Hi, my name is Angie. I need to share my success story with you! On the forum people know me as "AngieJ". My first panic attack was July 22nd, 2001. My own personal Doomsday holiday. Actually
I had had some milder ones before then but I suspected I was perhaps becoming slightly diabetic
as people sometimes later on do. But that day, honies, my life changed BIG TIME. You all know what it's like, I don't need to reiterate. But like the majority of us, I questioned my health, the next few minutes of my life and of course….my sanity. I felt like the panic attack went on continuously for four days, when in fact it didn't. The breaks were just so small they were unrecognizable to me. I did
sleep at times, so I guess I didn't die after all! Luckily, an *english-speaking Psychiatrist in the
 phone book did house calls (*this was in Germany) and kindly sought me out for my first
appointment. He was at our apartment for nearly 3 hours. What a gem he was! And even though
 I even "managed" to get to his office for the second appointment, there was no real plan of action. Unlike most Psychiatrists of today he didn't believe in prescribing medication for this, which I apppreciated; however, I still wasn't a bit closer to being any saner than the day before in any way.
(He did get me to finally eat something on the 3rd day, entirely beneficial I should add.) After that I sought out the care of a Homeopath. She was very thorough, and I connected with her as a person, and had I not been so freaked out about everything all the time I'm sure we would have had more pleasant conversations! About 4 weeks went by of tiny globules, plastic spoons and ancestral visions…and while I may have felt better spiritually, I still wasn't better mentally or emotionally. Not really. Finally I dared to turn on the computer (yes, I was even panicky about that. And my poor dog, I couldn't even look at her the first week. My own little Allie girl!!), and got on the internet to find out
what I was going through. There must be something I could do, I thought. And that's when I found
this website and Ronnie Freedman. At this point, not having worked for a while I was strapped for cash and put off buying the program, though I knew I wanted it. I knew it would work for me. You
 know what I mean? Sometimes you just see something and it FITS. You just know it right then through and through. Still, it took me another 3 months till I asked my family "stateside" to front me
 the program. Soon it arrived at my door. My anticipation was enormous, I hoped I wasn't putting too much pressure on one source. I eagerly listened to the first tape, and then again. And right away, again! However instead of waiting the whole week, I just did both of those first two tapes the first
week. And I didn't just listen once, or twice. What else did I have to do with my time, right? I listened
to those babies all day long.
I washed clothes, folded, cooked, did the dishes, and tugged my little beach radio with me
everywhere I could. I would recite some of the things to myself as it played. Sometimes I would stop! the tape and repeat it in my head, savoring an idea. Thinking. Sometimes just outright crying or laughing! Well, as you can imagine, things started to make sense. And *I* started to make sense!
And to know that I wasn't crazy, insane, schizophrenic, or delusional was a huge relief to me. (Not to mention physically ill in any way.) I was wary to give up this doubt in myself after what I had experienced, but the positive attitude of the program really got me turned around. I was thinking backwards. Or maybe I wasn't thinking the correct things, in the correct intensity, or for the correct reasons. Whatever the case, things improved from that first day forward. Now here I am, It's August 2002. I've come back to my home country to stay. I have returned to school full-time to chase a long dream of mine: finish getting my degree. I am speaking to people. I am becoming athletic. I am
joining groups, organizations and I'm showing up for large and small events. I talk to people
whenever I choose to. And I really do enjoy them! How much happiness there is when we are
willing to start spreading it ourselves!
When our source of joy is inside, you take that bright light with you all the time. You really, honestly, truly do. I also take time now to smell the flowers. And I mean that literally!!! I do not take anything for granted anymore. I feel like I have been given a second chance at life, like a near death experience
or a reincarnation. I am still me, but now I am so much more than I ever hoped I would be. You see
the secret of my success could be, I realized after experiencing the hardships of panic and anxiety,
that life is a very full cup. I not only believe that no one needs to rush me, but I practice that for myself. It's now automatic. There is so much changing in me, even as we speak, I can only urge you to
 grasp it if you feel the urge to seek it. If you feel yourselves wanting this program, it is good to listen
to your heart. It just may be your HEART after all who needs listening to. What better place to start
than with your life? I am much clearer and honest than I was before. The positive attitude is more of a side effect than a goal. Sweet! Here's one: I used to always browse through stores and catalogs, aching and yearning for these clothes, that furniture, etc. "I wish I could afford that", "Someday…" But now…hard to explain, but now I have come to appreciate the beauty of all existence preciously and
it's fragility. I see "being" and "having" in a whole new light. When I stroll through the mall, as I sometimes for the exciting yet loungey atmosphere, I need only remind myself that those things are indeed beautiful and how lucky I am to have witnessed them in my life. No visa card to buy me that kind of appreciation. And so I don't need to take things home with me like that. I revel in joy nearly
every day. I FILL MY MIND.
My mind begged me to fill it, and yours might be doing the same thing. Shoot, it takes a lot of energy
to be a panic person. Dpesn't it? And wowwee, you can use that truly enormous, good potentional for the greatest things. See…it's not the curse. It's a blessing. You have been given the individual *opportunity* to be genuinely independent. All that energy, fire and aching can be turned into a magnetism of joy and momentum. And it is my firm belief that if you have been blessed with the
"curse of panic", then you have the unusual gate key to a unique realm of heaven on Earth.
You will go only as far as you take you. I kid you not. Here you have my heaven in ladder form, in black and white: Two years ago I thought I was getting married and having children.
One year ago I didn't get dressed, hardly ate or bathed, and thought I was losing my mind. And I was broke. My relationship was really suffering. Half a year ago I couldn't drive by alone or by myself. I wasn't sure that I redo another Atlantic flight, especially not on my own. But hey, at least I was shopping now!
3 months ago My relationship was over. He dumped me! My devasation was huge but….also
freeing. I didn't need to spend my time anymore trying to fix "our problems", while simlutaneousy trying to fix my own unique ones. I'm driving! I'm going to the movies! Things indeed improved rapidly from here on out.
This week I drove on the Dulles Toll Toad and a six-lane highway on my way to school. It's been
 a long time since I drove a car at least 65 miles an hour, singing at the top of my lungs to the melodious tunes of "Grease" with the rest of rush hour. Sure did miss that.
Yesterday I finished my first 18-credit-hour week of college classes since 1995, and
today I was offered a job interview at my favorite bookstore (because I always kept going back.)
Next week I'm going to tackle a club at the campus!
Gosh man, what could I possibly be doing ten years from now?

