People with anxiety & depression are very sensitive to changes going on in and around them. This is normal for this condition. Being sensitive means "feeling" these changes, but being sensitive does not have to mean being afraid of these changes. Being afraid is just your old attitude saying, "I cannot deal with this pain!" Being calm is just your new attitude saying "I CAN deal with this pain. I have coping skills!" Staying calm in a growth spurt means supporting yourself with compassionate dialog. Feeling anxious is you frightening yourself about the change you are going through. Change is difficult enough without frightening yourself. What situation is made better by scaring yourself? Aren't difficult situations difficult enough without the added pressure we put upon ourselves?

Growth spurts help us to see how compassionate we can be in tough times. Dealing with painful body symptoms, fears, memories, negative outcomes and any type of challenge life can bring is always made more tolerable with compassion. Compassion is a way to control the fear of change. Growth spurts offer us a chance to practice our compassion.

When you feel you have fallen into the pit of depression & anxiety yet again, let compassion give you a hand out. When you've been through enough growth spurts to trust that the hand of compassion will be there to pull you out again and again, you will have less fear of growing, changing, learning, practicing and living life in every moment. Even the challenging moments of a growth spurt.

Give yourself a hand. You deserve it!
Tammy

Each day I live, I have more to be grateful for. It has been just over two and one-half years since I went through the Attacking Anxiety and Depression program. Since that time I have been blessed to be a Coach, helping others the way you are helping so many. My journey of recovery continues each day as I peel off negativity one layer at a time.

I have always excelled in obsessive worry and what if thinking. Recently, my nephew had a mole removed and found it was malignant. The old me would have worried, obsessed, and what-ifed to the point of making myself sick. This time I prayed asking God to provide healing angels for Cody. (That surgery and a second were successful.)

I believe that by developing an attitude of gratitude, you prevent yourself from falling into the trap of worry and what if. I am going to obsess..."I have never had so much to be grateful for."

Thanks to each and every one of you.
Bob Bassett

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