"Life isn't about finding yourself.
Life is about creating yourself." -- George Bernard Shaw

THE PANIC DISORDER NEWSLETTER--ISSUE #13
September 11, 1997

By Cathleen Henning - panicdisorder.guide@about.com
The Panic Disorder Guide at The Mining Company
http://panicdisorder.about.com

The newsletter is published electronically every Thursday.
Let me know if you haven't received yours by Saturday!

** INSIDE **

* Getting By: Coping and recovery tips
* Keeping Up: Reviews
* Reaching Out: Requests for or offers of help

* What's New: At the Panic Disorder site
* Final Thoughts: From the Panic Disorder Guide

Submissions are most welcome!! E-mail your tips, reviews and requests to panicdisorder.guide@about.com.

** GETTING BY **

Coping and recovery tips

Be Good to Yourself Day

No, being "good" to yourself will not cure panic disorder, but I am of the opinion that continuous self-care will help you greatly in your recovery.

It's difficult to change habits, so don't be hard on yourself if you can't stop ones that may be causing you difficulties. That's why I'm suggesting that you schedule a "Be Good to Yourself Day" once per month. Eventually, you can make it once a week, and, someday, maybe it will be a daily habit.

What you do on Be Good to Yourself Day will be highly individual. Not everyone can be completely alone even once a month. If you have children, think of activities you enjoy doing with them. You could strike up a game of hide and seek, but play as if you were a child, too. Remember the excitement of waiting to be found! Follow your game by baking some cookies and actually EATING a bunch of them. :-)

If you can be alone for the day, or part of the day, you needn't spend a lot or any money on pampering yourself. Take out a favorite book from the library, indulge in a bubble bath, or just spend the day in your garden.

If on the scheduled day you find that you're not in the mood for pampering yourself, you might want to re-schedule. Self- indulgence could help you cope with that mood; however, if you're extremely anxious or even panicky, be sure to return to your favorite coping methods. Be Good to Yourself Day might simply mean that for one day, you simply stop pushing yourself.

** KEEPING UP **

Reviews of books, tapes, videos and websites

This week's reviewer: Christine from Canada

I would like to offer up this web site to others who may find this site rather interesting, helpful and supportive. There is an excellent little piece called "Eileen Ask's" and she has had people submit their personal experiences with panic disorder. In my opinion, this is one of the best homepages I have recently come across. On a scale of 1 to 10, it gets an 8.5 with me!

Here is the web site address: http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Gallery/1909/.

** REACHING OUT **

Requests for and offers of help

Amanda at fellicity@aol.com has offered support to anyone who needs it. She writes, "I'd be happy to contribute my time, and give what I can to others w/ Panic-Agoraphobia." Feel free to write to Amanda if you could use a friend (and we all can!).

For other people giving or in need of support, check out the Panic Disorder Support Page.

** WHAT'S NEW **

This week's feature at the Panic Disorder Site is part four of the introductory series on medication. The feature offers basic information and links on monoamine oxidase inhibitors. Check it out here.

** FINAL THOUGHTS **

Two key elements of panic disorder recovery are information and support. You can find both at the Panic Disorder site. Don't underestimate the power of interacting with other people who have shared similar experiences. Internet support (via a newsgroup and e-mail) helped me through the most difficult time of my illness--when I was housebound. I hope you'll take advantage of the support offered by other visitors to the Panic Disorder site, and I hope you'll offer support if you feel that you can give it right now.

Take good care,
Cathleen Henning

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The Panic Disorder Newsletter is copyright 1997 by Cathleen Henning. The individual writers hold copyright to the individual messages.

You are welcome to give this newsletter to others as long as you don't change the newsletter in any way, include the copyright statement, and do not charge for the newsletter.