MSJade
03-14-2004, 02:48 AM
I've decided I have to finally do something about my anxiety. I was diagnosed with social phobia/dythemia about 17 years ago. Went on prozac and was cured of the dythemia. Still had the social phobia. Tried paxil about five years ago. It didn't help and it was hell getting off it. Finally, I had weight loss surgery, dropped 150 pounds and the social phobia/shyness has pretty much gone. Now I've developed general anxiety. About six months ago, I had an STD scare and have worried about that constantly since then. I've spent hundreds of dollars getting tested for the same diseases even when I was told I was fine. I've been drinking almost every night. (Usually just two glasses of wine which makes me tipsy because of my weight loss surgery.) I went to see a psychologist, but stopped seeing her for a while and now she says she doesn't have any openings. I had a psychiatrist give me prozac, but only took it for a while because I feel my problem is more related to anxiety then depression. I worry and think of strange scenarios about nearly everything. I cry so easily. I need to take hold of this, but don't know what to do. I feel like medical personnel have let me down. I'm trying to figure the best way to go about getting rid of this anxiety. Can anyone recommend a book or program to me?
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billy7772
03-14-2004, 03:08 AM
I've decided I have to finally do something about my anxiety. I was diagnosed with social phobia/dythemia about 17 years ago. Went on prozac and was cured of the dythemia. Still had the social phobia. Tried paxil about five years ago. It didn't help and it was hell getting off it. Finally, I had weight loss surgery, dropped 150 pounds and the social phobia/shyness has pretty much gone. Now I've developed general anxiety. About six months ago, I had an STD scare and have worried about that constantly since then. I've spent hundreds of dollars getting tested for the same diseases even when I was told I was fine. I've been drinking almost every night. (Usually just two glasses of wine which makes me tipsy because of my weight loss surgery.) I went to see a psychologist, but stopped seeing her for a while and now she says she doesn't have any openings. I had a psychiatrist give me prozac, but only took it for a while because I feel my problem is more related to anxiety then depression. I worry and think of strange scenarios about nearly everything. I cry so easily. I need to take hold of this, but don't know what to do. I feel like medical personnel have let me down. I'm trying to figure the best way to go about getting rid of this anxiety. Can anyone recommend a book or program to me?
The answer for me was cognitive behavioral therapy (cbt). I was on meds for many years before I found cbt and it cured me and got me off meds in a remarkably short period of time. Best of all once you learn the tools in cbt you have them forever so you are able to give yourself relief almost instantly whenever you are feeling stressed, anxious or down. It's all about using the tools to learn to think more clearly and accurately about things and once you do your anxiety, panic and depression will miraculously begin to lift before your eyes. My favorite starter book on cbt is "been there, done that? Do this! By sam obitz. It takes a lot of effort but is well worth it in my opinion. Like anything in life the more you put in the more you get out of cbt :angel:
Billy
The answer for me was cognitive behavioral therapy (cbt). I was on meds for many years before I found cbt and it cured me and got me off meds in a remarkably short period of time. Best of all once you learn the tools in cbt you have them forever so you are able to give yourself relief almost instantly whenever you are feeling stressed, anxious or down. It's all about using the tools to learn to think more clearly and accurately about things and once you do your anxiety, panic and depression will miraculously begin to lift before your eyes. My favorite starter book on cbt is "been there, done that? Do this! By sam obitz. It takes a lot of effort but is well worth it in my opinion. Like anything in life the more you put in the more you get out of cbt :angel:
Billy
MSJade
03-14-2004, 01:07 PM
Thanks, Billy. I ran an internet search on the book and ordered it. I'm also going to look more into cognitive behaviorial therapy. I believe some medicines can happen for short term, but eventually there is something you have to learn to help you cope the rest of your life. I'm going to try to stay in this group to talk to others who have gone through this and to try and help others much like one would do in a 12 step program. I agree with the quote at the end of your post. I have to do something to help myself.
The answer for me was cognitive behavioral therapy (cbt). I was on meds for many years before I found cbt and it cured me and got me off meds in a remarkably short period of time. Best of all once you learn the tools in cbt you have them forever so you are able to give yourself relief almost instantly whenever you are feeling stressed, anxious or down. It's all about using the tools to learn to think more clearly and accurately about things and once you do your anxiety, panic and depression will miraculously begin to lift before your eyes. My favorite starter book on cbt is "been there, done that? Do this! By sam obitz. It takes a lot of effort but is well worth it in my opinion. Like anything in life the more you put in the more you get out of cbt :angel:
Billy
The answer for me was cognitive behavioral therapy (cbt). I was on meds for many years before I found cbt and it cured me and got me off meds in a remarkably short period of time. Best of all once you learn the tools in cbt you have them forever so you are able to give yourself relief almost instantly whenever you are feeling stressed, anxious or down. It's all about using the tools to learn to think more clearly and accurately about things and once you do your anxiety, panic and depression will miraculously begin to lift before your eyes. My favorite starter book on cbt is "been there, done that? Do this! By sam obitz. It takes a lot of effort but is well worth it in my opinion. Like anything in life the more you put in the more you get out of cbt :angel:
Billy
billy7772
03-16-2004, 07:17 PM
Thanks, Billy. I ran an internet search on the book and ordered it. I'm also going to look more into cognitive behaviorial therapy. I believe some medicines can happen for short term, but eventually there is something you have to learn to help you cope the rest of your life. I'm going to try to stay in this group to talk to others who have gone through this and to try and help others much like one would do in a 12 step program. I agree with the quote at the end of your post. I have to do something to help myself.
