More Than These Groups

As a Medical Psychologist I chose to devote my practice to anxiety disorders because I recovered from a severe one. After decades or patient treatment, groups and starting one of the first and largest anxiety groups (at that time – no longer on line) on the internet this is what I have observed.   Whether it is group therapy or internet forums people tend to not remain in the groups once recovered. They just want to get back to living and don’t share their methods of recovery or help those behind them...I know a rare few do but those truly recovered tend to disappear.   What this tends to do is leave behind a reservoir of people who are still lost and have not learned the recovery skills. This is fantastic for a hand to hold, others who understand the suffering and once in a rare time a pearl of wisdom.   I just don’t see what I know about how to train a nervous system to be healthy ever being shared on these groups. I also see tons of misinformation and none of new research on these conditions.   I do most of my anxiety counseling via telephone and I am always amazed that I can have a patient for a year then without warning they disappear. I used to call and check on them and what I found was that they had gained the necessary insights and skills and were recovering or had recovered.   This is so unfortunate because the best resource for recovery is from someone who has accomplished it...and people absolutely do recover from anxiety, fibromyalgia and all the associated comorbid conditions. I have personally and I have hundreds of patients who are 100% recovered. (as long as they continue using their recovery skills)   So my point is use these groups for support but never stop searching and learning. If you want to learn to play tennis you don’t go to a place that no one has ever played before – you go to a person that has the skill set to play great tennis and can teach you...this is almost never doctors in our health system!!!   In fact it is well known that allopathic and holistic medicine has nothing to offer these conditions and their treatment can often perpetuate of exacerbate the conditions.   Please do not believe that these conditions are permanent, I and millions of people have recovered from anxiety, fibro, IBS and other CNS related conditions. And yes I will have the potential to have symptoms return if I fail to use my recovery skills or get too stressed.   Enjoy the support here but keep searching – keep learning and look for a mentor that has recovered and learn from them...you will recover and be stronger than ever!!!