h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hello, Everyone

As promised, I thought I would tell you how this morning went .

I got at the clinic at 9.50 and the course was due to start at ten. I thought that I got the wrong day at first because nobody came until dead on 10.00 . I signed in but forgot to tell the receptionist I was there, so I had to go back and tell her that I wasn't sitting in the reception area for my health . Well, I was but its a figure of speech .

At 10.00 am my mental health nurse and his assistant led us down the corridors to a classroom building which was the art and craft room . There were about 6 of us which apparently was terrible, there should have been at least double that .

Anyway, we were told about the course and given a sheet all about Breathing Exercises. We were then talked through about what is anxiety, and given a diary sheet to keep to write down how we are feeling each day and after doing the breathing exercises . Also, a copy of the notes which was talked through during the 40 minute session.

I have done the course before but only as a one-to-one basis. The group session was okay, everybody was quite quiet being the first one .

I did struggle and felt quite panicky but glad I went and will keep pushing myself to go in the next 6 Mondays. It is difficult because I struggle to think and talk to people, the words just won't come out . Of course I am fine once I get to know the person and start to feel safe.

Once I get to know someone then I can't stop talking, Websailer will confirm that one .

After the course, I went into the day centre for a and a game of pool. I know the clinic well because of going for regular treatment and the day centre .

Anyway, will keep you informed about how the breathing exercises are going and the diary.

Take care .
Nigel .

Hello People,

I can confirm that once he trusts people he is very articulate and entertaining.

I shall be keeping an eye on him to make sure he does his breathing exercises. I might even join him.

If anyone else has experience of panic attacks etc. I am sure Nigel would welcome any suggestions.

Fingers crossed this helps a great guy

Websailor

Evening Nigel!

Thank you for sharing your day with us. I am so hopefull that it will be of good use to you. Also, here may be an additional outlet for all your frustrations; when you know it should be so easy to go out there; but it isn't is it? I actually do know to some extent how you feel. Going to a particular shop for something and then not being able to actually go in there - being in the library and moving on when someone else is standing where you want to be, because you don't want anyone near you.

Keep telling us about it.

Scorp

Nigel has asked me to say he is without Internet access at the moment but will be back as soon as possible.

Input would still be welcome as he can take a peak on my computer now and again.



Websailor

What a shame WS! He does seem to get the end of the stick no end!

Yes, he does rather, though I am sure he will admit that it was his own curiosity that did the damage! But for the grace of God!!!

He is trying hard to remain resolutely cheerful and he does have email via another source which is a relief. He is clever with computers so I am hopeful he can sort it.

I am keeping an eye on his threads in case any questions come up.

I will update mine later but it is time to feed PHM now!!

Websailor

Yes! Needs must

Hi Everyone!

Well, what a couple of weeks I have had. First the memory card burnt out inside the computer, then the coolent fan broke and had to be replaced, then the internet connection went down for a couple of days because of the router playing up .

I sorted all of that and thought it was working fine and then the computer caught a virus through a dodgy email, I have security software on but when I opened the attachment, a message came up asking if I trusted the source and I put 'yes' which bypassed the security and it was actually a virus which wiped the entire hard drive. I loaded everything back on which took ages, then we had severe lighting and it damaged the local connections so it was off again for a couple of days.

Finally, and fingers crossed, it is all working great again and are so pleased to be back on-line, I missed it so much and found it very frustrating and upsetting .

The anxiety management course is going well and will tell you more about it soon .

Apologies.

Nite, Nite

No apologies needed Nigel - it's great to see you posting again. I'm going to have to take my power unit to 'the man who does' 'cos the thing keeps hanging. I also get that pretty blue screen telling me windows has found an exception error and to remove any new hardware/software - there isn't any new either.

Keep the info coming.

Scorp

Scorp, I always dread that blue screen coming on. I've had it a couple of times and is quite scary usually with a lot of computer language on, which I can't even make head or tail of .

I am in Week 4 of my Anxiety Management Course and haven't missed one week unlike the others who seem to be dropping out as the weeks go. I think we had about 10 or 12 to begin with and on Monday, there were 4 including myself .

This week, it was about problem solving and ways to go about it. It is very interesting but difficult to put into practice. They get us to keep a diary and write down all our negative thoughts and next to it, write down a more positive answer. I find it difficult to keep it going from day to day but do try and change them in my head which helps .

Another thing I have found useful is the 'STOP' technique. If you are in a stressful situation or feel a panic attack coming on, then say to yourself the word 'STOP' and it just stops the panic for a minute which sometimes prevents a panic attack coming on.

Websailer has made me a couple of badges, one with the word 'STOP' on it and another with 'DON'T PANIC' which are pinned up on my curtain in front of me. I look at these if having a panicky day .

So, I have a couple more weeks left of the course and have the hand-outs which are given to me each week to refer back to and read in more detail.