Broken Fin Fishing Fools

[Guest avid]

I"m glad to see that our "broken fins" aren't keeping some of us from going to the fork and enjoying the comraderie of fishing with our BassResource.com buddies.

I'm looking forward to meeting everyone.  

As the day gets closer, I keep getting more and more excited.

avid.

[Guest the_muddy_man]

Hey Avid I will be frying up some smaller meatballs for you. I don't want you straining things before we get on the water at the Fork

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

I just noticed somthing, the broken fins is going to be PRETTY WELL represented at Fork! We'll all have to hit the bar and raise one for the few that can't make it!! (shirley Temple for me, but still!)

Says alot about the drive of this group I must say......(not the Shirly Temple,lol, the fact that we are the sick group but will still be there in force )

[K_Mac]

Ronnie

In another post avid said you are a role model on this site, who represents Christianity in a very positive way (my paraphrase). Your post above clearly illustrates his point. I am not happy that you qualify for membership in this ever-growing club, but since you do, WELCOME.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

He's definately a class act, who more importantly, walks the walk

[fishbear]

Hey guys,

This is the message I sent to Avid a couple of months ago.  I guess I finally got the nerve to come public with it.  

I have read and reread this thread, and I think you are doing a really good thing here.

I wonder if I qualify.  My broken fin is in my head.  

Over the last 10 yrs or so I have developed a severe phobia about driving especially on the freeway or going over bridges.... I completely shut down, have  full blown panic attacks.  I do not drive anywhere hardly except to work and around home.  I fish only those lakes I know where they are and have been to them before....   Sometimes it will hit me when I am pulling my boat,, that is real scary...

When I went back home to go elk hunting, I freaked out on my brother, for his driving on the mountain roads,, roads I have been on since I was 8 yrs. old...  

My doctor reccomended a Psych, but my insurance does not cover that, so I am no closer to fixing this than when it first started..... He said he could give me a medication, but I know about those anti anxiety drugs,,, I would be sitting in the corner drooling....

I would just as soon this not go public,,,,, I am really embarassed by it, since I know it is all mental, and I can not beat it.....

It kills me sometimes, I am driving along just fine,, then all of a sudden I am tensing up, feeling my chest tighten, getting tunnel vision, feel like I am passing out....  distractions do not help, my wife has tried, music dont help, nothing....  

I am beginning to think that I am doomed to stay in my own little world of 20-30 miles......  

That is one reason I did not sign up for the Lake Fork Trip......  No way I could drive it.  

John

Man, I hope the Broken Fin Fishing Fools has a mental ward.....  ;D

[Alpster]

Guys,

As always, I am humbled by your kind words and priveliged to be counted among you.

Fishbear,

Anxiety disorders are among the most common emotional problems in the world. You are far from being alone my friend. As a teenager, I spent 2 years as an inpatient at Georgia Mental Health Institute in Atlanta battling anxiety. My daughter suffers with it as well. There are two things in your post that I totally disagree with. The first is that you cannot beat this, that's just hogwash, you most certainly can. It will have to become a priority and you do not have to take no for an anwer from insurance companies. The second is that anxiety medication can be very helpfull, most are non narcotic and non habit forming and can be just the thing to "get you over the hump" sometimes. Just like your physical health, your mental healt requires you to take some action and find solutions. The key to success is begin to begin and keep on keeping on.

Oh yea, you posted this on a public forum, so it's not a secret anymore, so get used to others knowing what's going on and give them a chance to help.

Ronnie

[flechero]

As always, you guys inspire me- to work harder and to never give in to self pitty.  I keep up with this thread in a "read only"  because I want to post and then realize I'm just not in a position to post...  My ailments are most likely only temporary.  I had  rotator cuff surgery about 14 months ago.  I spent about 6 months getting to where I could reel a spinning reel with that hand... since then I made great progress and almost got back to 100%.   I had a mishap a few months ago that feels like a partial re-tear.  I have good and bad days but every time I have a bad day I come back to this thread and you guys change that for me.  I'm pretty confident that with disciplined rehab I can "re-recover" w/o another surgery.  But I have to check this thread for some motivation and the occasional "gut-check."

This was just a really long way to say thank you, to you guys for sharing your strenghts, weaknesses, injuries, illnesses and inspirations.  From the "silent" members- not a single post has gone unnoticed.

I hope and pray that we will eventually have no members in this club!

If there is anything I can offer, please feel free to ask, I would like to start giving back.

My best to all,

Keith

 

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

FISHBEAR

First off, thanks for sharing and trusting us w/your troubles.  Secondly, YOU ARE VERY CURABLE!!!

