school and I had my first panic attack in the beginning of March 2010. I noticed that it was around the time when I had started a new form of birth control and a higher dose. I was on birth control for 2 years with NO side effects, before this one. It first started in the middle of the night when I suddenly woke up feeling like I couldn’t breathe. It was probably just a bad dream and anyone without anxiety would have probably just fallen back asleep, but I couldn’t. I ran into my moms room begging her to rush me to the hospital because I thought I was dying. My mom, knowing it was only anxiety, (I don’t know how) would not take me and helped me calm down, although I could not stop shaking and felt sick to my stomach & dizzy. After that night, I had the same trouble almost every single night for the stupidest reasons. For about a week and a half I just accepted it and decided I just wouldn’t sleep if I couldn’t. Then it started hitting me during the day more so than at night. I constantly felt dizzy and sick with no appetite, always thinking something was wrong. I felt anxious at every waking moment and always felt like I was going to faint. I couldn’t sit through class and I would always end up in the nurse or going home early. My way of escape, for as long as I could remember was simply going to the gym and relieving all my feelings by running and working out “hardcore.” Then my worst nightmare happened, as I was running on the treadmill my heart started to pound and I felt out of breath, which is completely normal when you’re running 3 miles. I started to panic at the feeling and jumped off the treadmill as fast as I could, and went straight home, feeling anxious and scared the whole time. It was at that point that I had a fear of the one thing I loved to do, the one thing that made me feel 100% better. I had trouble going to work because I’d get anxiety and feel like I would faint and I missed so much school. I knew I had a serious problem. I couldn’t just stop my pack of birth control because that could’ve caused worse side effects. By the end of April when I could finally be done with the pill, I was eager to throw it away and get back to my life (my nighttime anxiety had stopped after about 2 weeks of it). For about the first week I was off it, I felt slight anxiety, but nothing major like before. As each week progressed I felt better and better. I started feeling myself again and could get back to the things I loved doing. I did have anxiety with a couple things, but nothing to the extent that effected my life before. When I had no anxiety, I wouldn’t fear that it would come back, I would think to myself, “I should have anxiety right now, doing this, but how come I don’t?” and at that thought, I would bring the anxiety upon myself. (IS THIS NORMAL?) I started a new internship last week, which involves me commuting every morning in to new york city. I drive, park my car, and take the train to my office. My first week, I felt anxious but only because I knew it was normal to feel nervous when starting something new. The feelings were not to a serious extent and I was able to make it through my day perfectly fine. After stopping the pill, my cycle was all messed up so I had no idea when i’d be expecting it. It was last week that I got it and realized that right around my time of the month, my anxiety shoots through the roof. But I knew why I was anxious, therefore I didn’t have a panic attack and managed to get through my days. I also noticed that I would get anxiety when I drank coffee (which is another thing I LOVED, and could no longer do.) So I cut coffee out, which made me feel loads better. Then, on Sunday, just the other day, I was feeling so good, and felt so good all week that I thought, “hey, what’s a cup of coffee, or frappe?” BAD IDEA. I experienced a panic attack due to the fact that my heart was racing, I felt dizzy and thought I was going to faint. It was my first panic attack after 2-3 weeks of success and thinking I had conquered it.
This upset me more than anything and suddenly I feel like my problems have all come back and I took 10 steps back to where I was a month or 2 ago. I’ve been receiving your e-mails since the first week when I experienced my first panic attack and they helped me. I save all the e-mails and when i feel anxious, I read through your e-mails and they calm me down and give me the reassurance that I need. Yesterday, after my first panic attack in a couple of weeks I called out of work because of the fear of anxiety, and went to church and had a somewhat good day. Today, i knew that i was forced to go to work and i had to do everything in my power to get myself here today. I hit traffic, and felt anxious. I got anxiety about going on the train. I had anxiety when i got to the office. but now, after a cup of chamomile tea, and reading through your e-mail about setbacks, I once again feel free and like I can breathe. Thank you a ton, and although i’m making slow progress I want to buy your program when i get the money for it. I would love nothing more than to speak with you personally because of all the questions & concerns I have. Thanks a ton for your e-mails, keep them coming!
abdul
Hi,Barry,i appreciate your contribution and giving people hope to the road of cure , you’re wonderful person .
Yesefa
Thanks a lot Barry,for giving everyone free access to these articles. I would never would have dreamt of having such an opportunity as this one.I’m still yet to go for counseling but this has already given me a reason to live, to take my life back- out of the control of fear.
Because of you I have hope for a better day!
Daniel
Hey everyone!
Wow, words are insufficient to convey my gratitude. I have been reading the follow-up comments to each newsletter and they have helped me immensely so I have decided to post my own in the hope that I’ll be able to help others like me. I am a 22 year old student from Scotland and I’m studying in Spain at the moment. I’ve been suffering from panic attacks for just over a year but they seemed to have been getting worse since getting here and I just assumed that everything would go back to normal when I got back home to Scotland, but I had two really bad panic attacks and sought the help of medication for a while to help me achieve the most basic of daily tasks, like going to the supermarket or bakery without panicking. I constantly felt shaky, as though my head was spinning, I had sweaty palms and I just wasn’t able to enjoy myself at all. I knew that I couldn’t depend on medication forever and after discovering this program I’m feeling great! I even went to a bakery where I had a bad panic attack a few weeks ago this afternoon and which I’d been avoiding ever since, told myself that I was going to be okay and it was! Don’t let yourself get knocked down if you have an attack whilst following this program, pick yourself up and keep going with it because there is light at the end of the tunnel for us all! I’ve even found the simplest of things, like smiling and laughing more, to be a great help in changing your bodies emotional balance, and now I’m smiling and laughing more than ever! 😀 Good luck to you all!
