[SunshineGold03]

I would love to hear about people's successes even one's that you consider small. I think that it is important that on the road to recovery we not only focus on fixing the things that are troublesome in our lives but also to focus on the small or big strides in our recovery. In my opinion this helps people to keep some positive focus in the journey of getting healthier. It is important to pat yourself on the back for each and every step you take that is positive. We need to celebrate ourselves more for these steps toward success. With that being said I would love it if we could share some success stories in our journey of recovery. So lets hear everyone.

Jennifer

[SunshineGold03]

Anyone?? Come on guys.

Jennifer

[alm15]

This is such a good idea. I've been focussing so much on being broken lately that i have forgotten the progress and the progress has been amazing! 16 years ago I starting having memories of my life. The next few years were intense. Everytime I had a new memory I was freaked out for days. Now when I have a memory I move through it in minutes. It doesn't take away from my life anymore. I'm not filled with hate and fear anymore. I can be around my Father and not be afraid. He doesn't have power over me anymore. I'm not using relationships to avoid my feelings. . .that's just a few. Thank you for reminding us to focus on the posative!

[SunshineGold03]

Alm,
That is so incredibly wonderful! It sounds like to me ou have made alot of progress. I think it is important that we take time out to focus on our progress and some positive aspects of our lives. If not we tend to get caught up in negativity and we only think about how bad our problems our. We need to enjoy our sucesses however small or big and shout them out from the rooftops! Congrats on your success!

Jennifer

[misstonya]

Congrats on everyones successes, I am in my 1st week of treatment for depression, and Yesterday I felt like planting flowers in my flower beds, I also cleaned around my goldfish pond and got it in working order and raked up some leaves. so I feel really good about that. came inside and mopped my floors. I don't know how long its been since ive wanted to do anything productive, so I feel awesome about admitting that.
Tonya Nicole

Tonya Nicole

[SunshineGold03]

Tonya,
That is great! Sounds like your first week of treatment is going well good for you. Make sure you celebrate this sucess because if you continue to celebrate your sucesses you will get stronger! Congrats!


Jennifer

[Butterfly_Faerie]

I've come along way since I was 16 until now.

I use to be argoraphobic, literally a hermit inside my room for almost a year. I lived in my PJ's and slept all the time.

I use to be scared to go outside and go to the store to pick up a simple pack of gum. I use to be scared to walk around the corner to a friends house. My anxiety was high, I was afraid of everything, I use to get panic attacks all the time. I was in an abusive relationship where there was mental, physical, sexual, verbal and emotional abuse. I was in other situations where I'd be assualted cause I didn't listen to my gut because i'd freeze before I could run.

I use to be too scared to work , peterfied to make a life for myself.

Through therapy and with the helps of medication , friends and family i've been able to work, my anxiety is minmal, I rarely get panic attacks. I can talk myself out of being anxious with postive self talk, and exposure to the fear, thanks you to my psychairtist.. My depression is in remission, My nightmares, and body memories are almost completely gone, cause i've dealt with the tramas that I went through from the ages of 16-21 roughly. I feel empowered now and stronger, I wont let anyone harm me, I don't live in the past past , I don't feel guilt, shame ect.. I do live in regret, because i do regret that what I went through, but I know it wasn't my fault, and I Will never let myself go through that again. I do listen to my gut now with potentally dangerous situations, and I haven't been in one for 3 yrs. I have a wonderful boyfriend of close to 3 yrs that treat me like gold. I can become intimate with him and not be scared, freeze or get triggers. I don't jump at a name or a certain touch. Sure I will likely still get triggers and body memories, but that is a part of healing and I know that now so I will not hide from them, I'll deal with them.

I know that right now i'm not working, but I have worked before and loved work before, that means I know that I will get a job again. I am aloud to be picky and not pick a job that I know I will hate. I have a supportive family, friend, you guys and my man.

I can say now that I am extremely happy, I feel good about me, and i've haven't been able to say that for some time.

Sure i'll have set backs, i'll likely always have depression and anxiety, and my ptsd may come back, it may not, but I can live with that, it no longer controls me, I can control it.

<font color=red>~Sundance~</font color=red>

<font color=blue>"Never react emotionally to criticism. Analyze yourself to determine whether it is justified. If it is, correct yourself. Otherwise, go on about your business."</font color=blue>

<font color=black>Norman Vincent Peale</font color=black>

[SunshineGold03]

Sundance,
I read your story and I think that it is amazingly wonderful that you have come so far. You must be incredibly proud of yourself! The achievements you have made and the obstacles you have overcome is astounshing! It gives me hope and I think it safe to say that it gives alot of people on this forum a great deal of hope and inspiration. Keep on fighting the good fight. Don't worry about the stumbles if you stumble realize it is just a normal part of healing. Congrats!

Jennifer

[Starbuck]

Hi Jennifer, nice to meet you

Well as for success, many things can be said about it, that all depends on what kind of success you want to hear from, I guess.

But I'd say this :

So far to me, the biggest succes I've had in my life is not to have commited suicide.

It sounds rude, I know, but what can I say to you except this for the present time being ?

This is my greatest succes, and, in some wild manner, my way to recovery.

Take care,

Starbuck

Born in 1963 of French mom and Canadian dad. Studied and worked (Majors in History, Theology. M.A. in Sociology).

[SunshineGold03]

Starbuck,
I believe that each persons sucess is unique to that individual. Sometimes the hardest part of life is living it and you are doing that sucessfully everyday. You are not being rude you are being honest with yourself and us. Congrats on your unique sucess. By the way I love your cat!

