Re: Anyone struggle with agoraphobia?

[Guest guest]

I have these 2:

* I'm afraid of going out with people I don't know that well to places I

don't know my way back from

* I don't like going out after it's dark

Honestly, i think its normal to be cautious about going places with people

you don't know well though. I esp don't get in a car by myself with someone

I don't knwo well. I just drive my own car and meet them. And I HAAAAAAATE

THE DARK!!!!! Hate it hate it hate it!

On Wed, Jan 26, 2011 at 6:43 AM, Fiona wrote:

>

>

> I'm finally realizing that I am agoraphobic. I think I suspected it for a

> while but didn't want to admit it or face it.

>

> * I'm afraid to drive to places I'm not familiar with

> * I'm terrified of the highways/freeways/bridges

> * I'm afraid of going out with people I don't know that well to places I

> don't know my way back from

> * I don't like going out after it's dark

> * If I am forced to do any of these things, my body responds like it's

> under a great stress: heart racing, sweating...I put on the act that

> everything's ok, but I don't enjoy the experience and become all business,

> just frantic and eager to go home

>

> And on and on. I hate to blame everything down to the corns on my toes on

> my mother but...it's her fault. Seriously, I was not allowed to go out for

> anything that I might have enjoyed. I couldn't go to my prom because

> something bad might happen. I couldn't go to sleepovers because I'd turn

> into a lesbian (please don't be offended anyone; truly, that was her

> reasoning). I grew up in a major city and am terrified of trying to find my

> way around it.

>

> Sigh. I hate depending on my husband and other people to cart me around.

>

> I'd appreciate any insight from others who've been/are going through this.

> It's affecting my social life and life in general.

>

> Fiona

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I have these 2:

* I'm afraid of going out with people I don't know that well to places I

don't know my way back from

* I don't like going out after it's dark

Honestly, i think its normal to be cautious about going places with people

you don't know well though. I esp don't get in a car by myself with someone

I don't knwo well. I just drive my own car and meet them. And I HAAAAAAATE

THE DARK!!!!! Hate it hate it hate it!

On Wed, Jan 26, 2011 at 6:43 AM, Fiona wrote:

>

>

> I'm finally realizing that I am agoraphobic. I think I suspected it for a

> while but didn't want to admit it or face it.

>

> * I'm afraid to drive to places I'm not familiar with

> * I'm terrified of the highways/freeways/bridges

> * I'm afraid of going out with people I don't know that well to places I

> don't know my way back from

> * I don't like going out after it's dark

> * If I am forced to do any of these things, my body responds like it's

> under a great stress: heart racing, sweating...I put on the act that

> everything's ok, but I don't enjoy the experience and become all business,

> just frantic and eager to go home

>

> And on and on. I hate to blame everything down to the corns on my toes on

> my mother but...it's her fault. Seriously, I was not allowed to go out for

> anything that I might have enjoyed. I couldn't go to my prom because

> something bad might happen. I couldn't go to sleepovers because I'd turn

> into a lesbian (please don't be offended anyone; truly, that was her

> reasoning). I grew up in a major city and am terrified of trying to find my

> way around it.

>

> Sigh. I hate depending on my husband and other people to cart me around.

>

> I'd appreciate any insight from others who've been/are going through this.

> It's affecting my social life and life in general.

>

> Fiona

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I have these 2:

* I'm afraid of going out with people I don't know that well to places I

don't know my way back from

* I don't like going out after it's dark

Honestly, i think its normal to be cautious about going places with people

you don't know well though. I esp don't get in a car by myself with someone

I don't knwo well. I just drive my own car and meet them. And I HAAAAAAATE

THE DARK!!!!! Hate it hate it hate it!

On Wed, Jan 26, 2011 at 6:43 AM, Fiona wrote:

>

>

> I'm finally realizing that I am agoraphobic. I think I suspected it for a

> while but didn't want to admit it or face it.

>

> * I'm afraid to drive to places I'm not familiar with

> * I'm terrified of the highways/freeways/bridges

> * I'm afraid of going out with people I don't know that well to places I

> don't know my way back from

> * I don't like going out after it's dark

> * If I am forced to do any of these things, my body responds like it's

> under a great stress: heart racing, sweating...I put on the act that

> everything's ok, but I don't enjoy the experience and become all business,

> just frantic and eager to go home

>

> And on and on. I hate to blame everything down to the corns on my toes on

> my mother but...it's her fault. Seriously, I was not allowed to go out for

> anything that I might have enjoyed. I couldn't go to my prom because

> something bad might happen. I couldn't go to sleepovers because I'd turn

> into a lesbian (please don't be offended anyone; truly, that was her

> reasoning). I grew up in a major city and am terrified of trying to find my

> way around it.