I'm gonna get on this one personally.  I just watched a Montel show about this not too long ago (working from home lately has it's advantages).  People had phobias of everything from flying (common) to mustard(not so common).  These were truly disabling emotions that these people were against.  The audience thought it was funny for someone to be afraid of peaches or mustard but to the guest, there was surely nothing funny about it.

My point is that these people were cured, Backstage of course, in a matter of minutes.  Literally.  I will research this and find out how for you.  Even if you have to pay, it would only be 1 visit and I bet it would be worth alot more to you than you would be charged.  I am on the road training today but will get on this for the weekend.

Next year, we all fish together at the 3rd annual if I have any say in it.  Fishbear, looking forward to meeting you in person at that one.

Hang tough everyone.  

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Sidenote- of all the phobias out there, flying is probably the one most can relate to.  It blows my mind that more people don't have the driving phobia.  From a safety trainer's point of view, this is one of the most justifiable phobias out there and I'm truly surprised more aren't affected by it.  Doesn't matter, we're gonna beat this one for the bear, but I can fully understand this phobia.  FULLY!

[fishbear]

Wow,

I am blown away.... I always figured everyone on here were stand up type of guys, but now I am positive... LBH, I look forward to hearing from you....

I have heard of one technique that is basically like rewinding a movie in your mind.  However, I have not found a "counselor" that uses this technique anywhere near me..

Plus, if you can believe this, I have my wife to contend with... she thinks it is just stupid, and actually laughs at me about it.  

Anyway, appreciate everyones concern and thoughts.

[Guest the_muddy_man]

Hey Fellas since everyone is getting honest and all brave like here goes mine; For 27 years I was trapped in the disease of drug addiction. IT TOOK EVERYTHING I had away from me. My Wife and kid,house,car,boat,job. I was left homeless and near death. 14 and 1/2 years ago I found NA , i should say it found me. The twelve steps and my close friends there saved my life. I ave been through the deaths of both parents, three major surgeries(one a bariatric by-pass) with minimal or no  pain Meds. With my brothers by my side and have not relapsed, always a possibility if I do not remain vigilant and active in my program. I have not used for over 14 years and that is a true mircale.

 Now I have a wonderufl Daughter in my life, i ahve made peace with God, I have a wonderul Girl Friend and a job I love. THis is all beyond my wildest dreams NEVER EVER GIVE UP GOD HAS THE WHOLE THING FELLAS and he aint droppin any of us

MUDDY

[RiskKid.]

Hey Fishbear.....anxiety and panic attacks are no fun. I have a doctor friend who gets it some when he's driving and he has no clue why. He doesn't get it to the extent you do but it happens to him never the less and he's a Doc. I get em every now and again for no apparrent reason and its no fun. My Doc tells me that sometimes a good excersize routine can be beneficial and to cut back on smoking and alchohol if you do that. I try to do a brisk walk or hike of 2 to 3 miles, 3 or 4 times a week. I think it really helps and it for sure doesn't hurt. In any event it's very common to have panic attacks and anxiety when something is stressing you all out......and it's no fun and very real.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Muddy, I know that took alot for you to put out there but even the rest of the forum board would only support you after beating that kind of history.

Whatever you learned on your way up from rock bottom has taken on it's own and is snowballing around you now.  Your life has become full.  A good full.  After your CAST event, you'll know a high like no other, I promise.

People meet for a reason, this is somthing I don't care to label or try and understand why, It's just somthing I believe.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

FISHBEAR- Below is a description of the method used on the show, I believe it is a version of the rewind method like you said. Think about this. How much is a plane ticket? How much is a 1 hr visit (minimum) with the right doctor? HOW DIFFERENT WOULD YOUR LIFE BE??

Please find out where the closest, well qualified, proven in this technique, doctor is. I'm sure we would all be curious what the method costs as well. I think everyone has a person they know with a phobia or 2.

__________________________________________________

Fast Phobia Cure (also known as 6-Minute Phobia Cure)

.

The basic pattern is as follows: Find or select the earliest

memory of the response (the triggering event, if known);

dissociate two or more levels; replay event, marking a point

before the start and a point after the end; replay event,

stopping at latter point; associate and [immediately andquickly] run event backward; exit.

.

Select an event: the triggering event if possible, otherwise

the earliest occurance of the response you can manage (use

transderivational search, if you know it).

.

Dissociate: for example: think of your favorite moviehouse.

You have the whole place to yourself. Find your favorite

seat, and settle into it. Use all your senses. Once you are

settled in, let your mind drift up into the projection booth

while "you" remain in the seat. Look around the booth,

noting the details of the wall and frame around the window.

Look down at the person in the seats.

.

Replay event: As you watch that you in the seat, that person

starts to notice a somewhat scratchy black-and-white movie

starting to play, showing scenes preceeding the event. If

this gets too intense for that person, you can adjust the

projector to show only every third frame or so. The movie

plays on through the event and on to a time well after the

event, then fades out. As you watch the person in the seats,

that person watches the movie start again and play through

past the event as before, this time stopping on the final

frame (well past the event).