Now ask me if I think it's worth it.

FOUND MY SPIRIT AGAIN!

  I write this as a confirmed believer in your course. I tried everything to get rid of my anxiety, EVERYTHING, and nothing I tried worked for me. I found your program and I learned all about these feelings. If I only knew. No one ever told me the things I learned by listening to the tapes. I sat in
awe as I learned the simple truths.You educated me on the first phone conversation and I was
hooked since then. I thought I connected with an angel. You talked to me and I couldn’t get enough
of your information. I needed to hear it all. It was all so alien to me. I didn’t know what was going on
 with my body. I needed to reconnect to my family. I felt hopeless and wished I could be a part of them again. We always did everything together. I loved them so much and wanted to be with them, not a watcher from the sidelines.

I was one of those people who was told I’d have to live on medication. I remember the words.
Pretend you have diabetes or thyroid and have to take pills. Something told me they were wrong. Not funny cause I still had panic attacks :( It was painful for me to watch my friends go to work, raise their families and I couldn’t go to the food store. Dependency made me sick. I always prided myself on independence. Couldn't picture calling a neighbor I hardly knew to help me when my husband was
at work. I have too much pride. I thought I was depressed but I figured out I was discouraged.

Your course and YOU have given me a new life. I am planning ahead and getting back to my real
self. You spoke about "authentic" person and this is who I am connecting with. You showed me to honor who I am without going along with the crowd. My self esteem makes me stronger. I am
 trusting myself to take more risks. I am gaining a feeling of self love again.

I have learned Tape 2 by heart and use all through my life. I don’t argue with my husband because
it’s not necessary. I use the tape to calm my body and I can answer from a calm place. I don't fly off
 the handle anymore.I take a minute to do my steps and I’m calm. I think about my reactions. I can choose exactly how I want to feel. This is very powerful for me. I'm reading my body signals. You
were right. They are small guidelines telling me how I feel. If someone upsets me I can read it in my body. I have to stop and tune in. If I'm holding in tight I do my steps and relax before I answer.
It works!!!!! My independence has risen again. This is the icing on this cake. It’s delicious and
its mine. There is no situation too hard for me. I’m master of my own ship. This success is mine to savor but I owe it to
you. Most of all, you helped me find my spirit. I thought I lost it, but it’s back. I'm flying!!!!!

Blessings and love all around.

Sharon

                              My Personal Success, by Charles W.

