Facing my fears!

I ‘m going to put my money where my mouth is: I’m leaving my house tomorrow for the first time in months.

I’m going to one of my son’s houses where I haven’t been since this TMS came, over a year ago. All 3 of my children, their spouses, and my grandchildren will be there. Yikes! A lot of people!

Dr. Claire Weekes talks about this whole process of leaving the house in her book, Hope and Help for Your Nerves. I’ve listened to her recordings over and over. The only way out is through. I’ll never get over any of this until I go out there—until I learn to face all my feelings and float through them—until I go places despite having weakness, symptoms, anxiety and pain.

Nothing can make this a failure. Nothing. Just even thinking about going is a victory.

 

I’m proud of you.

 

I made it!!!

I faced my fears— I faced my body locking up, I ignored my doubts— And I carried on. My reward was a beautiful afternoon with my family and my grandchildren. My heart needed it so much!

I can’t tell you what a great success this feels to me! Now everything seems possible!

Something that helped me a lot was an audiobook by Claire Weekes called Freedom From Nervous Suffering. In Chapter 2 she walks you through preparation for leaving the house and what it will be like when you are out of the house. I listened to it several times yesterday and right before I left today. It really bolstered me.

The exercises I’ve been doing for the last month really paid off. Not only did I have the muscles I needed to move around and get into the car. But when I exercised, it was building my physical determination. And I just tapped into that to leave the house. Kind of like how soldiers work out— then, when they need to go to battle, they have mental and physical discipline.

Thank you everyone so much for your support! The forum is my lifeline. ❤️

 

I love this! Spending time with others is the best medicine!

 

It was really special because for the past year or more I’ve been very isolated in my house. It felt like the first step to getting my life back. If you let it TMS can steal your life from you.

 

Update: yesterday I went to the park and enjoyed the beautiful spring weather. Today, I got my hair done in a salon. I’m getting better at facing my fear and leaving the house anyway! My body is locking me down. It’s like moving through concrete. But I don’t care. I’m done messing around. That’s 3 times out in a week! I want to make sure I don’t backslide.

 

"It’s like moving through concrete."

Gosh, I know that feeling!

 

Jan, oh Wise One!
Yesterday I got my hair done. It was a long walk in and I froze up and nearly didn’t make it. My heart sunk, but I made it through the hair appointment and back out. During the night—symptoms flared big time. Maybe worse than ever. I was tempted to feel I’ve lost so much. I overdid. I’m never getting out of my hole. But I will instead say, “oh well, tomorrow’s another day.”