In celebration of my soon to be released Special Report How to Stop Anxious Thinking I’ve decided to run a competition.

To enter the competition all you have to do is submit a short story describing your most memorable triumph over anxiety. Whether it was overcoming panic, public speaking, or extreme nervousness in any number of situations. Be creative.

In one week I will select the winner and give that person a free copy of How to Stop Anxious Thinking and publish their entry on Anxietyguru.net.

Here are a few quick guidelines:

• The story should be true.
• The entry must be at least 250 words long, but no more than 800.
• The story should also be written to convey a lesson or moral about living with anxiety.
• All entries should be sent to info@anxietyguru.net.

You’ve got until 02/28/2010 to send your entry. The winner will be announced by 03/01/2010.

I’m looking forward to reading your stories. In sending an entry you’re not only entering a competition – but you’ll also help people in the Anxiety Guru community. Reading the experiences of others I think helps us all see that we’re not alone.

Let the games begin!

Update:

After reviewing the entries over the last week I have selected a winner for the Special Report Competition.

I’ve also decided to publish both the winner’s entry and the runner up’s. I thought both stories were compelling and I could really empathize with both.

Runner up: Sue Mackenzie

Sue MacKenzie wrote:
My son graduated from high school this past summer, and would you believe I
started worrying about attending his grad 6 months before?

I am somewhat claustrophobic, so the thought of being in a hot, crowded auditorium scared me
silly. I was so afraid I wouldn’t summon up the courage to take part in this
very important occasion in our lives. I told myself many times that if I
couldn’t deal with it, I could just leave the room for a short break, and who
would even notice me. When we arrived, I asked my ever patient husband if we
could sit high up near the back, and he was prepared with his long telephoto
lens – good thinking!

I was able to find an open area near the top, where I
could see just fine, and was relaxed enough to enjoy the ceremony. I sometimes
think I was a failure because I didn’t sit right down near the front and be
closer to the action, but then I remember, I did attend, and I found a way to
make it more comfortable and enjoyable for myself and my family.

Winner of the Special Report Competition: Sarah

Sarah wrote:
My problems with anxiety and panic started in 1998, which lead into severe
agoraphobia and monophobia.

My biggest accomplishment is easy. I was roombound in my house for 18 months.
Couldn’t go upstairs at all. I only have one bathroom in my house and that is
upstairs!!! I basically lived in my front room, getting over the threshold to
the kitchen was hell, even though it was only a matter of inches away.

My ex partner would have to work (he worked ONE minute away), but i would panic
all day, i would call him 20 – 30 times begging him to come home, sometimes it
was just so he could help me upstairs to use the toilet.

(I was the mother of a 9 month old baby at this time too)

Fast forward to now. I’ve got to the point where i can now go anyway with my
mother (safe person) and i can walk about a mile on my own around the estate
near my house. I live alone and i’m a single mother.

From being room bound, to be able to walk A MILE doesn’t seem much to the
“normal” person, but going from NOT being able to be on my own….and not being
able to leave my front room – is MASSIVE!!!

Sarah will receive a free copy of my Special Report How to Stop Anxious Thinking as her prize.

I thought all the entries were great, but Sue’s desire to overcome her anxiety for the sake of someone else was really courageous and selfless. Hats off to sue.

And congratulations to Sarah, not just for winning the competition, but for winning her battle with agoraphobia. Granted, she might have some way to go, but considering where she started, this was a great accomplishment.

I’d also like to thank everyone else that participated in the Special Report competition.

I hope that in some small way this shows you that although anxiety can be difficult to overcome, it’s not impossible. You can do it.

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