>

> Sigh. I hate depending on my husband and other people to cart me around.

>

> I'd appreciate any insight from others who've been/are going through this.

> It's affecting my social life and life in general.

>

> Fiona

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I had my first panic attack in my 30's, out of the blue, while driving over a

huge, unfamiliar bridge spanning a bay. I found the panic attack both

terrifying and oddly fascinating at the same time. I never wanted to have

another one, though, I can tell you.

But subsequently these scary, panicky feelings began appearing when I found

myself driving on ANY bridge. So I read up about panic attacks, and started

trying the defusing techniques. They're basically ways to break your focus on

the cascade of symptoms (like dominoes, each tips over the next one, and so on)

because I did NOT want to get to the point where I was afraid to drive

completely. My fear of becoming " crippled " in my independence was stronger than

my fear of having another panic attack. Last year I found myself unwittingly

driving over a tall, long bridge and the symptoms were there but very, very mild

and manageable. I was rather proud of myself. But I have to say that I do not

voluntarily seek out tall, long bridges to drive over, either.

The good news: agoraphobia is a condition that responds *really* well to therapy

even if its long-standing. Psychiatrists who specialize in agoraphobia know

that even getting started in treatment is stressful, and can arrange to begin

your treatment in your home if necessary.

So if you find that you want to tackle this and are ready to give it a go, you

have an excellent chance of shedding it.

-Annie

>

> I'm finally realizing that I am agoraphobic. I think I suspected it for a

while but didn't want to admit it or face it.

>

> * I'm afraid to drive to places I'm not familiar with

> * I'm terrified of the highways/freeways/bridges

> * I'm afraid of going out with people I don't know that well to places I don't

know my way back from

> * I don't like going out after it's dark

> * If I am forced to do any of these things, my body responds like it's under a

great stress: heart racing, sweating...I put on the act that everything's ok,

but I don't enjoy the experience and become all business, just frantic and eager

to go home

>

> And on and on. I hate to blame everything down to the corns on my toes on my

mother but...it's her fault. Seriously, I was not allowed to go out for

anything that I might have enjoyed. I couldn't go to my prom because something

bad might happen. I couldn't go to sleepovers because I'd turn into a lesbian

(please don't be offended anyone; truly, that was her reasoning). I grew up in

a major city and am terrified of trying to find my way around it.

>

> Sigh. I hate depending on my husband and other people to cart me around.

>

> I'd appreciate any insight from others who've been/are going through this.

It's affecting my social life and life in general.

>

> Fiona

>

[Guest guest]

I had my first panic attack in my 30's, out of the blue, while driving over a

huge, unfamiliar bridge spanning a bay. I found the panic attack both

terrifying and oddly fascinating at the same time. I never wanted to have

another one, though, I can tell you.

But subsequently these scary, panicky feelings began appearing when I found

myself driving on ANY bridge. So I read up about panic attacks, and started

trying the defusing techniques. They're basically ways to break your focus on

the cascade of symptoms (like dominoes, each tips over the next one, and so on)

because I did NOT want to get to the point where I was afraid to drive

completely. My fear of becoming " crippled " in my independence was stronger than

my fear of having another panic attack. Last year I found myself unwittingly

driving over a tall, long bridge and the symptoms were there but very, very mild

and manageable. I was rather proud of myself. But I have to say that I do not

voluntarily seek out tall, long bridges to drive over, either.

The good news: agoraphobia is a condition that responds *really* well to therapy

even if its long-standing. Psychiatrists who specialize in agoraphobia know

that even getting started in treatment is stressful, and can arrange to begin

your treatment in your home if necessary.

So if you find that you want to tackle this and are ready to give it a go, you

have an excellent chance of shedding it.

-Annie

>

> I'm finally realizing that I am agoraphobic. I think I suspected it for a

while but didn't want to admit it or face it.

>

> * I'm afraid to drive to places I'm not familiar with

> * I'm terrified of the highways/freeways/bridges

> * I'm afraid of going out with people I don't know that well to places I don't

know my way back from

> * I don't like going out after it's dark

> * If I am forced to do any of these things, my body responds like it's under a

great stress: heart racing, sweating...I put on the act that everything's ok,

but I don't enjoy the experience and become all business, just frantic and eager

to go home

>

> And on and on. I hate to blame everything down to the corns on my toes on my

mother but...it's her fault. Seriously, I was not allowed to go out for

anything that I might have enjoyed. I couldn't go to my prom because something

bad might happen. I couldn't go to sleepovers because I'd turn into a lesbian

(please don't be offended anyone; truly, that was her reasoning). I grew up in

a major city and am terrified of trying to find my way around it.

