has anyone been on an anxiety management course?

[strawberrydream]

i start this at the end of january. i dont know what to expect and feel a bit nervous about it. anyone know anything about it? the cousellor was very vague.

No, but my GP recommended I went on one. Will be interested to hear what to expect if I take him up on it...
Good luck with it, strawberrydream x

thanks. so are you going to try it? i felt more anxious than ever over christmas. christmas is supposed to be a relaxing time with the family but to be honest i hate it i dont know why. i also dread going away for weekend breaks or going on holidays abroad. most people would love to go away wouldnt they. come the spring my DH will wants to go away most weekends (we have a caravan) and he really looks forward to it like a big kid but i dread every minute of it. if i had my way i would just be a hermit.its less stressful. god i am so sad arent i (dont answer that) i feel sorry for my DH, i think he will bugger off soon and find someone else. why the hell do i find the smallest things so bloody stressful? sorry to ramble on. roll on axiety management course

Hi there

I went on one recently and it was really helpful. It was a group run at the Priory, 2 hours once a week for 4 weeks. I hope it works for you.

Hi Strawberrydream. I'm considering going on a course but the main factor with my anxiety is going out and especially doing anything new so it'd be a huge deal for me. GP (who wasn't v sympathetic, and gave the impression I should be able to snap out of it ) also recommended hypnosis (which can be very effective, apparently) and just simple exercise to help lower my anxiety. I don't know which to try at the moment....

I ran one as a student OT.

Ran for 6 or something weeks, with a maximum aof 8/8 people - only 5 actually started and onlt 4 completed.

The group reported they all found it helpful and my assem=essment of them was that all mad progress in controlling their anxiety, but those that benefitted most really put in loads of effort into doing the tasks and techniques suggested.

i still have to patient information notes if anyone would like a copy?

I dont work in mental health anymore so I'm not an expert but OTs train in physical and mental health and treat patients holisticly so I have continued to use the principles in my job.

shouldbedoingthehousework - when I ran the group this wwas the main factor for drop-out, however, you can overcome this, and one member of my group reported feeling the sam as you.

Please dont think I'm saying you should snap out of it like that arse of a GP - but you are already on the first step to considering it, which is one step further thsn just saying "no, I cant do it"!!

whoever is running the group should expect this and support you to get there. We offered transport with a volunteer to enable people to get to the venue without being anxious about transport/ travel issues.
My group also ran in a community venue - not identifiable as a mental health service - would this help you to go along?

Thanks ipod, in an ideal world, someone who could come to me would be the best, but I realise this isn't going to happen. And anyway, I do recognise that I need to push myself in some ways to stop my world getting any smaller than it already is. It would help to have the course somewhere local, community hall would be good (NOT in city - find that esp difficult). Can't cope with being a passenger with an unknown driver (so silly, I know) so that wouldn't be good for me, although perhaps someone to meet me outside to walk in with would help. I'd love to see the notes if that's possible (shouldbedoinghousework @ hotmail. co. uk)
Have you heard success from hypnosis at all? I have a friend who found it very helpful for getting over her fear of flying and so am curious to know if it'd help me...

have you been referred to your local mental health team - I'm sure referaal to an OT would help you, especially with things like getting the confidence to go out. They can work out a goal setting programme WITH you. taking everything at managable steps, even as little as one week you go to the door, the next you go ut the door, then to the gate, then to the road - building up to actually getting out to a venue.

a CPN could visit you at home to do similar stuff, and you might get a support worker to come and do the work but under the supervision of an OT or a nurse.

will email you about the notes.

Thanks ipod. I do get out and about but only within a smallish area (I can travel the 10 miles to work for example and the 6 miles to the nearest town with supermarket etc), it's the new places that bother me mostly. I probably ought to try to to get back to the surgery and try to see a different GP and see what they recommend - last one just asked "what do you want us to do about it?" I had no idea what to say in reply so your sugestions are very helpful, thanks.
Strawberrydream, sorry to have taken over your post Hope you find the course helpful- will you let us know how you get on?

...I guess the best way to put it is that I find it hard to go out beyond certain boundries....

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Hi mellowma - Have you done anything about it? I get so frustrated with myself some days cos the rational part of me knows the whole situation is silly, but on the other hand, when I have a very bad day and can heardly face taking the kids to and from school it's a really big deal. Good to know I'm not the only one

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Expect the councellor might have been vague as they need to chat to you first to get an idea of how they will treat you. I went for "anger management", assuming the consultant would refer me for Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and ended up actually just having a number of councelling sessions, working through my anxieties and emotions and coming out a much calmer, nicer person at the other end.

I expect your councellor will want to get to know more about you so he/ she can find the best way to help you to help yourself.

Hope that puts your mind at ease. I'm certain you'll find it useful.

on a BUS mellowma??!! Well done you! Even the thought of that makes me shudder! I drive and so can be in control of where I go etc thank goodness. I can't imagine going on a bus - I find it almost impossible to even be a passenger in a car with anyone other than dh driving.

Im about to start a course of 6, will read this thread. xXx I won't be having it before end of January I don't think though.

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Thanks so much for all your replies.
Mellowma. I break out in sweats as soon as I leave the house. Its bloody frustrating isnt it.
shouldbedoingthehousework - you sound so much like me. I am not too bad going to the local shop or places i am really familiar with but anywhere strange or futher afield i am a nervous wreck. Its social situations that make me sweat and nervous. I hate it.
I will let you all know how it goes.

sounds like you have social phobia. im terrible with social situations, unless ive had a few drinks! im ok if its people i know but not strangers.

I think i do have some kind of social phobia. i break out in a sweat as soon as i am faced with a new situation or anything social really.

Hi Strawberrydream - have you started this course yet? Was just curious to know how it was....

shouldbedoingthehousework - no i haven't started the course yet. i start beginning of Feb. i will let u know how it goes.

Thanks
Hope you're doing OK