How to Let Go of Limiting Beliefs About Yourself

Hi Jodi,
I love your posts. It seems I have been suffering from anxiety ever since I took Accutane two-three years ago. I had my first panic attack ever on the medicine an have held on to the anxious thoughts since then. However, I have reflected and I did experience anxiety as a child always worrying about death or loved ones and scared to go to sleep. So maybe the accutane just triggered it?
Recently, I haven't been having panic attacks, but constant anxious thoughts. I find myself stuck on the what if's. I take a medicine I say what if I have the side affects, I go to class what if I have a panic attack. It seems my thoughts are obsessive on this topic. I have a great support system with my family and boyfriend, but when I'm away from them that is the problem. Almost as if I'm scared to be alone because of the what ifs.
I was on an antidepressant viibryd last year for anxiety, it worked well, but it made me gain weigh, so I discontinued the meds and te anxiety is back. I hate medicine and would rather get through this on my own. About a month ago I tried prozaac and my doctor warned me people under 25 could have suicidial thoughts. I ignored this because I never had them, but of course while on prozac the what if I hurt myself thought happened so my doctor took me off right away. Now I think in my head what if those thoughts come back.
Any advice you could give me?

You are not alone must be my priority. I feel that by letting go of this belief, all the rest can work better. I never felt I didn't deserve to be happy, but I do feel I can't be happy unless I change, unless I stop caring too much, loving too much, feeling the need to make everyone happy first, beforeI can even start thinking about myself.
I understood something while reading the post for the second time. I'm not sure I understood it right, but it feels "logic" to me now. I have always been extremely anxious, maybe since birth. My anxiety was really bad. Things as simple as reading in front of class could make me sick. I have been hospitalized so many times the night before a school exam. I was like that until the day I decided to change. I decided to always expect the worse and accept it as a fact even before it happens. I was proud of myself for succeeding in that change. I took the attitude of "i don't care" and the "so what". The doctor asked to talk to me before 6am, before my mother went for surgery and he said: I think it's important that I tell at least one family member. She might not survive the surgery, and if the surgery is successful, she won't live for more than 3 months. So what? Within few minutes, everything was clear. She will die. I must be the first one to know. I prepared the words on how to inform dad and my sisters. I planned my dad's life for "after" her death. I decided how many times I would visit the grave. I even felt happy for her to go before suffering chemo etc. I was proud of myself for not panicking and for accepting everything calmly. I kept laughing and smiling and living normally. Every additional day she spent with us was a gift, but her death didn't seem scary. i got very sick. I needed a surgery. I had a premature baby. A lot of health issues that doctors attributed to stress, but I was just saying a big NO, I'm not stressed, i'm not anxious. I don't care, so what? So many times, I said that I'm not anxious, i just have physical symptoms bothering me. My logic is so wrong. I think I could fool others and fool myself by denying my anxiety and fear, but Denying it is only making it worse. I gave one example, but it applies to every single situation i'm living now. It is very rare that I say it, but I am very anxious and very scared

For me I feel like limiting beliefs was one of my main set-backs this past year. It wasn't until I started journaling that I realized this. I would re-read the stuff I wrote a week or two later and realize how horrible I sounded. I was beating the crap out of myself! My therapist had suggested going back through and re-writing positive things next to the horrible ones. I had to FORCE myself to come up with stuff to write, but I did it. I still do it, but you are so right.... we need to stop taking ourselves so seriously, and stop the catastrophic thinking. Mindfulness and Journaling have been really helpful tools for me is this battle so far. Thank you! -Leah @ Pathways and Pieces

And once again, another post that nails it perfectly. It all makes so much sense. If only my thick head could head the advice. One day I guess. I love your ability to reach your readers.

[...] counselor may not be talking about it this way because he mentioned “letting go.” This make me think that he may be coming from a Buddhist/mindfulness [...]