WORKING IT OUT One-Day Workshop in Geelong

The Anxiety Disorders Association of Victoria Presents
Working IT Out: One day workshop for sufferers of anxiety

Presented by Bev Aisbett, Counsellor & Author

Overview:

This weekend seminar provides sufferers of anxiety with invaluable tools for effective management of anxiety based on the proven techniques which have assisted sufferers through Bev’s powerful programs, books and presentations over the past decade.

In this workshop you will learn:
- Why you came to be anxious and how to break this pattern
- How to view your anxiety from a healthier perspective
- How to manage and overcome your anxiety

Participants will receive a free copy of Bev’s compilation of books - ‘FIXING IT’ - which brings together, for the very first time in one volume, a complete guide to surviving anxiety and its many forms and how to move on to achieve change and growth in our lives - LIVING WITH IT - A Survivor’s Guide to Panic Attacks; LIVING IT UP - the Advanced Survivor’s Guide to Anxiety-free-Living and LETTING IT GO- Attaining Awareness out of Adversity


Bev Aisbett is a counsellor, acclaimed author and cartoonist. Having suffered from severe anxiety in the past, Bev’s subsequent recovery led to her to dedicate the past decade to helping others overcome anxiety, depression and OCD. Bev herself was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder and possible manic depression at the peak of her career, as she had just established herself as a freelance cartoonist and illustrator. Alongside panic attacks, the daily sense of terror and dread and a persistently racing heart, Bev dealt with insomnia, trembling, and severe bouts of depression. Bev found help in personifying her fears and anxiety into a character- “IT”. Through giving her anxiety form, and through characterizing her affirmations, Bev created a therapeutic technique, which she saw had the potential to help others.

Workshop Details


Topics Covered

Some topics and activities to be discussed during the workshop:

• The Client/Helper Relationship
• Crisis
• Contributory Factors
• Pyramid of Healing
• Anxiety Flowchart
• Follow-Up-Exercises
• Coping Techniques
• Reframing the Anxiety Monster
• Embracing Otherness
• Creating a New Identity
• Improving relationships
• Exploring the rules for the Game of Life


Lunch

• Bring your own lunch (morning and afternoon tea provided)


Handouts

• Participants will receive a free copy of Bev’s compilation of books - ‘FIXING IT’ - which brings together, for the very first time in one volume, a complete guide to surviving anxiety and its many forms and how to move on to achieve change and growth in our lives - LIVING WITH IT - A Survivor’s Guide to Panic Attacks; LIVING IT UP - the Advanced Survivor’s Guide to Anxiety-free-Living and LETTING IT GO- Attaining Awareness out of Adversity

• You will also receive a ‘WORKING OUT’ Manual.


Other books by Bev Aisbett

• ‘Living with IT’
• ‘Living IT Up’
• ‘Letting IT Go’
• ‘Taming the Black Dog’
• ‘The Book of IT’
• ‘Get Real’
• ‘I Love Me’
• ‘Get Over It’



Saturday 7th May 2011
10.00am – 4.30pm
Lifeline Geelong Training Facility & Admin Offices
1 McKillop Street, Geelong VIC, Melway Ref 451 / K5

Cost:
$175.00 ADAVIC members
$175.00 Early bird price if paid by Friday 8th April
$200.00 Non-Members
Bookings:
Phone: ADAVIC (03) 9853 8089
Email: http://adavic@adavic.org.au
Website: www.adavic.org.au


Proceeds from this event help to maintain ADAVIC services
BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL!
Note: a $2 surcharge fee will apply to invoices

WORKING WITH IT - Getting Onto The Path of Freedom by Helen O'Connor

When Anna asked me to write an article about my participation in Bev's course, I jumped at the opportunity because, even though I am scared and worried about what people may think of my writing, I love to challenge myself in overcoming my anxiety. That's how it has been for me, probably I suspect because my Dad taught me to swim by dropping me in the ocean near him and saying "Swim!" Feel the fear and do it anyway! "Shock, horror", I hear you say, but don't worry, he did the best he could with what he knew as most parents do and all is forgiven on that front.

So why did I do the course? I enrolled in Bev's "Working With IT" course as another series of panic attacks had me by the neck. I have suffered these horrid episodes for perhaps the last fifteen or more years. No need to tell you about it because you all know what it is like.

I walked into the small church hall on the first night, feeling nervous but knowing I was going to learn something. I have participated in many self-development seminars and groups and love to experience those breakthroughs inherent in these sessions. I teach workshops myself and believe that we all have something to contribute.

The best thing that came out of the first evening for me was "Why WOULDN'T I have anxiety?" What a relief! I was the classic "good girl", I'd had "stuff" from my childhood to deal with, I was a control freak and needed to have things just right and I was a walking, talking "I'm right" machine! I came home that night eager to do the homework and to get into it. I began the monitoring of my anxiety every two hours for the first week and within a couple of days realised that I had a time issue. If I ever need to have the children somewhere on time, I stress out and tell myself that there won't be enough time to get everything done. Bingo! I noticed this to be a pattern in my life, getting myself all worked up when people were coming or things needed to be done. Once I realised this and surrendered to the moment I was able to achieve so much more than before. As soon as we can get a handle on the idea that our thoughts create our reality, we can catch ourselves when we are in our doom and gloom self-talk. Wonderful!

The next great insight was the idea that Emotions can be interpreted as Energy - in - Motion. Being an energy worker myself, this one was easy to understand. When you begin to panic, do you notice that you tell yourself stuff like, "oh, no, here it comes again", "here we go again" or something like "it's back...aagghh!" or other such resisting notions? If we can see that this fear is natural and not resist it, we can allow it to just move through us. I've tried this every time since the course. The first time was in the supermarket when I felt that unreal feeling which usually heralds some panic. I held on to the trolley, remembered that the feeling was "energy in motion" and just allowed it to pass through me. I reckon it lasted less than half a minute and then it was gone. I was triumphant! Nearly told the person next to me at the margarine fridge.

What else impacted on me? Oh yes, Bev helped us to get in touch with our "IT" (the fear/panic/anxiety) and treat it like a naughty child. She took us into a process to ask our IT what it needed. I had the realisation that my "little girl" (inner child) had never learnt HOW to love. We all crave to love and be loved. How could I do that if I was never taught? So I thought, "I need to have a love affair with myself". That week, I bought beautiful tulips, not just a cheap bunch of flowers for myself, but the best. I bought a beautiful card and spent lots of money on some gorgeous lingerie! I deserve the best and who can give that to me? MYSELF!!

These are the great things that happened for me by participating in Bev's course. Others will have their stories of what was important to them. I'd recommend the course. The people were just like you and me, the music and meditations were lovely, the environment was made safe and nurturing and I am more able to manage my anxiety and help others who come to me for help.

Thank you Bev, and to Anna and ADAVIC for all your committed hard work. P.S. As I write this, I'm sitting in a booth on my own in a warm, local pub sipping a glass of red and not worrying about being alone here or people looking at me. Good, eh?......) by Helen O'Connor

Helen has been a teacher in Special Education, and for the past twelve years, a practitioner and teacher of Reiki, a natural healing method. Helen runs her home-based business, The Reiki Cottage in Preston while mothering two primary school aged children. She can be contacted on 9484 7276

By Helen O’Connor