Hi MSJade-
I think that is great! There are several people on this board at the same place you are so hopefully we can all help eachother :) Helping yourself is key as you noted in your reply to me. I just responded to lbp35 who just got her copy of the Obitz book and is loving it already so hopefully you guys/gals can meet up on here and work together on your TEA forms etc and I will be here to help to and try and answer any questions. I was on meds when I learned CBT and they were helpful in keeping me going until I found CBT but were never going to cure my problems. I was always told I'd me on meds the rest of my life prior to finding CBT. I still do the TEA form several times a week and whenever I am under stress and life keeps getting better and better :angel: I hope you have similar success :D I can recommend another great book if you like what you see in the Obitz book but I don't want to rush you so focus on the tools in the Obitz book first.
Take care and keep in touch!
Billy
Hi MSJade-
I think that is great! There are several people on this board at the same place you are so hopefully we can all help eachother :) Helping yourself is key as you noted in your reply to me. I just responded to lbp35 who just got her copy of the Obitz book and is loving it already so hopefully you guys/gals can meet up on here and work together on your TEA forms etc and I will be here to help to and try and answer any questions. I was on meds when I learned CBT and they were helpful in keeping me going until I found CBT but were never going to cure my problems. I was always told I'd me on meds the rest of my life prior to finding CBT. I still do the TEA form several times a week and whenever I am under stress and life keeps getting better and better :angel: I hope you have similar success :D I can recommend another great book if you like what you see in the Obitz book but I don't want to rush you so focus on the tools in the Obitz book first.
Take care and keep in touch!
Billy
MSJade
03-17-2004, 12:41 AM
Thanks Billy. I've gotten Sam Ovitz book and am reading it now. I hope it works for me too. I do recognize so many of the things I do like jumping to conclusions and I am going to try my best to work his program because I definitely want to rid myself of anxiety. I know I have to try and help myself. I've been thinking of getting a therapist that does CBT, but am having difficulty finding one in this area. I have never felt that me just talking about my problems were helpful. I remember the last time I was in therapy, I wanted my therapist to say something like you do recognize that such and such thought is pretty crazy. Never did just listened and sympathized which just didn't work for me. Just as Ovitz said in his book, I might feel better when I came out of therapy, but I needed something to help me when I was not sitting in the chair talking to the therapist. Teach me how to fish! I hope we can talk again soon!
Elana
03-17-2004, 03:00 AM
Good for you MsJade :) cbt has changed my life dramatically since I finished my group last summer. We used the Obitz book in my group and I think you will like it a lot as it breaks things down so simply (not a lot of technichal mumbo jumbo like so many self-help and psychology books) and has lots of good examples in it. Let me know if I can be of any help, but it sounds like you are definitely on your way to getting better :)
billy7772
03-21-2004, 02:24 AM
Thanks Billy. I've gotten Sam Ovitz book and am reading it now. I hope it works for me too. I do recognize so many of the things I do like jumping to conclusions and I am going to try my best to work his program because I definitely want to rid myself of anxiety. I know I have to try and help myself. I've been thinking of getting a therapist that does CBT, but am having difficulty finding one in this area. I have never felt that me just talking about my problems were helpful. I remember the last time I was in therapy, I wanted my therapist to say something like you do recognize that such and such thought is pretty crazy. Never did just listened and sympathized which just didn't work for me. Just as Ovitz said in his book, I might feel better when I came out of therapy, but I needed something to help me when I was not sitting in the chair talking to the therapist. Teach me how to fish! I hope we can talk again soon!
Hi MSJade :wave:
I love the teach me how to fish line from the Obitz book as that really hit home with me too :D
Let me know what part of the country you are in and I may be able to help direct you to where you can find a good CBT therapist. My therapy experiences sounds eerily similar to yours and it was soo frustrating to me.
I'm so glad you are starting to do the exercises in the Obitz book! :bouncing: The TEA form can be difficult to come up with answers in the final column at first but eventually it will get easier and if you are anything like me down the road they will be come automatic and enhance instead of destruct your life like the old automatic thoughts.
Take care and keep in touch! I'm proud of you for getting started on your recovery :angel:
Billy
Hi MSJade :wave:
I love the teach me how to fish line from the Obitz book as that really hit home with me too :D
Let me know what part of the country you are in and I may be able to help direct you to where you can find a good CBT therapist. My therapy experiences sounds eerily similar to yours and it was soo frustrating to me.