.

Associate and run backwards: [Make sure that you understand

all the instructions for this step *before* you start it.

This sequence must be done quickly and seamlessly] Step into

the frame, noticing that it becomes fully dimensional, with

color, sound, texture, depth, and so on as seen through your

own eyes within the scene. The instant you have noticed this

the entire experience runs rapidly backwards through the

entire event and past to the point when the movie started,

at which point you find yourself back in the present. This

step-runback process should take no more than 1 1/2 to 2

seconds at most.

.

At this point you might wish to test the results. While you

may have a sort of "remembered" response, it should lack the

immediacy and depth of the old response. If this is not the

case, run the pattern again...making sure that you fully

step into the scene in the last step and that the reverse

playback is virtually instantaneous.

.

This pattern will not always work with non-phobic fears...it

specifically addresses the structure of a phobia, and some

of those fears have a different structure entirely. You may

experience a sort of polarity response, seeking out that

which you formerly feared. If so, take it slowly...remember,

you have not yet learned to deal with it in a normal manner.

.

While you can run this pattern on yourself, It is HIGHLY advised that you don't!!!

[RiskKid.]

I'm really glad you made it out of all that Muddy. After 14 years you gotta be out of the woods but understand you having to keep vigilant. Your friendship means alot to me. I got your back if you need me.

[Guest the_muddy_man]

Unfortunately I am never out of the woods, Once a cucumber becomes a pickle, it can never be a cucumber again I AM A PICKLE However NA gives me a shot on a daily basis to avoid rlapse All i got is today man and I am grateful for that Thanks LBH and Risk

and really now llok at this thread there fellas dealing with a whole lot more than me now

[Guest avid]

Thank you Muddyman for sharing that deeply personal experience.  

It added a new dimension to the group.  

The disease of addcition is a pervasive killer.

Your courage and determination are an inspiration.

One day at a time my friend.

[fishbear]

LBH,

That is the one I was referring to,, I am going to the phone book on Monday to look for a "professional" and see what can be done.    Thank you.

Muddy,

I have seen first hand what an addiction can do.  I have a sister that used to be addicted to prescription painkillers....

In my opinion, you are more of a man for fighting and continually beating this than the biggest he man out there.... because what you are doing is real, and takes real courage and fight.

[K_Mac]

Muddy_man

January 5, 1985, was my last drink. There are quite a few folks on this site ( that I'm aware of, and I'm sure many I'm not) that understand the destructive nature of addiction. One day at a time, brother...

Fishbear

I don't have any personal experience with your disorder, but I can tell you that you're welcome here. I will keep you in my prayers. Good luck.

[Guest the_muddy_man]

God Bles you KMAC there is more than Fishing and baseball we share

[BOOYAH]

First of all i have to commend all that have told their stories, its not easy to share these kinds of things with people. Second i am glad to hear about the support others are giving.. cudos to all.

Muddy i have great respect for sumone that can overcome a addiction such as yourself, i myself don't have one but my wife did when i met her. she was addicted to pain meds  she finally sees how she was and i am thankful i could help her quit. it wasn't fun an she was mad at me ALOT.  But we overcame it an she still has sum meds that she HAS to take but its not a (GRAB BAG)  drugs like it once was. She is thankful now an sees how her life has changed for the better.

I hope all of you the best and know that you will defeat all troubles an live life to its fullest.

[Guest avid]

This is a great group and a great thread.  So many deeply personal stories of intense pain, suffering, and most of all courage.

It's complicated.  .  Possible.  More likely is the fact that four rods at night in a canoe is not a good idea especially when one is 7'3" long.

Anyway.  This is the place where one unburdens oneself from pain.

I'm hurting a little more than usual right now.  

I am optimistic that we will have the "kinks" worked out soon.

thanks for listening.

avid

[paparock]

Adjusting meds is a pain alright as I well know i am about 90% through my latest until the longterm persripcription people change what they will cover again. That happens about twice a year. You get used to all the pill sizes and colors so you don't miss something and then then swith you. I missed one med for two days until the top of my head started blowing off or so it seemed. Ahaa I said, I missed something, sharp as a razor at times I am, so I know how much fun it is. Our bodies also over time build up resistences to different drugs so the doses may have to be increased or we may have to switch to a different drug to maitain the same level of control. Oh, and that new drug I had been switched to was the same type you are talking about as they also have a two fold effect of also helping control neurologic pain like mine. So I literally feel your pain as I have walked in your shoes. "And this too will pass" Avid all in time.

[Guest the_muddy_man]

Yo Avid My prayers are with you on a daily basis