Victory moment- please feel free to share yours, too!

[Livelydively]

Hello, everyone. I started therapy again in February 2021. My therapist is amazing and has helped me immensely. I work with people experiencing homelessness who have mental health struggles so my job has been very stressful especially during the pandemic when shelters were closed. I have health anxiety related to a missed cancer diagnosis when I was 26. I am 40 now and have 2 boys (12 and 10)

I have been putting in daily work to help my overwhelming anxiety. It was causing me to shut down, not enjoy things, just going through the motions and I started having panic attacks. I had an aha moment last weekend when I went kayaking with my mom and brother. I was very anxious about going because I had never gone before and I am not a big fan of the water activities. It is my moms favorite thing to do. I was also really worried it would aggravate my lung disease and be really exhausting. I almost didn't go but I pushed myself and went way out of my comfort zone and just went with it. The feelings and physical sensations leading up to actually getting in the kayak were overwhelming but I just kept reminding myself "these are just feelings and I am safe". I also kept telling myself "I got this!" I got in the kayak and closed my eyes, took a deep breath and just sat there for a couple of minutes. I put my hand in the water. I had a spider from the dock crawl on me. I gently put him back on the dock and wished him well. I observed the trees and mountains in the distance. I listened to my mom and brother try to fix the seat of his kayak. I paddled around the dock area to practice. I took my time paddling when we got going and found a rhythm that worked for me. When I felt short of breath, I paused and recollected myself. It was exhuasting but relaxing. I made it through. We kayaked for almost 3 hours. We took one break where we docked and ate lunch. We went back to the campsite and I laid down for an hour. I got up and we watched a storm together and talked.

I realized that I make it through every situation even when I am anxious. I am safe and I do got this. I think we need to celebrate our victories and remind ourselves that we can overcome this. I still feel anxious as it is a natural feeling but I have had a easier time accepting my natural anxious feelings vs my catastrophic anxious feelings.

Please feel free to share your victories. I would love to hear them. Even if it is you got out of bed this morning. Thank you.

[Chase888]

So glad you have come out of this depression cos at the time we feel we will never get better.

Last year I was in a decline cos I found my boyfriend dead.

Was ok for 6months. Then it hit me.

Fast forward 2021 I perked up and began to do stuff.

Last night I decorated and am going to do the other wall today.

When I woke up today 1st thing I did was look at the wall and how good it looks.

I hope anyone reading this will soon feel better.

My mood may not last but today I feel happy

😁

[Livelydively in reply to Chase888]

I am very sorry to hear about your boyfriend.

Glad decorating went well! Hope it goes just as well today.

[Agora1 in reply to Chase888]

I am so sorry for your loss Chase xx

[Chase888 in reply to Agora1]

Thank you but he was a lot older than me and had C.O.P.D. and heart disease. I noticed the last 2 years he slowed up.

Love and hugs

[fauxartist]

I think my moment of victory came when my therapist of many years ago told me I was not alone with this, and that it was not my fault what happened to me as a kid. I also learned that some people just are not capable of giving, even parents. And that I was able to live with my stuff and not let my stuff dictate how I lived.

[Daveacr1959]

I’m proud of you.

[Livelydively in reply to Daveacr1959]

Thank you!

[Rafiki11]

What a wonderful story!!

I love how you talked to your anxiety without shutting it down! Your anxiety is just trying to keep you safe from all dangers…real and not so real. You reassured it like you were talking to your overprotective guard dog.

I just know being outside, exercising, and being with your family was nourishing for your soul!

[Livelydively in reply to Rafiki11]

Thank you for the kind words. It really was!

[Agora1]

My victory came the day I patiently and safely weaned off my years on Benzos.I got my life back once more and it was amazing. xx