Hi there. My name is Katie. I am writing this about my personal journey and how I’ve been able to push past so many of my fears and overcome with the help of the anxiety Guru podcast, the blog, and having an anxiety/ life coach. To summarize, I’ve been in an 11 year struggle with crippling anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts and zero self esteem. I never thought I would be able to overcome my anxiety and how it held me back from doing everything I wanted to do in life.
Slowly my anxiety seemed to take over everything. At first it was just about 1 thing and before long it took over so much I was not able to function at all, go to a job, work, be in public, have normal friendships, nothing. My life was about waking up and sleeping and making it through another day, which felt like hell and was quite unbearable. This all left me feeling rather hopeless.
One day I stumbled upon Paul’s blog and started reading and listening to the podcasts. Here, a fellow anxiety sufferer shared openly his struggles and how he overcame and knowledge that he had from experience and his education and background. It gave me hope. Suddenly I realized I was not alone. I listened to just about every podcast he had ever done and gathered strength. Some days I would listen to it for hours and try to gather as much hope and experience as I could so I could just make it through that “day” which seems silly, but to me the life I was living had become that unmanageable and difficult.
I really got a lot out of the podcasts and every bit of information and stories and personal experience shared. I realized I needed more for my own health. I reached out, made an appointment with Paul Dooley to do a phone session and that was so helpful, so supportive, and so empowering. He then paired me with Valerie and we started to work together. As a team, and having the support and knowledge of the Anxiety Guru- the podcast and the blog and coaching services, I have made incredible progress this past year.
When I started reaching out and having the coaching sessions and the resource of the podcasts/ blogs in my life I was in a very dark place. I had nowhere left to turn. Now I have so much more hope, and light in my life. Through the help of Paul and now Valerie doing coaching sessions with me a huge weight has been lifted. I have realized I don’t have to go through this life alone. I can talk to someone that I trust, respect, admire and who has hope, experience, strength and an insight and wisdom above and beyond what I possess.
When I walk away I hold my head higher because I am armed with the tools and the mind-set to go after the things that I for too long felt were way too far out of my reach. Now I’m finally able to face my fears head on. And I’m learning that all the skills I’m learning is setting me free and getting me out of the dark place I had always been. The support, the encouragement, the total acceptance and the help applying everything I learn to my life to give me the best possible life I can possibly live is the best gift I have ever been able to give myself. Now I know I don’t have to do this life alone.
I have so much support and help and amazing resources available to me and I will do whatever it takes to overcome and to reach my goals. I’m finally training for a race that has been set before me. A full and a half marathon. I’m filled with hope and I’m working hard daily to continue to make positive progress. With the help of the Anxiety guru resources and the personal coaching I’m actually living the life I always wanted but was too scared to live.
I still have my struggles as any human does but I’m armed with the power of amazing support and someone on my side who is there to help me through. I would encourage anyone at all who is struggling to have hope that their is a better way to live and that if they want it bad enough they can overcome whatever it is that they are facing, and their is a world full of positive support, hope and strength if they just reach out their hand and accept the help that is out there, whatever form that may be. Thank you Anxiety Guru, Paul Dooley and Valerie Murphy for helping me on my way to having the life that I have always wanted to have.
Thank you Katie for your kind words. It is always nice to know that the work we do is valued and helpful.
Thanks for the hope! I’d like to also know if you used mess in addition?
What a great story, Katie. It will light the candle of hope for many others who feel lost.
Katy,
Amazing story. It tells us anxious people there is help and hope. Finding a good therapist with the grace of God is a true blessing.
Good luck in the race.
Liti
Wow! 11 years! You are very strong my dear. The past two months I’ve had an extreme nervous breakdown along with severe panic attacks, depression, and anxiety. I have used this awesome podcast (website) along with an awesome book called “panic away”by Barry McDonagh. It’s a great book not only about panic attacks but people with severe anxiety and also depression. Within your 11 year struggle have you tried any medications? Feel free to email me too. We aren’t alone! Suzqtraining@yahoo.com
Sorry my above comment should say meds. 🙂
Thank you Paul, Margie and Connie for your kindness 🙂
I used a LOT of different medications for over ten years. The past six months I went off the meds with a Dr’s supervision and I’m still open to the possibility of meds in the future if I need them but I’m trying to do my best and learn as many coping skills as I can to help me live the best possible life I can. 🙂
Thanks for sharing your struggle and now your triumph congratulations and hope to continue to keep working on that this blog and the podcasts have been wonderful to me to feel like there is a light in the end of the tunnel
My 17 year old daughter just had gall bladder surgery about 2 months ago. She had alot of anxiety prior to the surgery as she was so afraid of being put under. Finally after the struggles of fear she was able to do the surgery (she became too sick and losing weight so had no choice really) every since the surgery she has severe anxiety attacks to the point that she hasn’t been able to even go to school. We went to a medical dr and they want to put her on Celexa. I read how that makes the anxiety worse for the first couple of weeks and some it helped some it didn’t. The things I read online of others scares me in having her take this. She hasn’t started it yet. I came across your site as I have been searching frantically to help my daughter. I have had anxiety in the past but small bouts and was ablet to manage them after a couple of weeks of using xanax (when my dad died) and moved on. Her anxiety is so bad I am my heart is breaking for her! Any suggestions on meds and I plan to contact you Paul to maybe get her some coaching from your team as I so far love what I am hearing from your podcasts. I also shared your links with her and plan to talk to her today about listening as often as she can to your podcasts and read. It has been very hard for her to even talk about it. I appreciate any help here and would prefer to go natural, homeopathic if anyone knows of something that has truly worked for them. Thank you so much in advance!