I'm so glad you are starting to do the exercises in the Obitz book! :bouncing: The TEA form can be difficult to come up with answers in the final column at first but eventually it will get easier and if you are anything like me down the road they will be come automatic and enhance instead of destruct your life like the old automatic thoughts.
Take care and keep in touch! I'm proud of you for getting started on your recovery :angel:
Billy
MSJade
03-22-2004, 01:22 AM
Thanks so much Billy & Elana! I'm in Maryland (Washington, DC suburbs), so if you can help me with a therapist to work on this I would be much appreciative. One of the things that cause me so much stress in my life is trying to be in a relationship. I want it to work so much that it causes me so much anxiety. A lot of times in my life, it has caused so much anxiety that I just give it up and be alone. Anxiety in the form of social phobia has kept me out of a relationship for the greater part of my life. Now its general anxiety thats causing my problems. I'm having difficulty doing the TEA on this though. An example is if I don't hear from my boyfriend on time like I do everyday, I assume he's mad at me and begin to panic. I go over everything that happened last time we saw each other or talked and if I can't figure it out, I think of crazy things that could have happened to make him mad at me. I'm actually pretty ashamed to tell people some of the things I think could have happened. I was able to tell my one therapist some of the things I thought and did and that's why it bothered me when she no longer had time for me. (I think she was just irritated because it took me so long to call her back.) So, I know I have two choices. It's either go back to being alone and finding other things to become anxious over (usually my health) or getting help. If either of you can offer any good advice or tell me where to find a group or therapist, I'd really appreciate it.
billy7772
03-23-2004, 11:41 PM
Thanks so much Billy & Elana! I'm in Maryland (Washington, DC suburbs), so if you can help me with a therapist to work on this I would be much appreciative. One of the things that cause me so much stress in my life is trying to be in a relationship. I want it to work so much that it causes me so much anxiety. A lot of times in my life, it has caused so much anxiety that I just give it up and be alone. Anxiety in the form of social phobia has kept me out of a relationship for the greater part of my life. Now its general anxiety thats causing my problems. I'm having difficulty doing the TEA on this though. An example is if I don't hear from my boyfriend on time like I do everyday, I assume he's mad at me and begin to panic. I go over everything that happened last time we saw each other or talked and if I can't figure it out, I think of crazy things that could have happened to make him mad at me. I'm actually pretty ashamed to tell people some of the things I think could have happened. I was able to tell my one therapist some of the things I thought and did and that's why it bothered me when she no longer had time for me. (I think she was just irritated because it took me so long to call her back.) So, I know I have two choices. It's either go back to being alone and finding other things to become anxious over (usually my health) or getting help. If either of you can offer any good advice or tell me where to find a group or therapist, I'd really appreciate it.
Hi MSJade-
Let me see if I can help you counter the boyfriend thing/thoughts first: Your thought when you don't hear from him is "He's mad at me." Clearly this is a jumping to conclusions error, now there are several possibly answer thoughts I can think of for this like: He's probably just really busy today, or: He's been late calling me before and he was not mad at me, or: He must have lost track of time and he'll call as soon as he realizes this. Don't be ashamed of the thoings you are thinking as getting them down on paper and identifying the errors and countering them are how you are going to start to feel better. Embrace those thoughts for now as they will eventually (once counterted in a TEA form) be what gives you your life back :angel:
I don't know any groups or therapists in your area as I'm in California but you can use a search engine and look up the ADAA and they may be able to give you a referral in your area. You could also call Boston University or The university of Pennsylvania's CBT program for a referral in your area as they are the top programs for CBT on the East coast. I hope this helps and feel free to ask me any further questions :wave:
Billy
Hi MSJade-
Let me see if I can help you counter the boyfriend thing/thoughts first: Your thought when you don't hear from him is "He's mad at me." Clearly this is a jumping to conclusions error, now there are several possibly answer thoughts I can think of for this like: He's probably just really busy today, or: He's been late calling me before and he was not mad at me, or: He must have lost track of time and he'll call as soon as he realizes this. Don't be ashamed of the thoings you are thinking as getting them down on paper and identifying the errors and countering them are how you are going to start to feel better. Embrace those thoughts for now as they will eventually (once counterted in a TEA form) be what gives you your life back :angel:
I don't know any groups or therapists in your area as I'm in California but you can use a search engine and look up the ADAA and they may be able to give you a referral in your area. You could also call Boston University or The university of Pennsylvania's CBT program for a referral in your area as they are the top programs for CBT on the East coast. I hope this helps and feel free to ask me any further questions :wave:
Billy
Elana
03-24-2004, 05:35 PM
I'm in Oregon so I am of no help as far as a group or therapist in your area sorry. I think billys advice on where to call for a referral is a good start as well as his counter thoughts about your boyfriend's calls. I think you will have more success in your relationships oncew you get good at using the cbt tools too :angel: