very exciting

[onceinawhile]

yesterday was a very good day!

over the weekend i downloaded the SAFE series and practiced some of the exercises i have learned from the program.

my boyfriend and i went for a practice drive over the bridge early sunday morning and i feel as though i did a pretty good job! :mrgreen: for some reason i do much better going towards my destination on the other side of the bridge than i do on my way back, and that is what is giving me the most trouble. i think it is because the river is larger on the way back and gets smaller towards the end, while it is just the opposite on the way there. but yesterday on our way back when the panicky feeling stated to creep in i thought of the reality of the situation and how i was pretty much causing the fear myself. i kept reminding myself about the fear cycle and that i had just as much control turning it off as i do turning it on... i was able to cross the bridge with confidence and felt pretty good afterwards!!! it was a great feeling!!!!

i know it is good to take small steps and not rush my progress but the fact that i will have to be making this drive alone and at 4pm keeps getting to me . i plan to make a solo trip early one sunday morning and possibly a saturday morning just to get in tune with being alone while i drive. i am going on another practice run with my boyfriend tomorrow morning just to get as use to the drive as possible.

i feel like i am getting stronger and will eventually drive with ease. but i am still working on the anxiety i have about being by myself while driving. when this happens i like to use the thought popping technique (thanks teaser!) and think of my silly character! the program is really helping - and so are all of you! thanks for reading and for leaving encouraging feed back!!!

keep on keeping on!!!!

:) :)

[Fiore]

Nice one, onceinawhile,

It sounds like you are steadily getting ready for managing your bridge drive when you start your new job. Constantly remind and congratulate yourself on how good your progress has been. I can't recall exactly when it is that your new job starts, but it must be in the next week or so now? As well as doing the practices (which I think is terrific), I would go back to your program and read and re-read sections; particularly those that have the most punch for you - I have several colourful post-it notes plastered throughout my copy so I can go back and reference sections/sentences, even just words that really resonate for me.

Who, by the way (if you don't mind revealing) is your silly character? Mine is a Scottish comedian called Billy Connolly. When I told Rich that in an email once, he hadn't heard of him so perhaps Billy hasn't gone global yet.

Keep at it Onceinawhile .....

Fiore

PS, I think your b/friend is terrific for supporting you the way he does .... don't toss him away!!!

[teaser]

Way to go, Once!!! :mrgreen:

It is so funny that you feel better going - I feel better coming back!! LOL

I was lousy the last couple of days and didn't go anywhere, except the library. I deal with a general anxiety, so besides the driving I also worry about where I am going to be.. ACK! But I'm working on it.. slowly.

I'm excited for you!! Keep us posted.

[onceinawhile]

THANK YOU!!

thank you for all of the positive encouragement and good thoughts!

we went on a practice run this morning and it was a little more stressful than our sunday morning drive - of course! i seem to get caught up in the amount of other cars on the road and when i do i get a little jittery!! :?

i wouldn't drive back this morning (traffic is much heavier coming into the city than out) which is a little frustrating but i know is something i am working on. i want to do a practice drive in he afternoon around the time that i will be getting off work to see how the traffic flow is then!

i still find myself flip flopping, where one moment i feel great and ready to drive and then the next moment i feel anxious and like i will never be able to drive over the bridge alone. but i continue to work on the exercises and know it is helping! i find it very encouraging to read the success stories and read feed back on this forum!

my character that i imagine is a little embarrassing - it is chucky from rugrats! :lol:
i chose him because in the show he is always afraid of EVERYTHING - but in the end he always comes through and conquers his fears!!! he has a funny little voice - bright red hair and big blue glasses! its hard not to smile when i think about him telling me about my driving fears!! i have never heard of billy connolly either! what does he look like and what do you like about him flore??

i start my new job the first week of september, so i have a little more time to practice! :)


teaser - i kinda know what you are feeling, about feeling anxious in more places than just the car. i got nervous in a movie theater over the weekend and think it had a lot to do with all of the the scary thoughts i had been having about driving! it just puts me in an anxious zone - but we just have to remember it is a fear cycle we have taught ourselves. i hope today is better!

take it easy and be well!

everyday is getting better and better!