There were many negative
influences around Doug during his teen years. These influences
caused even more disruption and questioning. His thoughts became
obsessive and intrusive, and his depression deepened. Over time
he was convinced that there was something seriously wrong with
him.
No matter how hard he tried to get better, his internal voice
insisted, “You will never succeed. You are different
from everyone else. You are incompetent and stupid. You are
marked for failure.” Doug’s condition worsened.
In 1989, however, Doug began his journey toward freedom from
anxiety and depression.
In May 1989, Doug volunteered with Youth Development International
in San Diego helping young people in crisis. He then moved to
Timisoara, Romania where he worked with the Romanian people who
endured through the anxiety and oppression of living under a
communist regime. Doug also worked with gypsy street children
who suffered under the influence of substance abuse, societal
disregard, and past parental abuse.
In 1992, Doug and his fiancee, Ingrid (they are now married)
returned to Canada. Unfortunately, Ingrid began to experience
post-traumatic stress disorder after returning from her overseas
experience in travelling to refugee camps and orphanages in Croatia
and Romania. Ingrid was struggling with nightmares, increased
anxiety and stress, and detachment from people around her. She
was reliving stories she had heard from refugee children living
in camps. These stories were punctuated with sporadic gunfire
she heared nearby. She had developed a diminished interest in
activities that used to give her pleasure, became detached from
others, struggled with her feelings, and had a depressed demeanor. Doug
was able to help Ingrid through this difficult time and she began
to experience freedom and joy again.
In May 2000, Doug was on his way to a weekend youth retreat
with a van full of young people, when the driver lost control
of the van causing it to plummet over a ravine and into icy water.
The crash was so serious that the emergency personnel who attended
the accident couldn’t believe that anyone had survived
such a terrible accident.
This event caused Doug to personally experience post-traumatic
stress disorder. He began to be plagued by nightmarish
panic attacks, he couldn’t drive as a passenger without
getting feelings of tightness in his chest, accelerated heart
pounding, and feelings of not being able to breathe (it felt
like he was having a heart attack). He experienced periods
of “reliving” the accident in his mind only to be
suddenly jolted back into reality by a pounding heart, labored
breathing, sore muscles, profuse sweating, and heightened senses.
He also experienced nightly nightmares about the experience,
which made him hyper-vigilant and always fearing the worst about
those around him. Every day was filled with foreboding and underlying
anxiety.
Finally, after a year and a half, Doug began to conquer his
condition. Over time, his anxiety, fear, and the intensity of
that experience faded away.
Doug is now completely anxiety and depression free.
Doug Wildman, M.A., is a therapist that specializes in anxiety
disorders, depression, and marriage and family therapy. He
has his Master of Arts in Counselling from an accredited post-secondary
institute. He is an Associate member (registered #283SK05)
of a national counselling association in Canada (PACCC). In
2005, Doug became the co-administrator for this national counselling
association where his area of specialty lays in the handling
of ethical concerns and counsellor relations.
Doug has a deep desire and passion for helping those who are
suffering through issues of anxiety/panic and depression. His
personal experience with, and fully through, anxiety and depression,
coupled with his gentle character and understanding nature, make
Doug an effective counsellor and therapist.
Doug and Ingrid Wildman live in Norquay, Saskatchewan with their
three young children where they attend the Norquay Evangelical
Covenant Church.
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