Posted by Raf on 17/5/2011, 11:41 am, in reply to "Beginners Workshop Manchester (13/15 May 2011)"

I too would like to thank Andrew for all his efforts and help the other day. As someone pointed out during this meet up, “I was surprised everyone was normal”. This is exactly the same reaction I had. It is also the reason I was reluctant to go in the first place. I too thought that people with AP would be a bit strange. But how wrong I was. You, and anyone else that attends are all just as normal as one another!! So if you are reading this and asking yourself the same questions as I did, then just ignore them and sign up. You have nothing to lose. I also thought that I was a lost cause and that anyway 48 hours wouldn’t help me whatsoever. Yes I still have a long way to go, but I now do feel that I’m on a track as opposed to no track at all. Finally the very fact of talking to others (and even laughing about it) was slightly surreal for me. Until then I had never told a soul and had never intended too. But it took away so many anxiety of my chest it’s ridiculous. While the mere thought of entering public facilities made me anxious to begin with, I now have a bit of a buzz thinking ‘screw this I’ll just go’, and if it doesn’t work, just try again a bit later. So by speaking to other people, realising you are not a freak, de-sensing in a controlled environment, and equipping yourself with the right attitude and advice needed to deal with it, I’ve gone from thinking ‘I’m doomed for the rest of my life’, to ‘there is light at the end of the tunnel’. As I said, if you are anything like me, I found it difficult to admit to myself I get anxious in such kind of situations and delayed going to one of the workshops for about 3 years. The fact that you are on this website, have clicked on the forum, and are reading this message no doubt means you suffering and want to do something about it. Therefore, just sign up, and don’t look back

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