Small goals.

I sat down in a restaurant today and didn’t have to get up and leave because I was having a panic attack!

Small victory’s my friends, small victory’s 💪🏻

Hope everyone is having a great Monday 🖤

[Agora1]

That is a victory morgues. Congrats. It's a good feeling isn't it?

Thanks for sharing. Life is Good x

[Hidden in reply to Agora1]

Definitely empowering.

[Agora1 in reply to Hidden]

For sure.. Somehow we walk a little taller.

[tamka38]

Congrats to u morgues12 small victory’s becomes big victory’s one day at a time

[Man_Down]

I’d consider that a big victory. Something that happens when you keep working and trying. Hope it gives you some satisfaction and inspires you to keep fighting. Congrats.

[Jeff1943]

That's certainly a victory, morgues12. And I hope you never have another panic attack ever.

But so what if you do? So what if you had another panic attack in a restaurant? May I suggest you don't walk out. Panic attacks make you feel awful. But they're not life threatening. They won't disable you. And they can't make you crazy. And of course they pass before too long.

So what about if you did have another one you just sat it out, ride the tiger so to speak. Imagine you are a rock on the shore. A large wave crashes against the rock, swirls round it and then pulls back. The rock endures. So why not be that rock.

To recover you have to pass through panic, not withdraw from it. It's fear of having a panic attack that increases anxiety that causes panic attacks.

So what if you just sat it out with a smug smile on your face. Think to yourself: "So I'm having a panic attack, so what? It can't destroy me and it won't last for long. I think I'll just accept it for the moment and carry on."

If you manage to do that a few times, facing the demon, you may find you lose your fear of panic attacks. You stop flooding your system with stress and fear hormones. Panic attacks thrive on fear hormone so when it dries up they cease to come.

So may I suggest, that's going to be your next victory maybe. If you ever have another panic attack (and I hope you never do) you just accept it for the time being, discomforting though it is. Accept it with the minimum of fear you can manage.

Acceptance is a good antidote to fear. It can help you start the journey along the Yellow Brick Road to recovery.

As the wise Chinaman said: 'The journey of a thousand miles begins with one small step.'

[Hidden in reply to Jeff1943]

I absolutely love your advice and for the most part I do ride it out but for some reason restaurants really bother me. I feel trapped, even though I’m not. And I feel like there’s too many people looking at me, even though they aren’t. It’s just a huge trigger for me.

[Jeff1943 in reply to Hidden]

It will be easier the next time you visit a restaurant. What I wrote is based on the teachings of Claire Weekes who described her acceptance method for recovery from anxiety and deoression in her first book 'Self help for your nerves' (U.K.) also titled 'Hope and help for your nerves' (U.S.) If you feel inclined to read it I think it will bring you understanding, reassurance and a path to recovery as it has for so many others. Either way I wish you well.

[Hidden in reply to Jeff1943]

Thanks so much for the recommendation!

[Hidden]

Wow that’s an amazing accomplishment! Well done and I hope you feel proud and empowered

Thanks for sharing 💕

[Anxiousdude]

That is so awesome. I somehow have switched off the panic attacks and have other uncomfortable symptoms when I’m out. Good for you!!