Sheila
Am making huge steps in my social life and this couldn’t have come at the right moment! Very helpful tips to overcoming anxiety. Many thanks and keep up the good work.
Janet
Thanks for your information. The anxiety makes one crazy and is very scary. I have been to the emergency room several times over the last 10 years thinking I was dying. Life can be complicated and yes, learning how to live through the anxiety is a spiritual adventure for me. I am trying not to take a drug to control this, but I have found one that helps ease me out if I am feeling panicked. Anxiety seems to me to be a product of many things one of them being we are very sensitive people. I am thinking much of what I experience is a push to walk the spiritual path. I seem to be propelled to a higher and higher purpose: To know my divinity, my connectedness with the all that is. I can still have fun too. Barry, your gift to us will be returned to you with great abundance. Thanks,
Eda
this miniserie about setbacks is the only problem that i must control. i am better now couse of your miniseries. they have helped me so much.i was suffering of panic attack for about 6 months,i am only 21 years old. thank you very much. if you have any information about how the setbacks, i will be happy if you send me,you will help me so much. thank you again
farieda
I thank you for you emails. I have been suffering with general anxiety & panic attacks since August 2005. I can say that it has been to such an extend that I feared leaving my home. I have been receiving your emails now for thte past 6 days and can tell you that I it has helped me a great deal. I just came from lunch now and had to share my experience with you. I went on lunch and travelled by public transport to and from town. Went into shops, stood in queues etc, alone. I did have a panic attack. Thank Allah for letting me come across your website. I have been retrenched from work now as well, but it didnt set me back, it actually gave me hope that there is something better, before I wouldve had panic attacks and anxiety attacks but your advice has helped me a great deal through the grace of the Almighty. Thank you, once again
ann
I am still receiving your e mails and I am printing them up to keep. Thank you so much. I think I have learned to face them and not be frightened of them (most of the time). I still need reassurance from my doctor but on the whole I have my life back
You are a wonder Thank you so much
Ann
Ann
I believe all of us on this site need to get out of ourselves (me included) and do something for others. I live alone, have a few friends, but this anxiety is something that is not understood by someone else, or hardly ever. I have one female friend who is used to having panic attacks, so she understands. I am going to sign up with our Literacy Outreach to teach someone to speak English (probably a Latin person of either gender). That will put me in touch with others, and get me out of this ME situation.
Ali Naeem
On first of January this year I responded by writing as follows: (comment No. 34 above)
I have been reading your daily emails and the corresponding pages for the past few days but not leaving any replies as I wanted to first try your advice and see if this is really going to work for me. It sure seems to be working as the information you provide is so logical, meaningful and effective for me. Today I decided to leave a reply mainly to convey my heart-felt thanks for this particular note on setbacks you write about. I have been following your advice for the past few days and all seemed to be working until today when I suddenly felt a setback. Just now when I check my emails, as if you somehow knew what had happened to me earlier today, here you are! Talking about setbacks… There is no way I could have know what got hold of me today if not for this new information you have sent today just at the right time. Thank you once again for becoming my savior………………………
………………….. After going through so many websites I realized I am not alone. I continued to study and I stumbled upon one striking video clip “Panic Away” which I found so helpful to explain my wife and family what exactly happens to me. Until then, I could not communicate to my loved ones in a coherent manner what goes inside me. At that moment I knew I have found someone who must know the way I feel. I am so thankful to you for helping me understand what my problem may be and how I may be able to regain my “self”.
So I have decided to write to you to let you know how thankful I really am for the work you are doing in helping so many out there who’s lives are being tormented by this terrible condition of the mind.
Thank you again and again……………………
The above is part of what I had written on new year’s eve this year – to show my gratitude to Barry for his work to help people like me. Since then, I have been reading through all the responses by people like me.
I have decided to write here once again because I want to share my happiness with all who have written here. I wish to let others (like me) know how helpful Barry’s advice has been for me. During the interim period (since I have written here first) my journey on the road to recovery has been progressive. Six months on, I can say I am cured almost completely. I have come out a better person – one who knows how it is like to live with and without GAD. Thank you Barry.
Caroyn Snuggs
Dear Barry,
I have just finished reading Panic Away and I am very hopeful. I have General Anxiety Disorder and have been on medication for the last year. However, the anxiety didn’t get bad until one month ago and I had a crisis and was hospitalized. I am currently taking tranquilizers but I want desperatly to get off medication. I am so thankful for your E-mails it gives me much courage. I have always been a high achiever in life and this feels so much like failure. I want my life back and I am praying that your courses will get me there. I am willing to work hard and apply all the techniques. My husband is very sick and has a terminal illness and that too is a complicating factor. Again, thank you for what you are doing. May God Bless You. Carolyn
Katie Brandt
I find it is useful to address the negative comments in my head, thank them for presenting themselves and tell them that I am moving on and not dwelling on the thought