Congratulations Rome! It sounds like you are succeeding to me. You just beat your flight or fight instinct! I won't get into the biology of it too much but you are basically controlling your brain when it is at the most uncontrollable. That is not some easy feat. I am sure you understand when I say what you did takes an incredible amount of courage. Please give yourself the credit you deserve. Appreciating your achievements (like this one) is not only deserved but it also reinforces what you are learning during the exposure.
Thank you guys so much for the support and praise. It means a lot to me just to hear it(or should I say read it lol) and it put a huge smile on my face. You are both right,even though I was anxious I stuck it out and didn't leave so that in itself was a victory. I really liked the store it was pretty awesome so I will definitely go back in the future Davit ;) they had some seriously cool shoes that were calling my name. My reward today by the way was a decaf tiramisu latte from Starbucks which was unbelievably good. I highly recommend it:) I want to end this response with one of my favorite quotes its by Charles Bukowski. "I am a series of small victories and large defeats and I am as amazed as any other that I have gotten from there to here." I hope you guys both have a good night.
You had the option of leaving but didn't which says to me you wanted to stay. That in itself is a big gain. Not all CBT is obvious. You are not failing. I don't like big stores either. And big parking lots even less. Worse for me is there is little chance to do exposure here more than once a year. Don't tell me you won't go back because you think you failed. Go back just to prove you didn't. Do it for us if you need a reason. We will be cheering you on. If you listen you can even hear us. Classic potato chips is my reward. Can't get them unless I go into a store.
Hi! Rome..I just dropped in and read your post and want to tell you Congratulations on your exposure today. You not failing at CBT at all, your succeeding. Remember small steps equal success and also remember to reward yourself in some little way for a job well done today...Red:))
Today I went shopping with my 2 kids and my sister and her 4 kids. We went over to a store called Platos closet by the mall. I had never been there before and I was kinda excited to check it out. I didn't realize how big it would be(big stores really freak me out)or how busy it would be. People were literally everywhere and I was definitely feeling anxious. The further I walk into a store and away from the exit the more anxious I become. I didn't have a full on panic attack in there but I definitely had some of the symptoms starting like feeling light headed or dizzy and feeling like everyone could tell I was freaking out on the inside. I wanted to leave,just run toward the exit as fast as I could go but I didn't. I know running away isn't the answer and it wont help. So I stayed and I battled my way through it by taking deep breaths and eventually getting myself to relax. I feel proud of myself for sticking through it and not running but at the same time I'm kinda upset with myself for being anxious in the first place. I know this is a long road with lots of struggles and battles ahead of me and ever day isn't going to be a good one but its just so upsetting to have a bad one. Sometimes I feel like I'm failing at CBT.