I was afraid of anything you can think of, and then add a few extras. Taking my kids to school was the biggest chore in the world. Was this the person who ran an entire department for years at work? People depended on me and I was the decision maker. Hard to believe. I was reduced to a scared kid. Was I an adult or 12 years old all of a sudden? I felt humiliated and low. My wife didn’t understand but she gave me support. She must have wondered what happened to her "rock". It worsened in the summer because I was required to drive the family to our summer home 130 miles south of my safe house. I called our home the "home base" or "safe house" because it was my neutral area. For weeks I worried about the trip (with minor bellyaches) and when the day came, I backed down. This was it. This was the last straw. I called my doctor and fought back tears. He insisted I take some medicine but I hated taking anything. When I went to see him he showed me literature about the medicine and potential side effects. This scared the daylights out of me and I told him it wasn’t for me. He gave me a prescription anyway and told me to consider it.

I went home and began searching the Internet. I found the Anxiety Busters site and read it for a long time. I went through each page one at a time. I never called anyone from the Internet but here I was dialing the phone. I mostly listened to the Ronnie's voice on the other end. It soothed me and explained to me things I didn’t know. I never wanted to hang up because I was feeling better. I hung up and slept for the first time in weeks. 8 full hours, and it was heaven. I bought the program and talked to Ronnie every few days for support. My appetite was returning and I was taking chances.
I felt comfortable with myself and successfully accomplished another goal each day. I continued to make myself go to places I was afraid of and stay there too.

I was making progress a little at a time. I wasn’t perfect but I was doing it. I had fears but I stuck with it. There were days I was frustrated but I pushed on. I had the potential to beat this. I saw how to stop the panic and I wanted to use this tool more. Not ready to be with friends yet but getting closer all the time. It took a little while to get the swing of things but it started to work more often. My confidence grew with every successful day. I would call Dr. Ronnie with good news instead of questions about what to do.

Today I am working again. I am volunteering in my town in the fire department. I am leading a good life. I won’t say it was the easiest but it wasn’t that hard either. I had to do things and prove I could do them. I had to use the tools often. I had to accept days I felt less than good. I had to look at my doubts and do it anyway. I'm back in sports again too. The scared feelings of racing heart are gone. I'm kicking butt on the stairmaster and bike. I take my bike out too and riding with my son. Greatest feeling!

I am not afraid to go anywhere and those scary thoughts are long gone. It takes commitment and responsibility on our part but it is worth it all the way. I did resist taking the medicine and I'm happy I did. I know I was never sick, even when it felt like it. I went through panic and fears and thats what did it. I never hid from it on the days I was successful. I learned to expect some fear and annihilated it by coming to terms with it.

Thanks for giving me the chance to write this. It makes me see how far I’ve come!

A big thank you!!!

Michael

                                                         Safety Kit

My personal "safety kit" was my best friend. It sounds funny now but it wasn't at the time. I was
terrified of feeling panic and not being able to escape. I had to have an escape plan. Always
 thought of where I could run if I had to get out of a place. I lost so much weight and dare not exercise because I was afraid it would hurt my heart and make me lose MORE WEIGHT. I had nowhere to
turn. My family doctor told me about Anxiety Busters and I called right away. In the past I would have thought about calling for at least a week. This time I was desperate. When I heard Ronnie’s voice I began to cry. She listened to me sob and tell my story. She never rushed me and when I was done she told me how I was going to use my energy to get strong and turn it around. I was so exhausted that all I could do was shake my head up and down, nodding yes to whatever she suggested. I was READY!

This is me two months later. I did listen to what she said. I followed her advice word for word and almost like a robot did what she said. I listened to the tapes and never went off course. This was too important. It paid off and then some.

My first success was proved to me on a holiday. It was at a nearby relatives house, one I used to
stay 5 minutes and leave. I would show up to let them know I was still a family member and then
 scoot out. They all knew why and it embarrassed me. It was hard to face anyone. I don't know how
I did it.

I went this time and decided to stay. No one made me stay. I decided to stay as long as I felt okay. I decided to stay until I felt uncomfortable and had to leave. I was one of the last to go! I helped my cousin clean up after many of the others left. This was proof. I was on my way.

The door was opened a little more for me when I stopped hoping the panic wouldn’t come. It didn’t matter, like Ronnie said. If it came, I was prepared. I was eager to use my new skills anyway.
I became obsessed with using them. I loved it because they stopped the symptom. I was so
prepared. As long as I did what the tape said, they worked. I thought it was like having a secret weapon.

