So far so good :)

This is just another update for 3-24-10. So far I have been doing pretty well. I feel like my life is starting to change around. I've been avoiding suspicious thoughts and always trying to distract myself. Getting back into playing a game seems to help GOD willing as long as I don't become obsessed which ends up having the reverse affect. Good job me! :)

Quick Update

So far I have been doing pretty well. Once in a while I get anxious over something (especially since some problems at school made a bunch of us nervous and anxious about what was going to happen). I get disappointed when I let myself "overthink" something and then I start getting a little anxious telling myself "what is something happened to her?" (in my girlfriend's case) but I always remind myself that it is silly and instead of even thinking about how silly it is I try to move on.

GOD willing I'll do better with time!

Pillar Nine- The Final Pillar

Before doing the last visualization and reading Pillar 9 I went over a quick recap of the Pillars:

• PILLARS:
• Pillar 1- STOP VISITING EVERY PRACTITIONER YOU CAN FIND
  
• Pillar 2- TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT STOPPING YOUR MEDICATION
  
• Pillar 3- STOP RESEARCHING YOUR CONDITION


• Pillar 4- ONLY FOLLOW THIS METHOD


• Pillar 5- STOP TALKING ABOUT YOUR CONDITION


• Pillar 6- STOP LEANING ON OTHER PEOPLE


• Pillar 7- DON'T HOLD ONTO MEMORIES OF YOUR CONDITION


• Pillar 8- DIVERT YOUR MIND- MAKE IT YOUR NEW HABIT- ALWAYS!

Now this is where I stop and truly digest this information, it is very important to eliminating anxiety. Pillars 1-2 do not really apply to me since I have not visited a doctor about this or taken any medication but the rest are still very important. Now that I feel I have fully absorbed those Pillars, here is Pillar 9:

• PILLAR 9
• STOP ACCOMMODATING YOUR ANXIETY

Don't let your daily routines REVOLVE AROUND YOUR ANXIETY. This is just giving your anxiety a reason to sit back and know that it has it easy. Make it a challenge for your anxiety so you can ultimately defeat it. Eventually your subconscious will be re-trained and you will learn to become anxious in situations that actually call for it - YOUR SITUATION DOES NOT CALL FOR IT! STOP TELLING YOURSELF IT DOES!

I hope from here on to read the rest of the book and listen to the other goodies that came with it about Phobias/Anxiety Eliminators/Etc.

PS: As I was writing this I was 'subconsciously' worried about my girlfriend responding to my texts and getting home from work safe GOD willing. Right as I am finishing up, I get a text: SHE IS HOME AND FINE! This is why distraction is truly important, don't take it from me (even though I am just another "patient" here), CHANGE YOUR LIFE NOW! (I am not saying buy the Linden Method, I just want YOU to get BETTER because I know how great it is starting to feel!)

I hope to keep this updated in the future about future readings and progress, cheers!

Pillar Eight

Today I read Pillar Eight. Thank goodness, only one more visualization to listen to and then I read the last pillar and the rest of the book.

Pillar Eight

• DISTRACT YOURSELF ALWAYS
• Get into HEALTHY habits, such as arts and crafts, going out with friends, exercise, etc
• FILL EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY

One specific tip mentioned was to go to sleep at night in your quiet moments if you can't distract yourself (but even then you should put on loud music and sing along or whatever). Now for me the whole problem was I felt I couldn't sleep until my girlfriend was home safe and sound (which doesn't happen till 12-1am) but even while staying up I am bearing with it a lot better.

I must say though, I FEEL THIS HAS BEEN WORKING. I am not a "Linden Method" promoter I am just someone who, honestly decided to try this out myself, without consulting anyone, and it just makes sense. It's something for those who don't know how to give themselves the right tips to help them move in the right direction. DISTRACTION has been one of the most useful things to me against worry. I know that I have a problem, RECOGNIZING that is very important, but because I know, I also am able to fight it. When I start worrying I think of pizza most the time and it helps, oddly enough.

Find your own distraction. Tell yourself there is nothing to worry about. Remember how many people live in peace though they are in much more volatile situations. Put your trust in GOD, imagine yourself placing whatever you worry about into God's hands, or some beam of light, whatever works for you!

Pillar Seven

Pillar Seven:

• DON'T HOLD ON TO MEMORIES OF YOUR CONDITION
• This includes not going into detail about how you "defeated your condition"
• You must allow the subconscious to let go of these memories, if you hold on/imagine/dwell on them you will never LET THEM GO!

So far The Linden Method makes sense. It's almost like teaching you to let go of your ex-girlfriend. As soon as you forget about her and focus on what is ahead of you, you move on. You will keep telling yourself anyway, "but she was the only one for me, I'll never find someone else, etc etc" but these thoughts are BAD. Even if you feel you can JUSTIFY these thoughts, in the great scheme of things, they hold you back! Whether or not you are meant to be together again, dwelling on the subject is NEVER A PLUS.

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In other news, life has felt a little better. Particularly today I am cheering up more, thank GOD. I try to go out to eat with classmates more (all of us geeks) and I know I need to get out of the house more or else I start to be repelled against going out into the outside world.

Also, more importantly, I am worrying less about my girlfriend. I need to remember GOD and put her in GOD's hands. There have been a few occasions already where I did not worry 50% as much as I did when she was going home from work or school like before, and I feel that is an achievement!

Pillar 6

Today I went through Pillar 6. Of course I did the visualization which has become a little troublesome for me, I just want to skip it sometimes. Maybe it would be better if I had a more comfortable place to do it I suppose.

So Pillar 6 says:

• STOP LEANING ON OTHERS
• Remember that trying to get comfort through someone else is temporary
• This has never solved the problem, you need to look within yourself and FIND YOUR SOLUTION

I'm getting kinda anxious (oops bad term) to start reading the book itself rather than just the Pillars but I'm almost there. I've felt "OK" too long I suppose so I haven't been keeping up with the Pillars even though they should have all been done by now.

As for how I am doing, today I feel went by fine. Nothing too spectacular (with work and school life can't be too special anyway). Overall, though, OK is better than negative feelings. Once or twice worry tried to creep up on me and I did my best to employ the idea to LET IT COME IN. In fact, what I do is challenge it! I say come on! You need to come in, this needs to be at it's worst so I can get over it. Miraculously the feeling goes away, and using this method it never got to the point where it really bothered me.

I will keep trying this to see if it helps me avoid depression/anxiety, GOD willing. I am amazed myself at how it's going to be honest. I feel like a human being can master their subconscious mind! :)