Share your achievements, small or big!

[Beltane]

Another nice little topic to chat about 🙂

It's really important to those of us with mental issues to hold on to our achievements and successes, especially the ones over our illnesses. Each and every achievement, no matter how small you might think it is, is so important. We should celebrate and take pride in each achievement- because each one is a step towards recovery.

So in this topic I'd like us to share our successes. You can post as often as you like, every time you have an achievement or success you'd like to share (even if you think "but it wasn't that big a deal"). Yes it IS a big deal! Fighting an illness is hard work, so lets celebrate all our achievements!

When i first fought my anxiety, my very very first challenge was to drive to the local shops. And I achieved it, and boy did I celebrate. Might not sound like much to someone else, but to me it was like climbing Mount Everest while wearing shorts and thongs (i imagine). So you better believe I went home and danced around my house celebrating my success!

My most recent achievement I am celebrating is: I attended my first job interview in 3 years that i did NOT take any anti-anxiety medication whatsoever for. Every other interview in the last 3 years i've needed strong anti-anxiety medication. But after much therapy and hard work, i learned more and more coping skills. I was nervous about not taking the medication as I was so used to doing it, but not only did i get through the interview but i did it calmly and kept my anxiety well under control. I'm pretty proud of myself!

(Also I got the job- yay- but unfortunately i cant accept it due to other reasons. But I'm still celebrating being offered a job!!!)

So lets hear it! Whats a recent achievement, positive step or success you made? Take pride in it and celebrate it!!

[Blue85]

A small win for me was defeating my intense fear of leaving the house without makeup... Having dealt with a bad case of self hatred, I always had my 'mask' of makeup.

 After a lot of CBT, I made my first trip out without my mask last year. Since then, I go makeup free around 50% of the time, and I feel far more free and comfortable in my own skin. It is a positive step forward in my journey of self acceptance. 

[Doolhof]

Hi Beltane,

This is a great idea! I hope more people come on board and share their stories!

On the weekend we had friends visiting. I did not feel comfortable with us all just sitting around chatting, so I suggested we all went out and did some sight seeing in the area.

We went to a lavender farm and then to a winery and a rose garden. I really enjoyed myself and hope our friends did as well. It was a huge step for me to suggest something like that without thinking and believing (wrongly) that the others might feel negative about my suggestions.

There were a few negative comments, but I tried not to take them on board and enjoyed the day.

From Mrs. Dools

[cyb]

About 7 years ago I decided to go back to uni and to graduate certificate in science teaching secondary.  I am primary school trained.   I was then working fulltime, had a 4 year old, and two teenagers and single.   Yes, a recipe for a breakdown.  Well I finished the course okay but when it came to the exam I was so so nervous.   I took an anti anxiety tablet which clouded my brain and I ended up failing the exam by a few marks.  I was asked to come back and resit but I did not want to go through that again.  I gave up.  Last year, I again went back to uni  and this time to do a graduate certificate in mathematics.   I actually got into this course by default as after my experience with the chemistry exam, I had no confidence left to go back to uni.   Well, I passed all my exams, 4 in all, while working 4 days a week and even got HD"s in three of them.   I made sure I had a study group to help me through and this was amazing.  One more thing.. one of my units was a statistic unit, quite challenging.  During the 10 minute reading time I decided that i couldn't do this exam and just about walked out.   I sat there, frozen,  a complete mind block.   I decided I would not leave without doing at least 1 question.  There were 6 questions in all and a 3 hour exam.   I completed 1 question, so I decided to start another one.... I then completed that question. I went on to finish the whole exam and now for the good news,  I received a HD for that unit.   I always now use this story for my daughter who panics in exams... It just takes one little step at a time.

[Sweetlikecinnamon]

This will be my first post in this forum 🙂 

I just got my driving licence a few weeks ago. It's a massive achievement for me, but to others not so much. I can drive to my parents house nearly an hour away, but I can't do highways yet. I suffer from anxiety, and some times agoraphobia, but I'm slowly managing that.

[Doolhof]

Hi SLC,

Congratulations to you for getting your licence. Well done. That can be such a huge thing for the average person, let alone for someone with added issues of anxiety. You must be very proud of yourself!

Thanks for sharing. It is always excellent to read the good news stories here!

Cheers to you from Mrs. Dools 

[Beltane]

Oh wow! thanks for joining my little thread here all! These messages are so fantastic to read! Thanks Mrs Dools for your post, sounded liek you had a nice day in all 🙂

cyb! fantastic news about the exams! boy i definitely used to get that too, exams are such pressure-filled times. I always found it utterly stupid that the entire sum of your educational experience should be assessed by a few pressure-filled exams. I mean, its ok for those few people that handle pressure super well, but for the rest of us we find our minds go blank and our tummies turn to jelly! So MASSIVE congratulations on working through those feelings and getting HD's.

And congrats sweet cinnamon on passing your driving exam. i too remember how stressed i was that day. i remember being up all night vomiting actually, i was so nervous. but i passed too, and i got more comfortable driving over the years. i still don't like driving in the city- i CAN drive in it, i just don't like to.

Well i went to a job interview the other day! i've been unemployed for quite a while struggling with an acute phase of my illness. It's gone back under control now, so i've been back at it applying for jobs. I also am studying, and like cyb am celebrating getting HD's through the marked units.

i've had massive problems with interviews in the past- ive even gotten up in the middle of interviews before and run outside, becuase the anxiety got so bad! i've cancelled interviews as well...
But this interview for me showed truly what i can do! I had obviously spent a long time with my therapist working on coping skills and relaxation techniques, also i take a medication daily for my anxiety too which helps a lot.

But anyway, this interview i felt so good throughout. I was nervous yes, but not anxious, and i used all my coping skills to remain calm and confident, smile and answer all the questions as confidently as i could. At the end the interviewer said i'd interviewed very well and showed a lot of knowledge about the position, enthusiasm and passion for the job.

So I'm really really happy i did so well in an interview!!! How amazing! I really hope i get a call this week to say i've got the job!

[romantic_thi3f]

I like the thread idea!  Great post! 🙂

My latest thing that I'm proud of is finishing my Diploma.

I struggled so much through the course as I had lots of health issues and had to have it extended twice.  But when I finally finished it it was such a big relief to know that all that hard work was worthwhile.

[Doolhof]

Yesterday I had the courage to phone one of my clients and ask them if they could change days, so then I would be able to better balance my work load.

Usually I am not very good at that kind of thing at all and don't stand up for myself very well.

So I was pleased with my achievement!

[the_motorcycle_boy]

Great idea for a thread Beltane, good on you regards your interview. Good luck with the job!

Well, I haven't had any huge achievements lately so I'll settle for a small one. I'm nearly up to 50 posts. Now that's a real achievement for me. It is hard to believe that people have actually written thousands. Amazing! 

Also, as I'm recovering from depression I notice things, almost imperceptibly, getting better, each and every day. This is great motivation to hang in there. So I guess this is an achievement in the pipeline!