Where are you in your recovery?

[Thomas]

I've been doing really well recently. Can't remember the last time I felt anxious in a social situation. I think reading 'how to make friends and influence people' has really helped in this. It taught me how to make a good impression on people, and it's actually very simple - just ask them questions about themselves and then appear really interested!

Also I've been going to the gym several times a week. Having a busy lifestyle means I simply don't have time for the negative thoughts to creep in. I just get on with things, talking to people all the time and not being phased by it.

Wouldn't say I was entirely cured yet though. I still don't have a gf which is a big issue eating away at me at the moment.

[Celine]

Originally Posted by herb

Isn't it amazing how we can change our thinking and lives so much for the better?

Originally Posted by silver-lining

Agreed - my mind automatically thinks in CBT-style now!

Mine too. Isn't it amazing how we can totally turn our thinking/life around

[mhealer3]

i feel that i get a lot of positive things from the folks here.

but yes, SA discussions can be depressing.
since we all have good days & bad days,
on our better days-- please come here to
say something encouraging to the rest.

that way we each contribute something &
continue being supportive (instead of entirely dismal).

keeping it in balance.

[Sphinx]

Beginning to understand the importance of small steps. I've put some things in place which feel achievable (support groups, volunteering) and I'm just at a point where I need to put my plans into action.

It's terrifying but I feel mentally ready to try and push myself again.

Not giving up is the most important thing!

[Icklebitt]

Im back sliding fast, or more likely coming to see how any progress i had made was not real :$.

[neilm]

Stalled for the last year or so.

Might even have slipped back a wee bit lately, but trying to remain positive.

One thing's for sure, Ime going to have make some changes in my life in the coming months, otherwise Ime going to be heading for reverse gear as opposed to the current neutral.

Still things could be worse.......

[Vanessa]

I haven't really done anything to improve the situation, so I can't say I'm anywhere in my recovery. I think it's gonna be a while before I start doing anything helpful for myself

[951thompson]

Getting there!

[Twoflower]

I actually think I'm going backwards :/

[TommyGun]

I'm standing still.

[Candyman]

I've come to realize progress doesn't occur as a straight line...it goes up and down, but hopefully it's progressing upwards overall. Often times I'll make progress and slide back and be depressed, but I think this going up and down is inevitable. You just have to accept that progress works that way.

I keep progressing in small ways, but I'm certainly not where I want to be. Although, lately I've felt like kicking things up a notice and plan to go to a weekly support group and do CBT exercises on a daily basis.

Sometimes if things are going okay you can become complacent and feel okay with your current progress even if it doesn't represent exactly where you want to be. That's the point I'm at now. I'm "okay" with my anxiety, but I know I could be better and want to get there.

[Phool]

I've been off meds for a year and its been a struggle especially in the early days but I feel more "normal" than I have felt in a long time.

Partly due to taking redundancy from a stressful job and travelling to India for a month which was stressful but also confidence building.

The job hunting is getting me down and I'm trying to stop myself from sinking into depression.

[herb]

Originally Posted by silver-lining

There will always be something to make progress on.

I agree completly

[herb]

Originally Posted by Celine

Mine too. Isn't it amazing how we can totally turn our thinking/life around

Here,here! CBT and exercises like the TEA form are amazing when practiced regularly

[wintertulip]

I'm not trying to recover. I've organized my life to have limited contact with people, and I'm happy with it. I am, however, making progress. I think that taking the pressure off and saying "I can stay in my comfort zone forever if I choose to" allowed me to relax enough that occasionally I find myself doing things that I didn't realize I could.

[Cleo]

Originally Posted by heather

Hey all!

Sometimes, when I'm having a bad day and reading this site, its easy to focus on all the posts about people who are struggling to get better and who are depressed, and I find that that then makes me feel worse and I end up feelin like I wana give up tryin. So, I was hopin tht people could fill out this poll and say how ther doin with their own recovery. Im hoping that this will give other people the chance to see that lots of people are actually gettin better and that it can be done.

Hope everys well,
Hev xx

Sadly, I won't make any progress until I move, which is the same as climbing Everest for me. Possibly the latter would be easier.

Theo

[Mr_Bean]

-Getting better at self-consciousness. I know people don't mean it threatingly.
-Supermarkets, I go in nearly every other day-still find hard regardless.
-Work, talking up more. Slowly learning it's healthy to express, rather than being too closed.

[Celine]

Originally Posted by Beck

Beginning to understand the importance of small steps. I've put some things in place which feel achievable (support groups, volunteering) and I'm just at a point where I need to put my plans into action.

It's terrifying but I feel mentally ready to try and push myself again.

Not giving up is the most important thing!

So true and good for you!

[herb]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Beck
Beginning to understand the importance of small steps. I've put some things in place which feel achievable (support groups, volunteering) and I'm just at a point where I need to put my plans into action.

It's terrifying but I feel mentally ready to try and push myself again.

Not giving up is the most important thing!

Originally Posted by Celine

So true and good for you!

Excellent post about small steps and not giving up

[Celine]

Originally Posted by herb

Quote:
Originally Posted by Beck
Beginning to understand the importance of small steps. I've put some things in place which feel achievable (support groups, volunteering) and I'm just at a point where I need to put my plans into action.

It's terrifying but I feel mentally ready to try and push myself again.

Not giving up is the most important thing!



Excellent post about small steps and not giving up

I can't stress enough how important small steps and a refusal to give up and not accept how 'you have always been" are in getting better

[herb]

So very true indeed!

[Celine]

Thanks Herb. I hope all is well and you are doing great

[herb]

I'm doing splendidly, thanks for asking

[cogent]

Very well thank you. Lapses, moments, still cycling but the distance between has increased and the ups are positive ups, not frantic, agitated, emotional nightmares...

All good in da hood, as they say...

[Celine]

Originally Posted by cogent

Very well thank you. Lapses, moments, still cycling but the distance between has increased and the ups are positive ups, not frantic, agitated, emotional nightmares...

All good in da hood, as they say...

Sounds like you are making good progress
Hope your Thanksgiving was good and Herb and everyone else's was too

[Mr_Bean]

some days I go so backwards. I don't understand it.

[jimrob]

I feel like I am making progress now I have seen a GP and counsellor and am starting to understand what exactly is going on. It made it a lot easier to cope with once I knew what it was and where it was coming from. Before then I just felt like I was going crazy.

I am far from being rid of SA, I still have very bad days, but I just feel a bit 'different' to before. I don't know how to explain it really. Not as erratic, I can contain it a bit better now and I have started to accept its here and its not something I can get rid of just like that. It feels like the start of a journey rather than the end.

In fact today, for the first time in ages, I feel pretty relaxed and my mind is really clear. I don't expect it to last but its nice to feel like this again!

[cogent]

^
That's a great attitude, jimrob. Well done, mate...
Hang onto how you feel today and remember that it gets even better in time, so should you hit a hurdle, it is only that, a hurdle to get over and you will get over it...

[Progress]

I would say virtually recovered (at the moment)
If one or two more things were to click into place, I might be able to say recovered.
But I do recognise the future is an unknown. If I get a period of time when nothing seems to advance I often get despondent and things can then slip backwards. But hopefully that won't happen.

[Zardo]

I like to think I'm getting better, but when I have to face the world it seems I'm just the same>>getting worse.