Went back into Therapy

Due to my anxiety attacks increasing, my Primary Care Doc suggested I see a Therapist concerning it.  I had gone back in 2003 when I almost became agoraphobic.  At that time, I had never had any therapy for anything before.  As I hadn't seen anyone concerning the abuse as a child, I agreed.  It was a life saver for me.  Things got better and I stopped going.  The therapy became more about the healing of the childhood stuff and once I was finished with that and the anxiety no longer had me in it's grips; I stopped going.  Then in 2008, I had issues with a friend and seeked therapy for a short time again.  The anxiety was also an issue again.  When the friend issues were resolved, I stopped going.  Both times I went through therapy, I gained new tools to help when the anxiety became an issue.Then May 22nd the Joplin tornado hit about 70 miles from my town.  Since that time, the anxiety level has increased and panic attacks are happening.  This lead my Doctor to suggest therapy.  So last night was my first night with the new Therapist.I had a lot of fears going into it.  Would I like this person?  Would she have anything "new" to give me to use, which was what I really wanted.  Would I need to spend time rehashing all of the childhood stuff?  What if I got sick and threw up or worse yet....got diarhhea.  You know...all the "stinkin thinkin" that gets me all worked up.  I woke up really anxious yesterday and had to make myself keep putting one foot in front of the other and do the next right thing in front of me to do.  I call it doing the "opposite" of what I want to do when in "anxiety mode".   Within an hour of being at work, I became aware that the anxiety was gone.    It would pop up every now and then during the day, but eventually leave as I continued on.  I also hurt my hip sometime during the morning and considered cancelling....but again, I simply moved forward and took some advil.  I did the worrying about the hip pain...What if I stand up and can't walk?  I wish I could just think "normal".Well, back to the therapist.  She is wonderful.  She has suffered from anxiety herself since she was 5 years old and doesn't have it 98% of the time.  So I feel I have someone who has been where I'm at and can help me move forward.  The "tool" she gave me to try over the next month is to treat an attack like a news story and become the reporter.  I am to report to "myself" as it is happening.  I am to rate the attack from 1-10 and then describe all the things I am feeling and thinking.  Then as the first wave passes, I am simply to "ride the wave" out because they all subside.  She says by the time I finish the "reporting", the wave will be subsiding and the "reporting" somehow helps me not get in fear mode because I am doing something and I have a plan.  Anyway, that's what she said.She stressed that the more I "practice" it, the easier it will get and the goal is to not avoid situations that bring me anxiety but to go out there and face it using the tool.  She also told me a story about how she pictures her anxiety as a little two year old in a diaper with a scary mask on.  When anxiety pops up, she pictures that little 2 year old and says..."you again?  Okay come on and lets get it over with.  You are not going to ruin my day. You are just a 2 year old with a scary mask on."So we'll see how it goes.  I left not feeling anxious and I woke up this morning with no anxiety.  My hip feels still a little sore but I'm sure it is just muscular and the advil totally kicks it.  I hope you all are having a great day!  Linda