To Lucinda and the Midwest Center,

Sue Shea

Thank you so much for creating this tremendous tool for good mental health! I am going through the program for the second time and I am definitely feeling better. I was not suffering from anything quite as dramatic as the people on the tapes. My problem was an underlying sense of unease, doubt and worry. This condition never stopped me from doing anything but it sure made everything very difficult. Most days felt like walking up a very steep hill, just trying to get to the end of the day. I always downplayed my successes and ignored any good times or good days because there was probably bad luck right around the corner, especially if I let my guard down or felt too happy.

There is really nothing wrong with my life-nothing at all. I have a good job, a wonderful, loving boyfriend..., a nice home and I am healthy. But, as mom and my aunts have done before me, I would worry it all away. I am now busy un-learning these poor habits and behaviors and life has become a more positive and cheerier place to be!

I have been and plan to keep using this program as a guide to daily living. The sneaky, aggravating little things are what usually get to me-the tapes will remind me to stop, re-think and figure them out and not get worried or saddened by them.

Thanks again for all your help and keep up this excellent work!

Sincerely,
Sue Shea

To Whom It May Concern:

I have just completed week 15 for the second time but this time with a coach to help me. I started the program last September 2005 and did it on my own the first time around. I saw improvement but I knew I was not where I wanted to be. Since working with my coach, Mary Lou Remling, I now feel that I have made progress and I am definitely feeling the good effects.

My depression/anxiety started over 32 years ago after the birth of my fourth child. There were many stressors going on in my life at that time. After most of the stressors let up some I then began to experience feelings that I have never had before, i.e., could not sleep, eat, didn't want to be around anybody, cried all the time and often had scary, scary thoughts... I would look at the knives in the kitchen and panic because of the horrible things I was thinking. I too felt I could tell no one but finally after such terrible fear I told my husband. He did not panic but listened and tried to reassure me.

I went deeper and deeper into a dark hole...I was hospitalized...heavily medicated on antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications...had so many side effects from these mediations - they didn't help much if any. After 8 years - an aunt, who had suffered greatly with depression, told me that she was on a diet for hypoglycemia and it had helped her as much as anything had. I too went on the diet of no sugar, caffeine, white flour or alcohol. The diet, after being on it strictly for a month, brought more relief than any of the medications I had tried thus far. I have remained on the diet...

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