SUPPORT RALLY – GATHER ALL ‘ROUND
March 5, 2008It is no secret I have an anxiety/panic “challenge”. Ah, even just that felt good to admit.
I have apparently been “hand-picked” to go to a 4 week women’s support group. It has a great name. It is called “Women Empowerment”. It will consist of 7 other women plus the counselor. It appears that they consider this a small group. Well, not to me! Any more than 2 is more that I can handle.
I am not expected to speak unless I want to, I am invited to just sit and listen. Each meeting is for 2 hours. I can already feel the claustrophobia, hyperventilation, need to pass out or flee; creeping up on me already. 2 Hours?!? That is a lifetime!
I agreed to go because I know it is a good opportunity for me, and I will probably learn very much from it. It is something meant to help and guide me. Tonight I was given some tools and techniques to work through this anxiety; to be able to go and concentrate on the group. Something about intervention, but for the life of me, they have all currently leapt from my mind!
I remember something like; I am supposed to create 2 columns. One for my reasons why I shouldn’t go, or don’t want to go and all the horrible things. And the other column is to be for why I should go. Hopefully the should column will out weigh the shouldn’t, and the shouldn’t will become a deficit. I’ll have to work on that.
I’ll try to remember the other “Intervention Tools” but I’ll need some time to calm my thoughts and remember what they are. And I need to talk to Fred!!!!
So, in the mean time, any support or advice would be more than welcome. Please check in periodically as I will be doing the same because I need you!
Respectfully submitted,
Panic in pieces
So many of these women will have misgivings also. Will you mistreat them, or laugh at them, or try to kill them. I don’t think so – I think your heart, especially your heart will go out to them in sisterhood, and uphold them as they try to conquer their fears. Turn Fred’s face out to the group, and have them turn their fears out, and let the fears argue with each other while you and your supporters look way past all that silliness and uphold each other with love, and understanding, and with strength.
I knew I couldcount on you (as always). This is really good stuff. I will probably read it 5 times a day up until Monday.
Thank you truly.
I have now written 3 comments that disappear. Am I pressing your panic button by mistake?
Not to worry!, I some how made it through my last meeting. I have another one on Wednesday 6:30 – *:30 pm my time. Feel slightly better knowing I survived the first one. Still a bit aprehensive so please do keep checking in. The women I met were very nice and all there for their own reasons. It was mostly a meet & greet kind of thing, so I guess we’ll get down to the nitty fritty Wednesday! One woman gave me a hug before I left, I wonder, did I look like a baby deer in the headlights to her?! She was sweet. So here I go again on Wednesday, wish me luck!!!