Jennifer

[misstonya]

Wow, from what I am reading you guys successes are wonderful and sounds like your all on track. I feel like I am going to get there to. I had a wonderful surprise today. I was contacted by the District Attorneys office by the Victims Adovocates Group and she is going to set me up in some type of way so I wont be kept in the dark about whats going on with the murder Trial of my Father. When she told me that they were listing me as next of kin and were going to keep me up to speed on every asspect of whats going on.I almost fainted since he was killed no one would tell me anything. I have felt like a victim but it was like no one could see it. anyway that was my good day. and im looking forward to working with this support group also.
I hope this was the right place to post this.. if not someone let me know and I can move it wherever appropriate.

Tonya (Brokenwing) my indian name

[Starbuck]

Hello Jennifer,

Well I guess you're right.

One lyric of George Harrison's last song (on Brainwashed, 2002) says:

"You may not know where you came from, May not know who you are. May not have even wondered how you got this far"

I can connect to those 2 lines.

Ty for your reply, I really appreciate it,

Take care SunshineGold03 !

Starbuck



Born in 1963 of French mom and Canadian dad. Studied and worked (Majors in History, Theology. M.A. in Sociology).

[SunshineGold03]

Tonya,
I am awfully sorry about what happened to your father. Words can not express the sorrow I feel for you with this situation. However, I am pleased to hear that you have had sucess in working with others to keep informed about the details regarding this horrible incident. I am glad that this assistance helped you!

Jennifer

[SunshineGold03]

You are more thank welcome Starbuck! Keep on posting your sucesses. I think we will find inspiration in each others sucess!

Jennifer

[misstonya]

thank you Jennifer thats very kind of you. I really like it here, y'all are so very nice here.

Tonya (Brokenwing) my indian name

[SunshineGold03]

You are very welcome Tonya. I find that everyone hear is very nice and have alot to contribute. Glad to have you hear.

Jennifer

[SunshineGold03]

My recent sucess is that I have that been self injurious in almost 3 months now. In fact luckily I have even been real tempted to do so except once. I am really happy about this! So that is my recent sucess. How about other people out there?

Jennifer

[angel04]

I finished two classes at the local college in the past two weeks. I had to leave highschool many years ago because of my mental illness but finally had the courage to take a couple of night classes at college and I stayed in them and finished them. I still have a little voice in my head screaming "what's the big deal, everyone can do that" but there's that other voice saying "good for you, you did it"
So, I suppose it's a success.
angel

"Sometimes it takes other people to point reality out to those who don't live there"
me

[misstonya]

that is a very big deal angel and congrats, that must make you very proud of yourself, i went to college last summer and did 4 classes and felt so proud of myself, i am going to go back in the fall and work on an associates degree.

Tonya (Brokenwing) my indian name

[SunshineGold03]

Angel,
That is WONDERFUL!!!!!! That absolutely is a sucess! Good for you! Listen to the part of you that says good job. Because really it is quite an accomplishment! Keep it up! Be proud of yourself!


Jennifer

[Butterfly_Faerie]

Hey Jennifer, thank you for the warm words, I have definatly come a very long way in 7 yrs. I think i've become alot more postive about life etc. I do have my doubts from time to time, but who doesn't right? I hope that it helps people become more postive about their situations, and give people hope. I never thought in my life that I would be where I am now, and it does feel great.

I do sometimes though get a bit worried about where I will be in a year, but I try to take it a day at a time, if I take too many steps I might fall, so don't want to get to far ahead...

<font color=red>~Sundance~</font color=red>

<font color=blue>"Never react emotionally to criticism. Analyze yourself to determine whether it is justified. If it is, correct yourself. Otherwise, go on about your business."</font color=blue>

<font color=black>Norman Vincent Peale</font color=black>

[SunshineGold03]

Sundance,
You are very welcome! It sounds like you have come along way. It is good to hear too that you are become more and more positive about things. And like you said it is best to take one day at a time if you try and do more than that it becomes overwhelming.

Jennifer

[Butterfly_Faerie]

Thanks Jennifer once again.

I'm hoping that by sharing my triumphis that it will give people hope that they will get there's as well. 7 yrs is a long time isn't it?

OH I definatly have alot of bad times where I just want to give in and give up, I worry about everything whether my guy will want me in another 3 yrs, what if I can't find work? What if anxiety prevents me from doing that or getting a drivers license again? Those are my biggest worries, somedays I think to myself, well things do happen for a reason, I know i well find work again, I know I will, and just talking to myself in a postive way gets me going again..........

<font color=red>~Sundance~</font color=red>

<font color=blue>"Never react emotionally to criticism. Analyze yourself to determine whether it is justified. If it is, correct yourself. Otherwise, go on about your business."</font color=blue>

<font color=black>Norman Vincent Peale</font color=black>

[SunshineGold03]

Hey Sundance,
You definitely have the right attitude! You must be incredibly proud of your sucess as well you should be! I think many people can gain inspiration from your story!

Jennifer

[Butterfly_Faerie]

Hey Girl

I definatly am, emotionally I have come so far, as for jobs etc not so much, but at least I made improvements in other areas...

<font color=red>~Sundance~</font color=red>

<font color=blue>"Never react emotionally to criticism. Analyze yourself to determine whether it is justified. If it is, correct yourself. Otherwise, go on about your business."</font color=blue>

<font color=black>Norman Vincent Peale</font color=black>