Since beginning the course I have shopped in our local stores. Picked out meats at the butcher (big deal for me since I panicked there last year), had my hair cut and returned for hair coloring, joined a gym with a pool, and ate two dinners and three lunches at two different restaurants (not fast food).

I also visited my doctor and he told me I gained back 4 pounds (I had lost 11). I put my "safety kit"
away because I don’t need it anymore. I’m stronger than I thought. My favorite pastime is to go into places I’ve been wanting to go into but was afraid of before. I do it myself, no safety net or kit.
 I use my steps and strike up another success. I love it.

I used to be very sensitive about confrontations. I take a breath, use my steps to calm myself and
deal now. I don’t have to doubt what I say. I’m more confident of who I am. I don’t need approval to
 feel justified. I have myself. I trust myself so much more now. I’m remembering how strong I am. I sort of lost myself for a while but I’m coming back stronger. My best friend said I was looking more confident. She actually noticed!

Thank you for helping me help myself. Your guidance showed me the way. I love you dearly
 for all your help. You are a friend for life in my book.

Love,
Lisa

                                                Have My Family Back

I never thought I’d be writing a letter to you about MY own success. I thought I was your worst possible case. Here was a grown woman with 3 kids crying uncontrollably over her life, or lack of thereof. My husband had the load on his shoulders and all I could do was stand by and watch. I loved these children but I was drained. Maybe I was even a little angry at my life.

Sometime in the past year the stress reached its limit and I fell to pieces. I found you by a stroke of good luck and read the web pages. Tears streamed down my face when I read about others like myself. Still, I had 3 kids who needed me and time was very important.

I clung to you for the first few weeks and I apologize for my neediness, but you never let me down.
You gave me steady advice and kept feeding me information. You told me things to do, listed how I should do it. You even told me to call if I needed more support before I left for a party my husbands boss was throwing. Those day still hang heavy on my brain when I think of them.

You explained everything to me and gave me step by step plans I could follow. I was so fatigued and those plans helped me because they were something I could understand without too much stressful wondering. Each success I shared with you. We laughed together and you cheered me on.
You never left me wondering or feeling hopeless.

I was so tense and sore in the beginning. My whole body ached and I had neck pains and stomach problems. They are GONE now and have not returned. You showed me how to see my angers and extinguish them. I swear it was after this I lost the neck pains. I was holding on to a lot of junk.

My children have their mom back and I’m a better mom than before. This experience led me to slow down and enjoy the present. I don’t rush anymore. I try to live in the moment. I wake up a little earlier, do my yoga and have a leisurely cup of herbal tea before the whole family gets up. This gives me my time to sort out my day. I love it because it gives me time with me. We all need this. You told me how
to use these "chunks of time" as you called it. It’s been very valuable along with all the other tools.

Blessings to everyone who has this. I’ve seen both places. I learned a lot along the way, but love
 what its taught me. Your program is ACES and I’m your biggest fan. Lives can change if we want
them to. Your love and support is appreciated every day of my life. I have my kids back. I have my
family back and I have my life back again. You helped make my wish come true!!!

Love,
Brenda

                                             Career Going Strong

I took 3 different tape courses (none worked) and saw my doctor for numerous tests before I found you.

I was giving up and ready to live with this forever. No one understood me or what I felt until I spoke to you.

I needed to get back to work immediately. I’m an athlete and there’s no waiting for time or excuses in my business. You took time out of your busy schedule and taught me things I never knew before. You did not miss a beat.

You had me back at my career in a weeks time. I could not believe it. I had some work to do with the program but you worked along with me all the way. I'm even taking the vitamins we talked about.
They helped! Since I changed my diet I'm stronger and have more energy. I also sleep better. Foods did make a difference since I dumped the coffee and colas.

You are some special lady. It was like a window opened and I saw sunlight again. I’m pulling my
 load now. I’m not whining to myself (I did this a lot before). Instead I do what needs to be done.
I’m not holding it in anymore. I’m saying what’s on my mind but tactfully as you suggested.
Don’t worry, I’m not losing the temper anymore either.

The sum reason of my writing is to let you know the difference you made for me and my family.
Being, not the typist, my wife is doing this for me, but we wanted you to know my feelings. You saved my career and family life. I wonder if you know it. WE all send you our love and deepest gratitude. We don’t want your efforts to go unnoticed and give thanks for knowing you. You gave me my career back and I’ll never forget it. My family will never forget it either.

My wish is to meet you one day and to thank you in person. This was no accident. You must have been sent to me and I give thanks again for this blessing. Bless you and all you are helping.

My sincerest gratitude,

James