Success Stories
For the privacy of our clients no pictures will be shared and only first names of the authors will published.
Shelley's Story:
My son has been struggling with anxiety since he was a teenager. We always hoped that he would grow out of it, but when he came closer and closer to graduating high school we knew that he wouldn't be able to leave the house. He wanted to go to college, go on a service mission for our church, and someday get married and have a family of his own. But his anxiety kept him from ever really believing in himself. As parents we didn't know what to do, and we didn't know how to talk to him about it.
Our bishop, an ecclesiastical leader in our church, suggested we try this program with him. We did the program as a family, and it was amazing to see the results. The thing that was most helpful for me as his mother was to understand what he was going through and how to talk to him about it. Before I would just try phases like "you'll get through this" or "you're being dramatic " (that was when I was most frustrated with the situation), but now I feel like I understand what is going on in his mind better. Then, because I learned the coping tools (that is what they call them in the program), I can now say more helpful things like "what is your anxiety telling you now?" or "let's talk through the worst case scenario and make a plan." It has been a real blessing in our relationship because I now feel like I can talk to him and work through the anxiety rather than stand on the sidelines. He is doing much better, and I am confident that over time, we will be able to look forward to him living the life he wants. I highly recommend this program.
Brian's Story:
I have dealt with anxiety for about 10 years now. It had become so much a part of my life that I thought that I would always feel stressed, anxious, and tired. My doctor prescribed me some anti-anxiety medication and that helped to take off the edge, but I just wanted to be rid of it. I wasn't even thinking of getting help in the form of counseling, but my wife found this program through a trusted friend and forced me to do it with her. In the beginning, I had a hard time really committing myself, but after about 2 weeks of doing just the first 2 sessions, I started feeling better. I found myself actually thinking about my reaction to things. I was able to identify what was going on in my mind and body and why I was feeling the way that I was. After that, I started to do the program with more purpose and with the belief that this would actually help me.
I can proudly say that I finished the program about 4 months ago, and have never felt better. I have even been able to go off my anti-anxiety medication*, which is something I haven't been able to do in a decade. This program really did change my life. I know that sounds corny, but it did. I still find myself stressing about things and I will always be a very driven and intense person, but I no longer feel anxious. Which is something I never thought I would say.
*Brian's progress is amazing and we are so happy to hear his great results. As a reminder the AHP never endorses anyone changing or ending medication without a doctors supervision.
Nichole's Story:
We used this program with my teenage daughter. I saw an ad on social media and it felt like an answer to prayers. We were beside ourselves in knowing how to help her understand what she was feeling and we were worried that we were losing her. She was withdrawn, no longer had interest in being with friends and seemed scared all the time. We did this program as a family and found that is was so helpful. Not only did it help her understand what to do when she felt anxious, it educated my husband and I so that we knew how to talk and have an open dialogue for what she was feeling. It has been such a blessing in our home. I plan on doing it with all my children as they become teenagers. I believe that the tools given in the program can help everyone, whether or not they have anxiety, to work through complex and confusing feelings.
Mary's Story:
For the longest time I have been anxious and stressed about my kids. I am not the mother I wanted to be. I found this program while on Facebook and I was ready to try anything. Since doing this program, I actually feel like I am more present and patient with my children. The other day we went to a toy store and I started to panic and worry that we were bothering everyone, that people were staring at us, and I felt that we needed to leave. I was able to identify the anxious feelings, talk to them, and reason through it using the tools I learned through the program. It was such a positive experience for me, and it allowed me to enjoy the time with my children instead of being a slave to my anxiety!
Dylan's Story:
I feel like I have always been an anxious person. During Jr. High & High School I always thought people were talking about me, I was scared to make friends and I just felt bad about myself. It was a really rough time in my life. I kept to myself and no one really knew that I was dealing with these feelings until a family friend, who is a doctor, talked to my mom about it. He told her that he thought I might have some social anxiety, and that was the reason I was acting out. My mom bought this program after this family friend doctor recommended it to her and, kind of, made me do it. It was hard at first, but I learned a lot about myself throughout it. I learned that I was ok the way I was, but that I also believed false things about the people around me. I started to really try to do the things that I learned in the program and I found myself feeling better. This was about a year ago. I am now serving my church in South America and doing things I never thought I could. I still use the journal a lot, especially when I find myself starting to feel down, but I am hopeful about my future and excited about all the possibilities of life. That is not something I could have said in High School. I am grateful my mom listened to that friend and doctor and I am grateful that I understand myself better and am able to do the things I want to do without my anxiety holding me back.