STICKING
	
WITH	IT
Whatever	you	do,	please,	please	be	sure	to	recognize	and	celebrate	your
successes.	I	have	worked	with	many	people	who	make	major	progress,	but
once	the	progress	is	made	they	minimize	or	dismiss	it.	When	that	happens,
they	self-defeat	future	progress.
For	example,	Hannah	started	therapy	not	being	able	to	get	a	moment’s	respite
from	panic,	feeling	on	edge,	and	muscle	tension.	She	was	so	consumed	by	her
constant	worries	that	she	could	not	be	present,	let	alone	enjoy	her	life.	She
made	the	decision	to	take	charge	and	became	gradually	more	at	ease
emotionally	and	physically.	Hannah	integrated	various	techniques	into	her
daily	routine	and	her	symptoms	improved.	She	started	working	again,
enjoying	sporting	events,	and	spending	time	with	friends.
Sometimes	she	would	have	a	reoccurrence	of	panic	and	find	herself	in	a
familiar	trance	where	her	entire	focus	was	riveted	to	worries	piling	up.	It	also
threw	her	into	a	self-critical	spiral.	Suddenly	thinking	she	had	made	no
progress	at	all,	she	would	abandon	the	strategies	that	had	brought	her	relief.
Progress
	
is	not	a	straight	line.	Setbacks	are	part	of	any	growth	and	change
process.	Anyone	who	has	raised	a	child	can	recall	a	baby	finally	sleeping