Elizabeth's Story

"When you decide to take your child out of his family, and away from his dad, even if there are problems in that family, you can't help but feel an incredible guilt. And of course, I believe that my ex-husband loves his son so certainly the grief on all sides is very real. However, I felt I had no choice. I made this decision because I had to. It was hard, but it had to be faced. But living with the consequences of that decision was even harder."

"I experienced constant flash backs and suffered daily panic attacks. I felt I couldn't cope and that I was letting my son down. Not only had I taken him away from his father, I was also not being much of a mother. So that made my guilt even worse."

"During the period when my husband and I were separated, I still felt that I should go back. In fact I was under immense pressure to go back. And I found myself doubting whether I'd made the right decision to leave in the first place. I was constantly thinking 'what if?' and it was driving me mad. You can't plan a future, especially when you have a child, to consider 'what ifs.'

So, although I was frightened of moving on, I knew something had to change. We'd all reached this cross roads and it was down to me to decide which way to turn. Only the prospect of making that decision terrified me."

"I never felt happy on medication. But I realized that I had to appear to be in control if I was to keep my son and make him happy and the medication helped to some extent. I knew that all I was doing was masking the problem. But even so, I couldn't come off it. It was a prop. I knew it was a decision I'd have to face at some point but I thought I'd made such a mess of everything in my life, far better not to make any more decisions until I felt stronger until I felt better able to cope."

"Ironically, it was weeks before I actually ordered the Method! I couldn't even decide on that! I spoke to my Linden Method Specialist and, although she obviously couldn't counsel me on my broken marriage, she WAS able to talk to me about my anxiety. Things started to click into place straight away."

"First thing, my panic attacks started to subside as I became more aware of what triggered them and how to control them. I noticed they were happening less and less. As the anxiety came to have less of a hold over me, I felt more able to deal with the problems in my life. I actually started to plan ahead. To begin with it was just plans of action it took a while before I got the courage up to act on them! But my Linden Method Specialist saw that as a real step in the right direction."

"I was really scared about that. I'd come to rely on the medication. But I knew, and The Linden Method made me realize even more so, that I'd never be completely free of the anxiety if I had to keep hold of this prop. So, my doctor and I drew up this plan for my coming off the medication."

"It was the most amazing boost! I had made the decision to do it and done it! I knew I wasn't out of the woods yet, but by making that choice, and by implementing The Linden Method, I felt I could now take other things on in life as well. I felt I was getting my life back. I'd been worried that with coming off the medication, the panic attacks would get worse but with implementing the Method, that didn't happen. Not only was I free of the drugs, I was also free of the panic."

"It wasn't easy but I was finding that I had greater faith in my ability to cope. My marriage was over and we both knew that. I started legal proceedings and began looking for a new home for me and my son. The prospect of doing all the things that I'd been protected from and prevented from doing - for all those years no longer filled me with absolute terror. Well, they still scared me, yes! But they didn't terrify me anymore either! I was in control of my home and my finances and I was now building a life for me and my son. I got myself a job and even started dating a guy from work!"

"I was in a mess because of the break up of my marriage and the worry over the effect it had all on my son. I'd been conditioned over years into believing I couldn't cope, that I was pretty worthless. So, when I came to face life as a single mother, I was convinced I was going to fail. That made my anxiety even worse but by implementing The Linden Method, I found that I could cope. I realized I had the strength to tackle my life, to come off the medication, to handle the divorce, to look after my son. I wouldn't be here now if it wasn't for Charles Linden's brilliantly written program. I'd still be frightened, burying my head in the sand and scared to move forward. All I can say about The Linden Method is that it works. It really does."