By Dr. R. E. Freedman

“The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are.”

Those who struggle with anxiety and depersonalization are often creatures of habit. They find change difficult and resistance overrides any inclination towards a different approach. This is the precise resistance that keeps one stuck in unpleasant reactions.

Taking the first step requires courage. It also requires the ability to recognize the fact that you have been trapped far longer than necessary with these symptoms and are finally ready to make the change happen.

Resistance creates contraction throughout the body. Every time you resist, your muscles contract, releasing stress chemicals into the body. This results in all those symptoms that have been troubling you. It is time to drop your resistance and stop spinning your wheels. It’s time to make a commitment to yourself and end these intrusive reactions once and for all. It’s time to summon the courage to make a change, to learn the correct skills to ensure recovery and move forward with a life that is far more enjoyable, not just sometimes, but the majority of the time.

Taking the first steps:

(1) Realize that recovery is dependent on the way you think, not the meds you take. Permanent recovery requires your participation in changing habits and behaviors. It’s not difficult but does require your involvement.

(2) Make a commitment to make those simple changes in thought and diet. Change isn’t always comfortable but one will always adjust, especially if they notice a positive change in the way they feel.

(3) Be aware of the unconscious habit of resistance and contraction. Resistance is the first response to the unfamiliar and to stressful situations. Contraction is the result of this resistance. Consciously loosen your attitude and your body. Notice tension in muscles and thought. Release yourself from this pressure. Allow it to drain from your mind and body as your muscles and thoughts find warmth in relaxation.

(4) Realize that the power to overcome any unproductive behavior and body reaction is within yourself. It is something most are unaware of and have not yet learned to use. Your thoughts dictate every reaction in both mind and body. Learn the correct way to talk back to your brain, to demand the reactions you wish to occur. No longer be victim to self-sabotage and fears. Learn how to think correctly and you have broken the chains of both anxiety and depersonalization.

It is worth it to take the risk…to take the first step toward recovery. You have nothing to lose except your fear and limited way of living. One must always take the chance or forever live with regret. There is so much to gain by moving forward. Once armed with the proper skills there is no turning back. Using these skills allows the clarity to break through the fog and continue doing so. It’s your choice, it always has been. Just a taste of this freedom is enough for you to begin trusting yourself again and back into productive living.