>

> Sigh. I hate depending on my husband and other people to cart me around.

>

> I'd appreciate any insight from others who've been/are going through this.

It's affecting my social life and life in general.

>

> Fiona

>

[Guest guest]

[if you find that you want to tackle this and are ready to give it a go, you

have an excellent chance of shedding it.]

I do, I really do want to tackle it. I almost feel RELIEVED to realize I'm

agoraphobic (mind you, my T has not come out and said 'you're agoraphobic' but

in reading about it, there is not doubt at all.

It's a relief because it almost seems like something outside of

myself--something I'm perceiving--that I can manage. And also, because I've

forced myself to do stuff that has scared me. And even though I was a shaking,

sweating mess afterwards, I felt empowered! Mind you, the stuff I did (driving

down a somewhat snowy hill in a car I wasn't comfortable in) is something others

could do without blinking an eye, but for me it was major!

I kind of wish my T would give me homework or challenge me. But she's very laid

back about it. I think she just kind of wants me to take steps I'm ready to

take at my own pace.

Annie, can you recommend any books that might be helpful?

[Guest guest]

[if you find that you want to tackle this and are ready to give it a go, you

have an excellent chance of shedding it.]

I do, I really do want to tackle it. I almost feel RELIEVED to realize I'm

agoraphobic (mind you, my T has not come out and said 'you're agoraphobic' but

in reading about it, there is not doubt at all.

It's a relief because it almost seems like something outside of

myself--something I'm perceiving--that I can manage. And also, because I've

forced myself to do stuff that has scared me. And even though I was a shaking,

sweating mess afterwards, I felt empowered! Mind you, the stuff I did (driving

down a somewhat snowy hill in a car I wasn't comfortable in) is something others

could do without blinking an eye, but for me it was major!

I kind of wish my T would give me homework or challenge me. But she's very laid

back about it. I think she just kind of wants me to take steps I'm ready to

take at my own pace.

Annie, can you recommend any books that might be helpful?

[Guest guest]

[if you find that you want to tackle this and are ready to give it a go, you

have an excellent chance of shedding it.]

I do, I really do want to tackle it. I almost feel RELIEVED to realize I'm

agoraphobic (mind you, my T has not come out and said 'you're agoraphobic' but

in reading about it, there is not doubt at all.

It's a relief because it almost seems like something outside of

myself--something I'm perceiving--that I can manage. And also, because I've

forced myself to do stuff that has scared me. And even though I was a shaking,

sweating mess afterwards, I felt empowered! Mind you, the stuff I did (driving

down a somewhat snowy hill in a car I wasn't comfortable in) is something others

could do without blinking an eye, but for me it was major!

I kind of wish my T would give me homework or challenge me. But she's very laid

back about it. I think she just kind of wants me to take steps I'm ready to

take at my own pace.

Annie, can you recommend any books that might be helpful?

[Guest guest]

I also struggle with agoraphobia. Going to parties, any time I need to go

someplace new is fearful, almost crippling event for me (even funerals, lunches

with coworkers). It is getting worse as I am aging. The coping skills I used as

a young adult don't fly anymore.

Additionally, any occasion where I feel compelled to invite people over is

horribly stressful: I am so afraid of being judged and found inferior.

And yes,I learned this at nada's knee: my nada was in waif mode most of my early

life. She couldn't eat out (people would see her!), never voluntarily went to a

social function and would freak, yell and mutter for hours getting ready for the

social functions she HAD to attend (even church and doctor appts). It was awful!

>

> I'm finally realizing that I am agoraphobic. I think I suspected it for a

while but didn't want to admit it or face it.

>

> * I'm afraid to drive to places I'm not familiar with

> * I'm terrified of the highways/freeways/bridges

> * I'm afraid of going out with people I don't know that well to places I don't

know my way back from

> * I don't like going out after it's dark

> * If I am forced to do any of these things, my body responds like it's under a

great stress: heart racing, sweating...I put on the act that everything's ok,

but I don't enjoy the experience and become all business, just frantic and eager

to go home

>

> And on and on. I hate to blame everything down to the corns on my toes on my

mother but...it's her fault. Seriously, I was not allowed to go out for

anything that I might have enjoyed. I couldn't go to my prom because something

bad might happen. I couldn't go to sleepovers because I'd turn into a lesbian

(please don't be offended anyone; truly, that was her reasoning). I grew up in

a major city and am terrified of trying to find my way around it.

>

> Sigh. I hate depending on my husband and other people to cart me around.

>

> I'd appreciate any insight from others who've been/are going through this.

It's affecting my social life and life in general.

>

> Fiona

>