I have the most weird reaction to coming to this forum and I gues I just want to know if anybody else does this.
By the time my computer is u and run ning and I am signing on to the forum I am covered in sweat. I am completely soaked. My hands are actually dripping wet. My heart is about to beat out of my chest and I have to remind myself to breathe! I knlow that this is a full blown panic/anxiet attack, but why does the forum set it off to such an extreme level? I enjoy this forum--or at least I think I do! ! ! ! Anybody got an answer

I haven't felt like that with the forum, but when I first did group therapy - I often had panic attacks before anything even started. I think part of it for me was knowing that I was going to a place to talk about things that would probably trigger me, and that I was going to have a place I could talk about what happened to me - which meant I was going to have to allow myself to remember what happened.

I enjoyed the group therapy, and I knew I was healing and getting to know people who were going through similar experiences with their healing but it didn't mean I wasn't still having anxiety about it. I found that some of the things I did around the group made things better - like talking about animals, or after group walking with one of the other people to the bus stop and always seeing a lady walking her dogs - it was the things that were mundane that made it easier, and after a while I found that I could control it and be less likely to have a full blown panic attack.

I'm not sure if this helps - but maybe setting aside a certain period of time to go on the forum may help. Along with having some rewards set up for yourself for afterwards - a bubble bath, a glass of wine, a good book, dessert of some sort. Something that you can positively associate with working on your healing.

Herc, have you read Anthony's sticky at the top of this page, Reading Forum Increases Symptoms? If not, you should read it. Here's the link:

Reading Forum Increases Symptoms!

It's common to have an increase in symptoms from coming here, basically it's a form of exposure therapy. Its therefore recommended that you take breaks, and don't come here every single day. I know I had to learn that the hard way myself.

Hey Batgirl, You are right. Been coming here for about 3 straight weeks. I think it is time for my second break from the forum Thanx for the facts ot should I say the truth HERC

Yes, what Evie pointed out and that is why the sticky is there. We all need breaks. Tonight I am exactly the same way and skipped last night. I will only be here briefly. 3 yo gave me all the stress I can do for today.

Take it easy on yourself herc... start small and build up.