I would never in a million years have picked up this book (When Panic Attacks) if I had seen it at the store.
“I don’t have panic attacks,” I would have thought to myself. “Sure, life is stressful, but I’m hanging in there. I’m okay. I’m not falling apart.”
But here’s the reality: I was kind of falling apart. I was waking up every day with tense shoulders and my heart beating fast. I worried constantly. I didn’t breathe well. And I couldn’t see an end to it.
It’s hard to explain why I was struggling so much. My personal life, my family, and my business were going really well. I have so many things to be grateful for.
But somewhere in the back of my mind, there was a constant onslaught of thoughts emphasizing everything that was hard (my mother in the last stages of Alzheimer’s, difficult issues I needed to resolve). That voice would say things like, “You’ll never be able to reach your goals. You’re not good enough. Everything relies on you, and you don’t have what it takes. You’re weak. You’re not going to make it another day.”
In retrospect, I can see those weren’t thoughts from God. But somehow I believed them, and they left me feeling panicked.
As a cautious cry for help, I posted my situation in our M.O.M. Facebook group and asked for help. I can’t even explain how incredible the suggestions were (and I need to do a post about all of them), but a few days later, this book appeared in the mail from Candi Kidd, one of our amazing team members here at Power of Moms. As I read the book, I learned that it was totally possible for me to eliminate the anxiety I had been feeling.
I started breathing better almost immediately. I stopped waking up with my heart racing. And I realized that I have been “anxious” since I was NINE.
I’m not totally there yet. I’m still training my brain to overcome “cognitive distortions,” as Dr. Burns refers to them, but the level of peace that I feel today is WAY better than anything I’ve ever experienced in the past, and I knew I needed to share it with you.
I emailed Dr. Burns, who is no longer formally practicing Psychiatry (but is now on the volunteer staff at Stanford University), and he graciously agreed to come onto Power of Moms Radio and share this process from his book with the whole community.
I need to emphasize the fact that this is a BIG deal. Dr. Burns’ book “Feeling Good” has sold five million copies. He is a world expert on this topic. And he cares so much about you, the mothers of the world, that he took time out of his schedule to create this recording.
If you don’t suffer from anxiety, the concepts in this book will still help you to have a healthier perspective on your life. And this step-by-step process for overcoming negative thoughts is ABSOLUTELY applicable to our children.
I hope you love this interview…and then I hope you’ll buy the book and study it and teach the concepts to everyone you know.
Much love,
April
Show Notes:
When Panic Attacks (the book!)
Feeling Good (focused on overcoming depression)
David Burns, MD is Adjunct Clinical Professor Emeritus in the Department of Psychiatry at Stanford University School of Medicine. He has served as Visiting Scholar at Harvard Medical School and Chief of Psychiatry at Presbyterian-University of Pennsylvania Medical Center in Philadelphia. His best-selling books, Feeling Good, and the Feeling Good Handbook, have sold over five million copies worldwide, and are the books most frequently recommended by therapists for individuals suffering from depression. He offers many resources for therapists and for the general public on his website, https://feelinggood.com.
Music from Creations by Michael R. Hicks
Audio editing by Emily Peterson
Thank you for this podcast! I always “plan” on listening to webinars and podcasts about motherhood every week. However, I never stop long enough to actually listen in. For whatever reason I put on my headphones and started listening to your podcast today. Ten minutes into your interview I was in tears and ordering Dr. Burns books. I needed this so very much! I have been a “bad mom” since giving birth to both of my sons (now 13 and almost 12) two months prematurely. I have always believed that I had already failed my boys since my body did not carry them full term. I am constantly trying to make up for failing them. It is such a relief to hear that I am not alone in my anxious state. Thank you so much for sharing your story and for sharing the interview with Dr. Burns!
Liege, I am so glad you shared your story here. Thank you for being a part of our community. I had a premature baby, too (10 weeks early), and any of those beliefs we’ve been struggling with can be adjusted. The fact that you’re here at Power of Moms means you CARE. That is success. That can never be failure. You are definitely not alone. So glad to know you!
Hi April,
Wow, I needed this tonight!
Thanks!
Melanie
Correction: the link to Dr. Burns website has one less “i” in it.
Thanks, Katie! We have it fixed.
I’m not able to download this to my phone. When I click on “Listen from your phone,” it goes to a page with “Error: 404 not found.” Can you help? It’s hard for me to block out uninterrupted time on my computer! Thanks!
Hi Elena! We have fixed the link. Thanks so much for the heads up!
-Andrea
I really enjoyed listening to this Podcast. I love the vulnerability and honesty that exists as mothers share openly with each other about these things. I’ve actually read Dr. Burns books and am looking forward to reading this one, too.