11-26-2018, 04:09 AM
I could honestly write a novel right now but what my starting point was but I am going to be brief...yes, it will still be very long LOL. I had came to the forum seeking help on what sub to get for phobias (I was in a very dark place, feeling hopeless, and had suicidal thoughts because of my fear limitations) and Shannon recommended USLM3. So I purchased it.
I'm on my 13th day of the sub so far and I'm not really someone who does much journaling, but the changes I have been making so far have gotten me really excited.
The first week was a little rough. I started the first 2 days on Hybrid and felt so irritable and anxious. I thought it was too much so on my third day I switched to Masked and in the middle of listening I had a full-blown panic attack...which never happens at home. I am agoraphobic and normally anything that causes panic for me will be avoided, potentially forever but after 3 or so minutes of calming down I popped the earbuds back in and finished, since I will never get anywhere by quitting. I had asked Shannon about it and he recommended US at night and I agreed, but didn't listen
So since then I have been things have been getting better. Previously, anxiety pills would not help me at all. They'd make me drowsy, but I'd still be avoidant due to fear of "what if" the pills wore off, etc. I had (still three more to go!) 5 appointments coming up that I had been avoiding so out of the blue I got the idea to try the pills as a test run. Well...I felt so good that I went places, including to my therapist/mental health worker who I've never met before (my husband had always been the one to deal with her...yes, I was THAT bad). When I went to the mental health clinic it was like she had seen a ghost...she hadn't even known what I looked like. Although I was on medication and had a few twinges of nervousness, I felt good.
I've also went to the dentist and had no fear at all...that is probably one of the scariest places for me since I can't "escape" easily if I panic...and i fear vomiting in the chair (I also have emetophobia). Again, yes, I was on meds but I had no fear.
Now, yesterday has been one of the biggest deals for me...my son had a cadet biathlon tournament. In the 6 years he has competed, I have never gone to one due to fear. I went yesterday and watched my boy run outside and talked with other parents and cadets. I then went inside for the awards ceremony (this is a big one for me. I panic in crowds and there was no place to sit if I felt bad). I still felt anxious and like I wanted to leave but I allowed myself to stay with it. I watched him get his bronze medal and watched his team get gold. I joked that I should have gotten a medal too!
As for the luck part...I don't know if the sub can affect luck in the lives of others in my family who are not listening to the sub...but my son was selected to go to Chile with the cadets. It was impossible. The stipulations were that he couldn't have gone on a international or national trip previously...and he just did a national in Alberta in September. He shouldn't have been picked and he was....oh...and I did go to the cadet center to find out about that too
So....so far things have been AMAZING. Yes, I am still using meds as a crutch...but previously I couldn't even think to do that. My husband has been amazed at the changes in me...I am bolder and speak my mind more. This has only been 2 weeks. I still plan on going to counselling/therapy as I think it will help while I continue to do subs. I have had a lot of trauma since I was 5. Plus the sessions allow me to further test my ability to go places. I am going to continue to take the medications until all my appointments are done (all done by December 5th) because I want to get everything done and stop avoiding.
I will continue to update every now and again as things happen. As I said, I'm not much for journaling but I do like to make an update when big changes happen, and I expect more of them!
I'm on my 13th day of the sub so far and I'm not really someone who does much journaling, but the changes I have been making so far have gotten me really excited.
The first week was a little rough. I started the first 2 days on Hybrid and felt so irritable and anxious. I thought it was too much so on my third day I switched to Masked and in the middle of listening I had a full-blown panic attack...which never happens at home. I am agoraphobic and normally anything that causes panic for me will be avoided, potentially forever but after 3 or so minutes of calming down I popped the earbuds back in and finished, since I will never get anywhere by quitting. I had asked Shannon about it and he recommended US at night and I agreed, but didn't listen
So since then I have been things have been getting better. Previously, anxiety pills would not help me at all. They'd make me drowsy, but I'd still be avoidant due to fear of "what if" the pills wore off, etc. I had (still three more to go!) 5 appointments coming up that I had been avoiding so out of the blue I got the idea to try the pills as a test run. Well...I felt so good that I went places, including to my therapist/mental health worker who I've never met before (my husband had always been the one to deal with her...yes, I was THAT bad). When I went to the mental health clinic it was like she had seen a ghost...she hadn't even known what I looked like. Although I was on medication and had a few twinges of nervousness, I felt good.
I've also went to the dentist and had no fear at all...that is probably one of the scariest places for me since I can't "escape" easily if I panic...and i fear vomiting in the chair (I also have emetophobia). Again, yes, I was on meds but I had no fear.
Now, yesterday has been one of the biggest deals for me...my son had a cadet biathlon tournament. In the 6 years he has competed, I have never gone to one due to fear. I went yesterday and watched my boy run outside and talked with other parents and cadets. I then went inside for the awards ceremony (this is a big one for me. I panic in crowds and there was no place to sit if I felt bad). I still felt anxious and like I wanted to leave but I allowed myself to stay with it. I watched him get his bronze medal and watched his team get gold. I joked that I should have gotten a medal too!
As for the luck part...I don't know if the sub can affect luck in the lives of others in my family who are not listening to the sub...but my son was selected to go to Chile with the cadets. It was impossible. The stipulations were that he couldn't have gone on a international or national trip previously...and he just did a national in Alberta in September. He shouldn't have been picked and he was....oh...and I did go to the cadet center to find out about that too
So....so far things have been AMAZING. Yes, I am still using meds as a crutch...but previously I couldn't even think to do that. My husband has been amazed at the changes in me...I am bolder and speak my mind more. This has only been 2 weeks. I still plan on going to counselling/therapy as I think it will help while I continue to do subs. I have had a lot of trauma since I was 5. Plus the sessions allow me to further test my ability to go places. I am going to continue to take the medications until all my appointments are done (all done by December 5th) because I want to get everything done and stop avoiding.
I will continue to update every now and again as things happen. As I said, I'm not much for journaling but I do like to make an update when big changes happen, and I expect more of them!