I have suffered from anxiety since I was 18 years old – I am now 31. Every few years I experience a long period (1 to 3 months) of anxiety filled days. Every day is in complete panic mode. I recently have given birth to a beautiful baby boy (7 weeks old). The birth was brutal and my first child so I was not sure what to expect and what I went through was a complete shock. I have been told that I have developed post traumatic stress syndrom from the birth, plus have post partum depression and three days after I got home with him the horrible anxiety set in! I came across your book and have found new hope and a totally new approach to handling this “beast”. One thing that I did not notice in your book is any reference to why we associate anxiety with certain situations and certain objects. I unfortunately have linked my anxiety feelings towards my new son and it is breaking my heart. I get paniced when I have to pick him up feed him or change his diaper. I know that this is just a nasty trick my brain is trying to play on me, but then the guilt circle starts and the thoughts “You’re not going to be able to love him right” – You’re never going to be able to handle him without linking some kind of anxiety to him…etc. etc. Why does this happen? I was told by a therapist that this is because anxiety or what I like to call the “beast” likes to attack what is near and dearest to our hearts. If you have any suggestions or helpful info to break this torment, I would be more than greatful. It seems to be what is fueling my anxiety the worst! I love your book and it is wonderful to see anxiety spoken through the eyes of someone who totally understands what I am experiencing. It makes me feel normal for once.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Thank you so much for your efforts and devotion you have put into helping so many strangers!

Colleen, CA

I have suffered from anxiety for as long as I could remember
and have read many different schools of therapy trying too work out what I had and why I had it. I read your book and in front of me was the reason and the answers and I thank you for that. As you know anxiety is a very lonely place to be and I’m asking do you run workshops or know of any groups of sufferers who meet or would like too meet.

I look forward to your reply

Thank you again
David H

I am so keen to keep moving on with my recovery

Hope you are all well!! This blog certainly seems to be really busy these days, which is really good…well done Paul, your post obviously hit the mark with everyone! I just thought I’d post some positive things on my recovery…feeling quite a difference in my every day recovery now which is great, all thanks to everyones advice. As usual the girls were totally right in that i wasnt quite accepting how I felt and kept challenging it, subconciously. Things are really on the up I think, my appetite is back at full force…which for once I’m glad of haha! i’ve had two weeks in a row where I’ve enjoyed my horse riding so much more, I’ve started playing badminton for 2hours of so every week – I actually feel I have the energy to do this which is great. Sleeping is alot better and I’m making sure I socialise alot more, going to the pictures, visiting friends etc. I’m a wee bit annoyed at myself as I turned down 4wks work in Dubai next month, due to how I’m feeling (plus we have a really busy workload)…avoidance I know, but I quickly got over that because I know my body well enough and at this stage it may have set me back a little and I dont want to let my work down. The opportunity will happen again with work though, so something to look forward to!!

Anyway, just wnted to say thanks for all the advice I received and I will keep going with what i’m doing – it’s strange how suddenly I feel what I’m doing is right, I think Paul mentions that in his book, how even through setbacks he still felt that what he was doing was the correct thing and that kept him going. The way i look at it is that ok I’m still not fully recovered and I have horrid thoughts every day, but my reaction to them has changed. Like a habit, it wont change over night and I’m willing to accept that.

Happy Days to all

evax

Thanks Paul

hi Paul candie & shirley,
I am far across the seas but i was there for quite some time and loved the place. you know what though m practising whatever paul is saying that total freedom..which he said..i wonder if i’ll ever be able to enjoy, without any strings attatched!!!
because whenever i feel happy all of a sudden it comes with a bang and reminds me of this thing…and phew…gone!! all the enthusiasm…and suddenly i start feeling nervous and start monitoring for no reason and i’ll say to myself hey leave it dont care give ur attention to whats outside and unknowingly its chaos or freeze..
so it blackmails me in a way to be happy.i am always under the fear of wat ifs and its so hard to ignore.
then i started practising of let go but each time its happening its a process …i dont know im messed up…and i dont remember to do things which i should which is obvious a mind preoccupied by anxious thoughts can never perform well …not even in doing their daily chores.
Paul…i feel its all in the mind..how about CBT or psychotherapies where in the root problem is removed by going to our sub conscious mind and telling it you have no such problem its just a creation of mind just a blip…will it do any good because its the fixed thoughts in the mind that has become a habit and keeps reminding you of this..what do you hav to say?just curious…

Yes, when i was at the height of my anxiety i was on here every day, in fact the page was never off my computer but then when i got better i necver came on here for probably six months, but i went a bit low over christmas and needed to be in contact again.
Which Country are you from? England or across seas?
Shirley

Edited: Just to let you both know that you can’t remove your own posts- maybe there was an error on the page or something. Only me and Paul can moderate and delete posts, although we only ever do this if they endorse other products or sites, or if its talk that doesn’t coinside with Pauls method of recovery- which is rare. Candie

even i feel better talking to other people but then people around me including my loved ones gets bugged and i feel sorry for myself and i cant blame them.

trying to please others and ending up with this dreadful thing is saddening.being good and nice to others all the time had taken its toll in my life its time i take care of my innerself.hoping for the best to happen in my life after months of suffering which other people cant understand and they expect a lot from u. i know i will be bak to my confident self but dont know how long it will take.

as u said it better to engage doing things that we enjoy.hope i’ll get over it in due course..